Mark 6:48 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. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 

John 6:21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Another revelation we can see from this passage of scripture is the embodiment of grace.

When the disciples were instructed to go to the other side, heavy winds were against them making it difficult to reach the other side. They strained and strained, but still were unsuccessful in reaching the other side. It wasn’t until they focused their eyes of Jesus, all their straining ceased and they immediately arrived at their destination.
Like the disciples, we have a tendency to strain and toil to obtain the blessed life on our own. We may think we need to work harder or gain more connections to achieve a certain goal. Spiritually speaking, we’ll have a law like mentality thinking we need to do more (praying, fasting, giving) to get God to move on our behalf. What we fail to realize is it’s not by works that we receive the promises of God. All the promises of God are received by faith (Romans 4:13-16).

All of our efforts are beneficial is some way, but they don’t encourage God to do anything. Our faith is what obtains the promises of God. When we believe that the sacrifice of Jesus has made everything we need or desire available to us and we believe God wants us to have these promises, that faith obtains every promise in the Word of God.

Stop trying to struggle and figure it out by yourself. Focus your eyes on the finished works of Jesus and receive the promises of God by faith.