Photo by Matt Hardy on Unsplash
By Mike Chaffin
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:26
Wars and rumors of wars. Diseases and contagions. Tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods. They all have one thing in common. They make us worry.
Worry and fear come naturally to us. Concern for our safety and those we love can bind us. Insecurity as to where the next meal is coming from, how to pay the bills, and our health can crowd out other thoughts. For a non-Christian this is a normal part of life. However, for a Christian, we don’t have to give in to worry.
Jesus posed this question to His disciples during a storm they were in on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus, sleeping in the stern, was awakened by them. They cried for Him to save them as they thought they would perish. Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves. The storm ceased and the disciples were amazed that even the wind and waves obeyed His command.
Jesus wasn’t questioning their response to the storm. They came to Him for help, just as we would pray for his help today. He questioned why they were afraid and why they had so little faith. Heathens should be afraid, but Christians haven’t been given a spirit of fear.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
The question Jesus asks is how do we respond to hardship and peril? Do we go to prayer in faith, knowing Jesus is there with us? Or do we let fear get the better of us, confusing our minds? God has power over nature and throughout the Bible He has given that power, through prayer, to people of faith. Moses, through prayer, parted the waters. Joshua’s army marched through faith around Jericho for seven days not knowing exactly what was going to happen but won the victory. Elijah prayed that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t for over three years. Peter walked on water, until his faith wavered.
Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians details what it is like to live in faith, knowing you are in God’s hands and that is good enough.
24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 2 Corinthians 11:24-28
He sums up his secret in Philippians. Written while in prison.
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13
What Jesus is teaching us in this question, and what Paul learned and lived out, is circumstances don’t change the fact that Jesus is at our side, and we need not fear any obstacles when we are in His will. Every battle may not turn out how we want but our destiny is certain, eternity with Jesus in Heaven. We win.
Contemplation: Do I let fear overrule my faith in Jesus?
