From S. Michael Wilcox’s book “When Prayers Seem Unanswered”:
I would like to suggest some things that go through my mind in those difficult moments of life. Hopefully they will be of value to you as they have been to me. They are the letters I peruse from a kind Father in heaven, who knew beforehand we would face such dilemmas and questions. One of the first of those scriptural letters contains a principle I call “The Fourth Watch.”
A New Testament day was divided into twelve hours, beginning at six in the morning. The third hour would be nine o’clock, the sixth hour would be noon, the eleventh hour, though we usually visualize it as just before midnight, actually was five o’clock in the evening. The night was divided into four watches: The first watch was from six in the evening until nine at night. The second watch was from nine until midnight, the third watch was from midnight until three in the morning, and the fourth watch was from three in the morning until six, about sunrise.
The Savior had just fed the five thousand. He instructed his disciples to get into a boat and pick him up later, after he had dismissed the multitude and later spent some solitude in prayer. The disciples obeyed. It was late afternoon or early evening when they got into the ship and pushed out into the Sea of Galilee. Jesus sent the multitude home and then turned to communion with his Father. He prayed into the evening and long into the night.
In the meantime, a storm had swept down on the disciples in their voyage: “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 to them: (Mark 6:47-48) In Matthew’s version it says, “The ship was . . . tossed with waves” (Matthew 14:24) and in John’s account we read: “And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. So when they had rowed 25 to 30 furlongs. . . ” (John 6:18-19).
A Furlong is about 220 to 225 yards. So if they’ve rowed (about 70 football fields distance), into the wind into the storm. As would be expected they were exhausted and fearful. Mark’s version adds one tiny little point that the other’s don’t, something that I think is really important. Mark relates that Jesus “saw them toiling and rowing” (Mark 6:48). They did not know that he was aware of their danger. They did not realize that he was up on the hill looking down watching them. They only knew that they had rowed a long time, the wind remaining contrary, that they were exhausted and they needed help.
And then we read: “About the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto 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” (Mark 6:48-51; emphasis added).
I have a feeling that the Apostles, if they could have chosen, would have the Lord come in an earlier watch. I put it to you, as I frequently put to myself—when I toil in rowing against the wind, when the sea arises and I’m frightened and it’s dark and the wind keeps blowing, and I want help—I want him to come in the first watch. I’m a first watch type of person. Aren’t we all?
But there is also something inside me that channels my thinking into the realization that it is good to toil in rowing against the wind—that there is something to be gained by exercising spiritual muscles that are stretched in facing trials and opposition. All right, we can accept that. But if he doesn’t come in the first watch he certainly ought to come in the second watch. However, it appears that we worship a “fourth watch” God. And it is important for us to realize that we worship a fourth watch God.
Sometimes I pray: “Lord, I know you’re a fourth-watch God and that I’m a first-watch person. Couldn’t we compromise and have you come at the end of the second watch or the beginning of the third watch? Wouldn’t that be fair?” But the compromise rarely comes, and in my better moments I know that it’s good that it doesn’t. He’s a fourth watch God.
There are a number of scriptures that help us understand that he is truly a fourth-watch God. Take Joseph Smith’s experience, for instance. Doesn’t this sound like a fourth-watch response? “At the very moment when I was about to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—. . . just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head” (JS—H 1;16; emphasis added). The Lord tends to come at the moment of great alarm, when we’re ready to sink into despair.”
The story of Hagar in Genesis 21 contains a wonderful “fourth-watch” phrase describing her desperation: “The water was spent in the bottle” (Genesis 21:15). She was out wandering in the wilderness with her son, Ishmael, when she cast the child under one of the shrubs. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not, for God hath heard the voice of the lad and where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thing hand; . . . And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink” (Genesis 21:15-19).
God often comes to us when “the water [is] spent in the bottle,” then shows us the previously undiscovered, life-giving waters of the nearby well.
In 1 Kings 17, another widow, desperate in a time of famine, does not know help is just around the corner when Elijah meets her at the gate. The prophet directs her: “Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said, as the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die”(1 Kings 17:11-12).
Elijah appears just at the moment that she is gathering those two pathetic tiny sticks for the last meal. When the water is spent in the bottle: at the moment of despair; when we’re preparing the last meal, that’s when the Lord tends to come.
When we advance into the second watch and he doesn’t come, a certain cold fear often begins to spread through us as the winds velocity does not diminish. As we move into the third watch we may be tempted to make some assumptions that are very dangerous and foolish to make. “God is not listening to me.” “He doesn’t care.” Or more dangerous yet, ‘He’s not there.” At times the universe can seem so very empty—all that dark space filled with cold stars. Or, very common to Latter-day Saints, we assume, “I’m not worthy.” “He’s not listening.” “He doesn’t care.” “No one is there to respond.” Because if he were there and if he were listening or if I were worthy, he would certainly come.
When you feel somewhat desperate, when it seems like your prayers aren’t answered and the winds still blow, take comfort in the knowledge that he is on the hillside watching. Remember that you might not know that he is watching as you struggle in the boat, but he is on the hillside watching, and he will come. But he generally comes in the fourth watch — after we have done all that we can do. ~S. Michael Wilcox, When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered (Salt Lake City,:Deseret Book, 20060, p.7-13
