Is This What They Saw? | AllWorship.com

Jesus’ disciples were afraid of drowning. A healthy fear, it is, we might say, in some circumstances. We humans typically value self-preservation! If what they saw was like the image above, I could understand why they would be afraid. Fishing boats of the day were not especially large. Large, strong waves could swamp them easily–waves like the Sea of Galilee was famous for producing. Sudden, violent squalls could hit with little notice and overwhelming force.

And Jesus asked them, “Where is your faith?”

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” (Luk 8:24-25 NIV)

It is easy for us to judge them, considering that Jesus was in the boat with them. But let’s not be too quick to do that. They had not yet seen what we know today. They did not know that Jesus could calm raging waves with a word. Consequently, they were afraid.

I think, given similar circumstances, most of us would be too. Put yourself there and think about it.

If that is not enough, put it in today’s circumstances. When there are more bills than there is money, are you afraid? When there are devastating circumstances for which there are no solutions, are you afraid? What if you lost your job and could not find another in a reasonable time? Would you be afraid? What if you are in your home in a storm and a tornado is heading for your neighborhood? Would you be afraid? (Be honest.)

So, you see, we are not so different than those men in that boat. Not that much different at all.

When you face something for which there is no visible or viable solution, or you face overwhelming power with no way in your own ability to stand against it, and you have nothing to rely on but your faith in Jesus, hear Him ask you: “Where is your faith?”

Is your faith in your abilities? Then it is not faith at all. Is it in the “Universe”– a misguided hope that something will just work out for you without your involvement? Then it is not genuine faith at all.

It has been said, “A hope without a plan is a wish.” So, what is your plan in difficult times? If it is anything other than committing your faith and well-being to Jesus and trusting your outcome to Him, it is probably not a plan, or at least not a good one. If it happens to be a plan and is not rooted in Jesus, it is a misplaced hope at best.

Ask yourself the question Jesus asked His disciples: “Where is your faith?” This is another way of asking, “In what or on what do you rely?” If you do have a hope, on what is it based?

Do you believe–genuinely believe–that Jesus will calm your raging waters and cause your storm to subside? Do you really? Are you willing to rely on it enough to “bet the farm,” as they say, or just enough to make a good show while you “hedge your bet” on your own ability to rescue yourself?

You may not be in crisis right now. If you are not, I am glad for you. But don’t rest too easily just yet. Like the storms of Galilee, clear skies of life can change quickly. It is wise to decide beforehand how you will respond to difficulty so that when it happens, you will not be caught without a response.

Know where your faith is and in what your hope lies. If it is in anything other than Jesus, then perhaps you should decide to worry. But then, that’s not much of a plan, is it?

Trust Jesus and decide now, while your life’s sky is clear, that you will place your hope, trust, and faith in Him and His ability to calm any storm or cause any wave to subside, regardless of circumstances. Then, if waves come, you are ready to meet them.