He went up into the mountain to pray (Mark 6:46).

 If someone were to ask you what you found fascinating about today’s reading, it probably wouldn’t be this sentence. You could emphasize how Jesus rescued the apostles by appearing on the water and calming the storm. After all, he magnificently demonstrated his power and certainly dispelled the apostles’ doubts. Miracles naturally attract our attention. But at least as important is the fact that Jesus prayed. This means that although he had a divine nature, he consciously submitted to his Father. Mark writes that Jesus got up early in the morning and prayed in a “deserted place” (Mark 1:35). He always carefully followed his Father’s will and his plan for our salvation. 

And what about us? But Jesus needed to pray; how much more do we need to be in contact with God! If we don’t pray at all, the first problem we encounter will derail us. If we rarely pray, we will give up too easily and fail to listen to the Lord. But if we follow Jesus’ example, regularly withdrawing into silence and seeking God’s presence, we will likely achieve results similar to his. Even if we don’t witness miracles and our problems persist, we can find peace in knowing that Jesus is alongside us, calming the turmoil in our hearts and fortifying our faith. 

Occasionally, God’s glory is revealed in times of crisis or urgency; other times, we encounter the Lord when life is going smoothly, and everything is as calm as the still surface of a lake. Both of these experiences are precious and rewarding, but wisdom teaches us not to put off seeking the Lord until an emergency. It is best to seek him every day. God wants you to become a proclaimer of his truth and love. You don’t have to walk on water to help someone else accept Christ into their life, but you definitely have to pray!