Toiling in life
In Mark chapter 6 verses 47 to 51, we read of the disciples of Jesus toiling as they were rowing and struggling to make progress with a strong wind against them. Sometimes in life things seem against us and life seems a toil, a struggle.
However, the difficulties the disciples were in couldn't prevent Christ coming to their aid walking on the water! They were afraid as they thought they must be seeing a ghost, but Jesus reassures them that it is really Him. Jesus gets into the boat and all is calm. We need to realise in all our struggles and toils in life, nothing can prevent Christ our saviour coming to help us, bringing peace and calm to the situation.
There is a gallery in Italy with paintings by two different artists side by side. One shows a severe dark storm with a human face in the water. The other shows a storm with a rock in the water, and in a cleft in the rock some flowers and on them a dove sitting on a nest. One painting brings home a life without Christ, and storms everywhere without His presence and peace. The other painting by way of contrast is a scene of peace and calm in a severe storm, upon the rock which for the believer is Christ.
“How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my refuge, and breathed out my woe:
often, when trials like sea-billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.
Hiding in Thee! Hiding in Thee!
Thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee!”