KEEP ON PADDLING!

Mark 6:45-52

After feeding more than 5 thousand people, Jesus sends his disciples to the other side of the lake while he stays in this shore.

Several hours later, during the evening, the boat was at the middle of the lake and the disciples were straining at the oars because the wind was against them. It was like being at the one of those machines at the gym: paddling and paddling but not moving at all!

But they were not giving up either!

Don't you feel like that sometimes? Don't you feel like God sent you to do something but you don't have a clue why? Don't you feel like God sent you somewhere without telling you the reasons? Don't you feel like your straining at the oars, against the current, because of Christ and, for some reason, he stayed on the other shore of the lake? I know I do. Lots of times. And it's normal, because sometimes God sends us to a mission and He really stays on shore. Watching us from there. Being a witness of his followers efforts. That stubborn effort that tries to fulfill a Jesus' dream, even if all the winds and all the streams try to avoid it!

The true disciples are just like that: stubborn like a salmon.

Now, the best thing of the story is that, when the boat is in the middle of the lake, Jesus smiles and thinks: "I knew they wouldn't give up. That was why I sent them!" And Jesus begun to walk on water to go ahead of them, almost as He was kidding but the disciples saw him and the rest of the story takes place (Peter walks on water, sinks, walks again, comes back, with Jesus, the winds die down and the trip continues).

So, the next time you're on a "boat" because you're trying to obey an order from God and you feel that everything comes against you... Keep on paddling! Don't give up!

Jesus is watching you and waiting that moment, half the way, when He will think: "He (or she) just won't give up!" Will smile and come to your boat, with a powerful miracle in his feet, his hands, his eyes.

But... Why is it that Jesus does that kind of things? Simple: Serving God, despite any limitation show one thing: The powerful that a person or a church can become when those limitations be no more. Because, even with circumstances against you, you never gave up, the devil don't even want to think of what you could accomplish with everything in your favor. With Christ on your boat.

So... Keep on paddling because Jesus is coming! On water!