FAITHLESS FEAR OR FEARLESS FAITH?

“Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.  The disciples woke Him, and said to Him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’”

(Mark 4:38).

Sometimes when we feel crushed by the waves of adversity surrounding us, don’t we also say the same thing to Him—at least in our thoughts?  “Lord, don’t you care that I’m hurting, that this is happening to me?”  “Don’t You care that I’m all alone?”  “Don’t You see?”

When we pray earnestly that a burden will be lifted and no answer comes, do we wonder if He even listens to our cries anymore? 

This was a lesson the disciples could learn only in a life-threatening situation; their Master had to be sleeping, and only He could deliver them.

In this storm, they could not have been safer than they were at that moment.  They could not sink– Jesus was in the boat!  His heavenly Father was not about to let Jesus die before His appointed time!  Faith should have trusted despite the danger and darkness of the hour.  He is with us during the storms of our lives.  Along with the disciples, we need to turn our faithless fear into fearless faith.

The story is told of a Christian army officer at sea with his family during a storm:

There was great panic amongst the passengers, but the officer was calm. His wife however, was not calm and criticized her husband, saying that, at a time like this, he should at least be concerned for her and the children. He made no reply, but soon came to her with his sword drawn, and with a serious look on his face, pointed it at her heart and asked, “Are you not afraid when a drawn sword is at your chest?” “No,” she replied, “not when I know it is in the hands of one who loves me.” He replied, “So why would you expect me to be afraid of this storm when I know it’s in the hands of my heavenly Father, who loves me?”

Like the disciples, we will have to endure raging storms.  It may be necessary for Christ to hide Himself for a season or withhold His help momentarily to teach us and increase our faith.  However, He will never leave or neglect us, nor is He indifferent to our needs.  He will help us at the right moment.

Jesus was in the boat with them yet, the disciples were afraid.  We need to see that our omnipotent (all-powerful), omnipresent (everywhere present) God cares about us.  He wants to calm the storms in our lives as He did for the disciples that day.  As we look to Him, He will either calm our storm, or He will calm us in the midst of the storm.  We have His peace when we’re anchored to the truth that He is always with us and He cares (Hebrews13:5; 1 Peter 5:7).

 

Fierce drives the storm, but wind and waves

Within His hand are held,

And trusting His omnipotence

My fears are sweetly quelled.–Brown