What does Mark 6:51 mean?

The Twelve are headed to Capernaum after going to Bethsaida to get their boat. They have rowed about three or four miles (John 6:19), roughly half the distance to Capernaum. They have recently spent some time paired up, traveling through Galilee, performing miraculous healings and exorcising demons (Mark 6:7–13), and perhaps even raising the dead (Matthew 10:8). They have seen Jesus calm a violent storm (Mark 4:35–41). Now they strain against the wind. Yet they don't stop to think that the same power and authority that granted them the ability to heal like Jesus might also allow them to control the wind like Jesus.

At least four of the Twelve are seasoned fishermen. They know this lake and all its personalities. They have faced strong winds before, and they know how to struggle as they row toward their destination. We can be the same when working on a problem we have experience with. We tend to value hard work and dedication to the point of stubbornness, but human effort is vanity if we don't invite God into our work.

We sometimes forget that our loving Father wants us to pray about everything that concerns us (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We pray for the big things, like cancer, but don't always think to give Him the little things, like a cold. Or we may give Him the sacred, like our kids' salvation, but neglect the banal, like that He will let them have a good day at school. Our heavenly Father loves us. He wants to bless us. It's okay to pray for a sunny day or favor with the boss or that we won't be too sore after a workout. Our requests may not be in God's plan for us, but simply by praying we recognize that these things are under His control and we are dependent on Him. By praying, we live the truths that we trust Him and He loves us.