What does it take to have faith? Scripture is full of vital information and examples of faith. No way can I go through all of them, but in todays reading marks a pinnacle event in the disciples life that I think each of us today, can relate to in our own lives in some fashion.
So as the story is read, the disciples are in a boat in the sea of Galilee and hear what it says. And a fierce gale of wind *developed, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling
with water. And yet Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they *woke Him and *said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Starting right off, we see the distress that is already happening. Just think, anxiety has set in. Palms are probably sweaty, the snow ball affect of worse case scenario has creeped into their minds, seeing the blistering waves and winds go all around them. I could just imagine in their minds right now, so many racing thoughts are protruding into their psyche. Just about the only thing they could physical do is jump overboard and float in the sea, riding out the storm but only in time would grow weary and maybe eventually drown from exhaustion. So that wasn’t an option. Another, could have been to try and row very hard towards land, but even then, waves and wind are too strong, and that would not work at all. But the one thing they did agree on say Jesus, why are you not helping us? Do you want us to die? Do you want us to perish? Do you want us to be anxious, feel and think terrible thoughts, or even have us die out here?
One thing to remember here friends, much like us today, when we lose the ‘sense’ of control or safety, we go aria. Control and Safety is something everyone has trouble with in some form or another. But honestly, the disciples did NOT even have control over anything up to that point. They ‘felt’ their safety was in jeopardy. They had what is called and ‘illusion’ of what was immediately happening around them. When everything is going ok, when our minds and hearts seem to be at peace, then suddenly a storm hits us in life, what do we do?
Here is a good description I thought to share. Safety is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Jesus, our Savior, our Lord, our protector that is ever present in hope. So what did Jesus do for the disciples, I will go back to that in a minute.
Suppose there is a fire in the upper section of a house. As the people gather outside, a child is seen at the window of a room next to the fire. The fire trucks are at least 5 minutes away and so will be too late to help. How is the child to escape?
Now suppose that in the neighborhood lives a large man, well know for his strength and athletic ability. He arrives at the scene and shouts to the child, “Drop into my arms. Don’t be afraid. I’ll catch you.”
It is one part of faith for the child to know that the man is there. It is another part of faith to believe that the man is strong and able to catch someone. But the essence of faith lies in his dropping down into the man’s arms.
So here we have the disciples all in fear, and their Teacher was fast asleep. In their minds, seeing Jesus sleeping, they immediately think he doesn’t care. Does this sound familiar in our own lives? When we think God is asleep, where are you God, why are you not promptly here?
Here is what Jesus did And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.
So now, what do you see? What do you think the disciples are feeling and experiencing? Relief! Joy! Gladness! Amazed! And so many other thoughts I’m sure.
But up to this point, sudden fear and terror entered their lives. All was unexpected!
I would like for you to place yourself in that boat, but make it something that’s real to you. Maybe an airplane, a hospital room, a car. And even think little more than that, how about a circumstance like family problem, medical concern, financial problem, an argument you may have had, what ever scenario you are having at this very moment, or even in the future that you do NOT KNOW ABOUT, place yourself in that boat where the disciples are.
Now listen to what Jesus said:
And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?
Wow! A sobering reality has now just been set into the disciples minds.
Faith! Faith at is heart! Scripture tells us “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the convictions of things not seen.”
What is Jesus really trying to tell us?
Famed World War II tank commander General George Patton said, “Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.” If you give in to your fears, you are on the path to defeat. If instead you stand strong in spite of your fears, you are on the path to victory. And we must never forget that we are not in the battle alone. With the power of God on our side, we cannot be defeated.
Inclosing, One thing about the story of the disciples on the boat I believe is imperative to note, what the disciples did do correctly!
At the very start of the problem they was in, they didn’t wait until their desperate circumstances was long after, they didn’t wait and suffer through it for a little while, they tentatively went to Jesus near the start of it all. And then Jesus came through and saved them. Who made the first step here, God or the disciples? The disciples! To exercise our faith, does that mean to throw in the towel early in the circumstance. No, it means the strength we need can only come from God first.
The Greek word for ‘faith’ is pistis, which means trusting, confidence, certainty.
Now, this story does not say we will NOT have pain and suffering and trials that won’t last long. Sometimes we do, but friends, it’s the faithful reassurance we need to exercise here, God is definitely with us. We MUST make the effort to ask, seek and find God in our bad circumstances, and even our good. We always need to place God into our daily, peaceful lives as well as our dismal and sad circumstances as well. IF anything you get out of this story, think of this. Jesus was sleeping on the boat during the storm, because he was at peace knowing his Father was in control. That should be a beacon of hope that we can follow. The faith we should reflect on involves confession, asking for help, and obedience which all is a state as well as an act.
On this Fathers Day, we do honor and celebrate our earthly fathers. Whether we have biological or a father figure, guardian, someone that had a impact on your life. We all have a Heavenly Father, always present into our lives, always ready to come to our aid, all we have to do is ask him, seek him, knock on the door and it will be opened for. , Amen
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.