Where is Your Faith?

And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, "Where is your faith?" (Luke 8:22-39)

Other accounts of this storm (vv. 22–25) express Jesus' words differently ("O ye of little faith" in Matthew and "How is it that ye have no faith?" in Mark), but Luke's "Where is your faith?" conveys a different angle. Where was the disciples' faith?

Did their fear temporarily scare it away, or was it resting elsewhere? Were they depending on things they'd been depending upon before meeting Jesus—the ability to earn a living, the sturdiness of their boat, good friends to talk things over with? In those dire moments in the boat, it's unlikely the disciples embarked on much self-examination.

An old hymn says: "Master, the tempest is raging...Carest Thou not that we perish? How canst Thou lie asleep...?" The refrain repeats, "Peace! Be still." And a beautiful reminder, "No waters can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean and earth and skies!"

Storms we face range today from various crises to steady, daily dissatisfactions. Storms can come in the form of unfulfilling work, together with irritating co-workers. Our storms may be health-related, like COVID or even unnamed fears that arrive unpredictably. Other storms may be seemingly impenetrable layers of worldly affection encasing a heart that has neither time nor room for loving God nor a mind occupied with everything except studying and dwelling on His precepts.

We frequently think of the storms that need calming as coming from the outside. But we should also examine our storms on the inside. Let's include in our prayers a plea against internal storms: noise, resistance, fear, and small faith.

Luke's gospel gives many accounts proving the truth of Gabriel's words to Mary, "For with God nothing shall be impossible." Jesus embodies the "nothing is impossible" power of God. He is still "Master of ocean and earth and skies" and of every storm that may be testing or hindering your faith.

LET US PRAY - Lord Jesus, our cluttered minds and hindered hearts need the steady rain of your Spirit breaking through years of built-up affections. May we give You the attention we long to give You during this season of Lent. In Jesus' name. Amen.