Jesus has a way of asking questions to make us think – at just at the right time.
He asked His disciples where is your faith in the middle of a storm. He asks the same of me in the middle of mine. Times when I’ve had to put myself right back there in Luke 8:22-25 within the dark waves of a violent storm, sitting next to a sleeping Jesus in a wind-battered-water-filled boat . . . about to go down.
Be there for a moment and locate your faith.
And so in this story the very-human followers cry out, “Lord, we’re perishing,” which was enough to make the Master awaken and rebuke the raging winds and waters. And they ceased to a calm.
He does the same for us today when we feel as desperate, and yet my answer to His question has often been, “my faith is on the shoreline where it’s safe.” The anchor in this passage is where it tells us that Jesus got into the boat with them. He didn’t expect them to face the storm alone.
Amazing – these guys who had a disciple’s eye-view of the Messiah performing miracles of healing leaping paralytics and casting demons into pigs and yet were still afraid of drowning while He was right there. Right there.
May I never judge a disciple – I’ve been in the same boat.
When we have every reason to be overwhelmed with fear, we can trust an Almighty God to shut the voice of a relentless enemy who tells us we’re destined for the deep.
So if you’re experiencing life’s storms and peace is about to capsize, run to the safe place of His Word and believe it belongs to the moment – only then can it infuse a strong assurance into a pacing soul where worry and despair will not survive.
I’ve found that when faith and fear come to a swift collision, we need to rehearse the miracles so we don’t drown in the circumstances. It’s been a lifeline for me to review past journals – the keeping place of amazing happenings that remind me of His presence in the whirlwind. On every page I read between the lines . . .
When logic screams, How? God whispers, Remember.
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. Psalm 56:3
And may we continue to pray for those enduring the waters at this time . .
Verna
Oh Verna, I can relate to still being afraid of drowning while He is right there. Thank you for the reminder that we don’t tread these waters alone!
And I know . . . even in God’s securing presence we may feel like we’re going under – but He never leaves us, never . . . . thank you Sally!
Needed this today. (But you’re not surprised, I know.) Thank you!