Jesus comes at the very last minute  

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Catey Stover in Victory Call

“Now on the Fourth watch of the night, Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.” Matthew 14:25

 

Are you facing a situation today that seems impossible? I know many brothers and sisters in the Lord have experienced the same sufferings as you and I reassure you, you are not alone.

 

In Matthew 14:22-33, the story we all know very well, speaks of a profound lesson. Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and head out to sea. However, Jesus was NOT with them in the boat but I highlight, He did send them. He will send us into situations that make absolutely no sense. He stayed behind to go up to the mountain to pray. It was not until the fourth watch, at the end of the night, that Jesus came to do the impossible and the unthinkable.

 

Are you at your wits end and exhausted from the consistent troubles and sufferings of heart? I write to comfort you, that Jesus already knows and is already there. He is not being slow with changing your situation. He is waiting for your commitment to put your full trust in Him this very hour. He will come to do the unthinkable in your situation at the very last minute. I know because the Scriptures say so, for the Lord promises that His Word will never return void (Isaiah 55:11).  Our Father will allow things to take place to first test our faith and our hearts, to know we are fully devoted to Him and Him only (Deuteronomy 8: 2-3). And second, His Word reassures us over and over again that He will do things to make Himself be known to us.

 

The miracles only lie in His hands. No one else can change your given situation or the pain you are experiencing. Only Jesus can bring that comfort, ease and peace to your weary soul.

 

Three times in this story, the writer of this Gospel mentions the word ‘immediately.’ Immediately, Jesus made the disciples go into the boat, knowing already what they were going to face (Matthew 14:22). Immediately, Jesus spoke to them, saying “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). And immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him (Peter), and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased (Matthew 14:31-32). Immediately in the dictionary defines ‘at once’. Well the fourth hour is not at once, right!?

 

Why than did Jesus make the disciples wait during the boisterous winds and waves? Why did He wait until the fourth hour and not immediately like these three above verse exclaim?  Well, to my prayerful knowledge, Jesus sent out the disciples right after He performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand. Jesus never wants us to lose focus of Who really is in control and Whose strength we truly need to depend on. It is always in the times of turbulence and suffering we grow to know and trust in the Father. As James writes, “Count it all joy brethren, when you face various trials, for it is the testing of your faith.” But during the testing of their faith, Jesus immediately comforted them with the words “Be of good cheer, it is I” The great I AM. The God Almighty. The Comforter. The Healer. The Redeemer. The Sustainer. The Ever Present Help in times of trouble. And then, Jesus immediately stretched out His hand to reach for Peter and He reaches today for you. Do not lose focus nor sight of what the Lord is doing. He is holding you and stretching out His hand from the drowning waters. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned up, For I AM the Lord Your God.” (Isaiah 43:2).

 

He is who He says He is. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. God Bless you.

Written by Danielle Milano: Danielle is a beloved daughter and sister in CHRIST. Her greatest ministry is her son, Chase. She attends Calvary Chapel Living Water where she serves in children’s ministry and in the church. Her heart is for the lost and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of ^[a]God! Therefore the world does not know ^[b]us, because it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1