Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea . . . And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him . . . Mark 3:7.9
Jesus had been healing the sick, lame, blind and leprous. Word was getting aroundthat this great miracle worker was in the region. People were scooping up maimed children, carrying mangle-limbed relatives, and leading their blind friends to this man on the chance that they might catch his attention and perhaps, just maybe, be healed as well. But Jesus not only came to heal diseases, but to heal souls. That is so much more important because this shell we use while we are on this earth is so temporary compared to the eternal body we, as believers, will receive when we come into His presence. Not that we shouldn’t ask Jesus to heal us or anyone else, but how much more important is it that we ask Jesus to come into their lives and heal them from the inside out? He wanted to give the crowds so much more than relief from their pains and sufferings. He wanted them with Him for eternity where there is no pain.
Have you ever felt God withdraw from you? Perhaps it is because you are asking for the wrong thing at the wrong time. You may want healing for one thing and He has such a better plan. He has a lesson for you so you can cope with what is ahead, or perchance a blessing that you need to receive. But first you have to stop, quit pressing Him and listen. From the boat Jesus could be heard better. It also gave Him time to call his disciples to go and do His work. Perhaps, He is preparing to send someone into your life to step in and be His hands and feet, thus blessing you both. Maybe He is teaching you patience or stepping back so you can focus on Him better instead of what is crowding your life and pressing against you, blocking Him from your full view. Never think you do not have His attention. But be sure that He has yours.
