SCRIPTURE: Luke 8:22-25
OBSERVATION:
Jesus challenges them, ‘where is your faith?’, but I find myself sympathizing with the disciples. Their fear that they would perish reveals that they do not really know who Jesus is (afterall, could God’s plans for the messiah be thwarted by a chance thunderstorm?). Also, their surprise at His calming the storm (which I can relate to) shows that they do not see Jesus as authorized by God with spiritual power, that the wind and the waves obey Him. This is just one example of times when the disciples were no doubt afraid… would they survive? But this reveals their uncertainty about God’s authority over time and circumstances. God will not allow anything to happen that does not fit with His plan. In one sense, we too ought to be able to “sleep” through the storms of life, since we know that whatever happens is all a part of God’s best (though not easy) plan. Would we want anything less than the best plan?
APPLICATION:
Easier said than done. In my head I can agree that whatever happens, as directed by the perfect, and perfectly good and wise, God, is the best way for me, and for those around me. But what if that includes suffering, grief, sickness, tragedy, loss, abuse, emotional pain, false accusation, job loss, etc. Am I supposed to rest in those times? Is Jesus looking down from the throne and saying, “where is your faith?” Although I will not have this kind of faith, it is something that I can see moving towards. Oftentimes we overeact to our circumstances, and end up making matters worse. A quiet faith, a quiet response is best in all circumstances, because it protects us from rash and foolish reactions. I need to daily spend time trying to rest quietly through each experience, giving over the results to God.
PRAYER:
Lord, I will say it again, easier said than done. I want to rest in You more, even through the storms, trusting that You have authority over the wind and the waves of life. Help my faith to grow! Amen.
As I read these verses this morning I am very much reminded of the season of life that I have just gone through – chaos and fear, anxiety, uncertainty and overwhelmingness with the busyness of life. I hear Him speaking into my heart – “Where was your faith?”
LORD, most powerful and almighty God, please be my centre, be my calm in the eye of the storms of life. Fill me with Your peace. I know that You are the ruler over all. Personal experience has proven to me over and over again that You are always in control but just like the disciples in these scriptures, I forgot who You truly are. Thank You LORD that once again I am surrendered to You, putting things in place to make sure that I spend quiet time with You throughout each day so that when the waves of life rise up, I can trust You completely to be my anchor and quiet the raging waters. I lift my eyes up, to the mountains, where does my help come from….. My help comes from You, Maker of Heaven, Creator of the earth…… I will wait for You, to come and rescue me, come and give me life…… Oh, how I need You LORD, You are my only hope, my only prayer….. As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after You….. In Your Presence, there is peace…… Thank You LORD Jesus for the storms of life that reveal Your mighty power!
In my daily walk with Jesus, all may be calm as it was with the disciples when they set sail. All is well. As the disciples were busy sailing Jesus fell asleep. All is well. After all, they were fishermen, sailors. They knew what they were doing. Until . . . the storm swamped their boat and they feared for their lives. They forgot Christ’s presence. They had experienced His power and might. Yet now they felt alone, until Jesus came once again. All is well with my life. Everything is going smoothly. Smooth sailing. I forget God’s presence in my life by taking things for granted. Then the storms of life come. Street demonstrations. Security issues. Unhappy parents. Dealing with students. Lacking patience because the air conditioner doesn’t work, lack of punctuality, etc and I try to go it alone. Where is my Saviour in all of this? Where is He in my daily travels of life?
At all times, as with the disciples, so also for me – a disciple – I need Him every hour. I need His presence to guide, to comfort, to shelter, to strengthen, to hold, to have, etc when the sailing is smooth or when the waters are rough. May I never take the Lord for granted but live and acknowledge His presence in my life each day – in the still of the night and the storms of the day. Increase my faith Lord.
I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.