Mark 6:45-52
And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
What a display of supernatural activity that transpires before the very eyes of these disciples! Everything was a scene set to see the power of God! But not only were these disciples just spectators, but they involuntarily became participators as they themselves were in the midst of the storm that seemed to reek havoc, while yet in the midst of it all God begins to move in such un-parallel ways!
Prior to this event God supernaturally provides food for five thousand people starting off with only five loaves of bread and two fishes and now then later on when caught in the thicket of a storm, the disciples' heart progressively goes from believing to hardening! You see the feeding of the five thousand did not occur because of the disciples belief that it would happen, but rather upon Jesus manifesting the power of God to not only feed people, but use the occasion to encourage their hearts that God provides when we acknowledge Him in all our ways and needs. Hence for God to be glorified in them instead of doubt being magnified.
So what does fishes and loaves have to do with the storm? ...EVERYTHING!
Those disciples had to realize that God would not forsake them and would be with them! They had to realize that if they FIRST believed God can do all things, THEN would they see Him do all things!
There are some I have crossed paths with and have told me that if they saw God do a miracle or something so cataclysmic then they would believe in Him. Well truth be told, seeing a miracle does not always make you believe. It all depends on the heart.
When it came to feeding five thousand, THE WORD (Jesus) said to the disciples "feed them", speaking the end result to fulfillment. Later THE WORD (Jesus) tells them to go to the other side and He will meet up with them again speaking the end result of their voyage to the other side. The WORD will always state the ending at the beginning of a journey, so that you have more than enough reason to believe God will do as He says. However very seldom will He fill you in on the in-between details. But you can rest assure that you will see the in-between details when you trust and journey towards the end result His Word has spoken!
So what can keep one from seeing God?
It is the hardness of heart which stems from unbelief.
A HARDENED HEART
Some say, well if I see God do such and such and sure enough He does, they still find it hard to see that being God at work because though their eyes have seen, their heart has a blockade of unbelief. HARDNESS OF HEART BLINDS THE EYES! Such would think it is only a spiritual eye problem, meanwhile it is linked to a spiritual heart problem! If your heart is hard, so it will also be hard to recognize God in seeing Him, feeling Him and hearing Him!
The fact is, God is moving ALL THE TIME around you, but if you find it hard to catch a glimpse, then check your heart to see whether or not there is any hardness!
In the storm first fear came into the disciple's heart of feeling forsaken then a hardness conjured up against God's keeping power. Perhaps they thought Jesus would not come through during such inclement weather, therefore they themselves would not last through the storm. But notice in Mark 6 that THE WORD was walking on water and was about to pass them!
Sort of like the tortoise and the hare. You may think you got a head start in the journey and figure God's Word to your life is taking forever to be fulfilled and catch up to where you are at! You then would think He wont come through for you! You may see the storm you are in and assume you are so far passed God's timing, meanwhile while fear morphs to a hardness of heart, leaving you stuck in misery!
AND THEN SUDDENLY through the fog of confusion and fear you see THE WORD shows up and passing you while you are stuck going up and down the waves of wonderous thoughts! The WORD found smooth sailing in your storm of dilemma, through the waves, not even going parallel to the currents of doubt, but head on overcoming the strongholds and strong flows of disillusionment. That is when you realize you want to go from your ship into His!
Perhaps you gave your tithe and offering, yet believing God to come through on your mortgage and some money comes in, but not even near to what you felt God put on your heart to give. Sometimes it is hard to see if it was God or just mere coincidence! Meanwhile the more difficult it is to see God in all things, is an indicator of how much of your heart may be hardened in doubt and raptured by fear. Anyone can give in an offering basket, but it is all about HOW YOU GIVE! How you give your thoughts in the situations, how you give yourself in prayer, how you give yourself in believing God's word, how you give yourself in obedience, how you give yourself to faith that causes you to take action when you can't see naturally through the spraying midst of the high tide storms, but yet see clear skies through the eyes of faith!
Seeing DOES NOT ALWAYS guarantee believing, but truly believing WILL ALWAYS guarantee you to be SEEING!
Remember a hard heart results in a hard way of seeing God. So just know that if you believe without any hardness of heart, you are BLESSED because you are way ahead of the devil in your journey and about to see God come through with a miracle! Just pray God would touch your heart again so that your eyes can see!