FAITH STANDS IN DESPERATE SITUATION

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”—Hebrews 11:1

 

In Luke chapter 8:22-25, there is an outstanding account that the Holy Spirit included in the scriptures for us to learn how faith stands in a crisis situation.

 

Now it happened, on a certain day that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.  But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”  Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was calm. But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”  And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

 

The text begins, now on one of those days…the day started out good.  Jesus and His disciples were going to cross over a like.  Have you ever had a day that started out well—things were going good and then all of the sudden a crisis happens.  That is what happened here in this account.

Jesus was lying down taking a much needed rest when all of the sudden He was awaken to the frantic cries of His disciples—“Master, Master, we are perishing.”  The rest, seemingly, had turned into a disastrous situation.  A fierce wind was blowing, the surging waves were swamping

 

the boat and it looked like they were all going to drown.  Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and the scripture says that they stopped and it became calm.  Then Jesus said the most amazing thing to His disciples, He said, “Where is your faith?”  Signifying to His  disciples that faith has a place.

 

Is your belief in the circumstances that you are looking at, or is it in the One who is present with you in the situation?

 

These were Jewish men who had knowledge of their nation’s history and deliverance from the wicked pharaoh.  They knew how God had pushed back the Red Sea so that over a million of their fellow-countrymen could walk across the Red Sea on dry land.  And then when their pursed them they were drowned by the same sea. 

 

I think that a lesson that we can learn from this account is that although these men had knowledge of how God had delivered, the circumstance, the difficulty at hand obscured the right knowledge—trusting in what the Master—the Lord Jesus had said, “Let’s go over to the other side.”  Fear entered into their hearts and disabled their ability to stand in faith.

 

I believe that is why Jesus said, “Where is your faith?” Jesus was not criticizing the disciples.  I believe that He was teaching them what to do in desperate situations.  The disciples had witnessed great miracles and yet they were consumed with fear.  Jesus was physically with them, and they waited until the last minute to ask Him for help.  We wonder, “Shouldn’t it have occurred to them, to ask Him for help, right away?”  We should ask ourselves that same question in the desperate situations that we face.  Why go through all the worry and struggle, when we can just ask Jesus to calm the storm?

 

Believe in God’s Word trust completely in what He says know that He is with you too.  “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” (Isaiah 41:10).

 

Matthew 28:20 says, “I am with you always.”  Believe that He is when the wind and waves of fear and doubt are assailing you.  You can be assured that Jesus is with you.  He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Psalm 50:15 tells us to, Call upon the Lord in the day of trouble and He will deliver.

 

Prayer—Heavenly Father, I thank You that in desperate and difficult situations when I call out to You that You are right their calming the storm, in Jesus Name.  Amen.