Where are you?
“He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake.” (Mark 6:48)
Have you ever felt like prayer was a struggle, like you were pushing against wind and waves? Sometimes it seems God is distant, and our prayers get heavy. At other times, prayer feels like steady work, row after row, day after day. The Christian life includes both experiences. In fact, Scripture shows us that faith can look like sailing and like rowing.
Our story begins in Mark 6:48, where Jesus comes to the disciples while they are in a boat on the sea. The Bible says, “He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.” In that moment, the disciples are not enjoying a peaceful cruise. They are working hard, exhausted, and unsure whether help will come. Yet Jesus is watching, and He is coming, though not always in the timeline or method they expected.
This is how prayer often feels when we are rowing. We do not always sense God’s presence immediately. We keep praying anyway. We “strain at the oars,” bringing our concerns, our fears, and our needs to the Lord. We pray even when the waves are loud. Rowing prayer teaches endurance: it forms spiritual muscles. It reminds us that salvation is not earned by clever words, but received by faith.
But Scripture also reveals another side of prayer, sailing.
In Psalm 107, we read about those who go down to the sea and experience the wonder and danger of the ocean. The psalm describes ships tossed and threatened by storms, yet also speaks of sailors who cry out to the Lord in their trouble. Then, just as God’s mercy reaches them, the sea calms, and the storm gives way to safety. The psalm says the people “went up to the heavens” and “down to the depths,” but God ultimately brought them through. The message is clear: prayer is not only for moments of fear, it is also for moments when God lifts us from danger to deliverance.
So where are you in your prayer life right now?
Maybe you are rowing. If so, don’t confuse struggle with failure. Jesus saw the disciples straining. Your prayer life may be quiet, repetitive, and hard—but God is present. Keep bringing your prayer to Him with honesty. If your words are few, let your faith be strong.
Maybe you are sailing. If your prayers have been answered, give thanks. Sail on in gratitude, not pride. Remember the God who calmed the storm. Praise is a continuation of faith, not a replacement for it.
Prayer life is often both: moments of calm and moments of storm, seasons of strength and seasons of waiting. The sea and the boat are not outside God’s care. They are places where He teaches trust.
Today, take your next step, whether that step is one more row or one more prayer of surrender. Jesus is watching. God hears. And just as Psalm 107:23–31 shows deliverance from the depths, the Lord can bring you through whatever waves you are facing.
Mark 6:48 begins with Jesus coming near. Psalm 107:23–31 ends with the storm stilled and God praised.
Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. 24 They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. 25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. 27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. 31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. (Psalm 107:23-31)
Brian Leathers September 2026