When we participate in “training,” we typically have a goal in mind. Perhaps we hope to improve our strength or acquire a new skill, at least that’s what I imagine.

But when I read Oswald Chambers’ devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, I found that Chambers flips our thinking about goals. The author suggests that instead of thinking God is leading me to a desired goal that the process or training is the actual goal.

Chambers uses the event of Jesus walking on water to expound on this idea.

After Jesus fed the five thousand, we find, “Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd” (Mark 6:45). The goal: Bethsaida, across the Sea of Galilee.

Of course, we know part-way toward their “goal,” the disciples are confronted by heavy winds that prevent their progress. Then, literally, out of the blue, they see Jesus . . . walking on water!

Chambers states, “What He desires for me is that I see ‘Him walking on the sea’ with no shore, no success, nor goal in sight, but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see ‘Him’” (My Utmost for His Highest, Updated Edition, July 28).

The disciples’ focus changes to what Jesus wants them to see now. Jesus wants His disciples to see Him now.

God wants the same for us. Our goal is the preparation. Our “training” is for the present. Do we trust Him in the now? Are we being obedient moment-by-moment now? Oswald teaches, “God training is for now, not later.”

“[T]rain yourselves to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7b-8).

May we train well today.