Our verses are John 6:18-21, and it’s from the story of Jesus walking on the water. The disciples are on the boat and Jesus is not with them. “The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing. When therefore they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid. But he said to them, ‘It is I. Do not be afraid.’ They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going” (WEB).

We have the disciples working really hard to row across the sea during a storm. Then God just picks them up and plops them where they need to be without any effort on their part at all. So, which is it? Does God want us to work hard, or does He want us to let Him do it all for us? And the answer is both!

God chose for them to row across in the storm. It was unnecessary. He could have just picked them up and put them on the other side. Philip was picked up and placed in another city in Acts 8. Paul, however, had to travel more than 10,000 miles, and a lot of that was on foot. Since God could just eliminate the effort and just give us stuff and take us places, but doesn’t, we can know that He knows that’s not the best way for us to live. He doesn’t exist to be our servant that fetches us things and chauffeurs us around so that we can grow lazy. He chose for us to work. It’s best for us.

But we can easily see from this story, that our labors aren’t the best! We can work really hard for a long time and not get very far or hardly accomplish anything. God, in an instant, can accomplish more than we could have imagined. His ways are so much better than ours. And this is where we talk about working in His strength. We need to recognize our weakness, our need for Him. Then let Him accomplish the work through us. It’s truly only His work that amounts to anything actually. When our works are tested, the only lasting works will be the ones accomplished by the Everlasting One!

How do we let Him work through us? Start each day by giving Him your whole self, your time, your body, your mind, your strength, your work, your energy, your thoughts. Ask Him to make them His and consecrate them for His purposes. Ask Him to order your steps and lay out the path. His plan for the day. Acknowledge Him throughout the day, thanking Him for answering your prayer and helping you. Live your life together with Jesus. Let Him show Himself strong through you.