²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Dear God, this story makes me think of the time Jesus explained to the disciples that they couldn’t cast out a demon because it required prayer and fasting. Well, losing John was apparently a blow for Jesus—so much so that Matthew was careful to record it this way. Matthew could see the strain on Jesus’ face. He could see the devastation and he remembered Jesus trying to get away from everyone to mourn, being unsuccessful because of the crowd, and then finally finding some time late at night when he could finally get rid of everyone.

I know I have a stressful year coming up at work. I am sure I will have stressful moments here at home and in other areas of my life. I have got to somehow remember to find that extra time to get alone and pray (and possibly fast) when those times come. I have got to remember that I will burn out on my own. I have to better learn to turn the responsibility of the outcomes over to you and simply serve you in each given moment.

Father, frankly, it is impressive that Jesus was able to deal with at least most of his grief concerning John in one night. I don’t know that I will always be capable of processing trials so quickly, but I do turn myself over to you and ask that you help me to use this year as an opportunity to grow closer to you and to learn to use prayer and fasting as a tool for becoming the man you are calling me to be.