“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over
the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping
on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care
if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the
waves, “Quiet! Be still! ”Then the wind died down and it was completely
calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no
faith?” They were terrified and
asked each other, “Who is
this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark
4:37-41
Do you still have no faith?
Isn't that a piercing question?
What He is really asking is, "Do you have a faith that's greater than your fear?"
Still a piercing question!
Why did Jesus allow His disciples to endure such a fearful experience as this fierce and frightening storm?
Jesus knew the only way to learn how to handle fear is to experience it. Fear is a decision. Not always a rational one but a decision none the less.
Faith is also a decision, a rational one. So, faith is coming to a rational decision in the midst of irrational fears. Faith is suddenly remembering that Jesus is in the boat during a storm. Faith is consciously shifting your focus from the storm to the Savior.
Unless you go through some storms and get scared to death you won't learn that God is faithful in the storm. And if you don't learn it there will be plenty more storms to help you learn it.
Until you have accused Him of not caring about your life can you learn the reality of how - and how much - He really does care!
Until you experience the terror of feeling your life is out of control do you fully understand the power of being under His control.
Only when you have had some, "Who is this that even the waves and winds obey Him" moments can you appreciate His sovereign power.
Once you have been terrified (feared with a great fear) in His presence you can begin to understand that faith begins with the fear of God. When you fear God more than you fear anything else then you are at a place where you can rationally choose faith.
Don't be surprised by the storms.
Don't despise the storms.
Don't go through a storm without Him.
Don't waste the fear you feel in the storm!
Facing a storm without Him should be your greatest fear.
Unless you go through some storms and get scared to death you won't learn that God is faithful in the storm. And if you don't learn it there will be plenty more storms to help you learn it.
Until you have accused Him of not caring about your life can you learn the reality of how - and how much - He really does care!
Until you experience the terror of feeling your life is out of control do you fully understand the power of being under His control.
Only when you have had some, "Who is this that even the waves and winds obey Him" moments can you appreciate His sovereign power.
Once you have been terrified (feared with a great fear) in His presence you can begin to understand that faith begins with the fear of God. When you fear God more than you fear anything else then you are at a place where you can rationally choose faith.
Don't be surprised by the storms.
Don't despise the storms.
Don't go through a storm without Him.
Don't waste the fear you feel in the storm!
Facing a storm without Him should be your greatest fear.
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