Faith in the Face of Great Fear

Over the past few weeks, we have all experienced a series of events unlike anything else we’ve seen before.

Of course we have all experienced hard times. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one or been through a time where money was short or countless other scenarios of difficulty. We are no strangers to difficulties.

This seems to be different because we’ve not seen anything like it. We have no point of reference. No one knows for sure what will happen, other than what haven’t seen this before.

In addition to facing an unknown situation, fear seems to be freely dished out on all social channels, news channels, and now in every conversation making our hearts full of stress and anxiety. I’m sure all of you have felt a twinge (or flood) of anxiety or fear in the past few weeks.

Fear can be present in many lives whether the current events of today influence us or not. When something crazy happens we go in a spiral of panic and anxiety because we live in a constant state of fear. It pushes us over the edge.

In my life, I find that I am more fearful than not. I want to release this fear and live victoriously no matter what.

On the Sea of Galilee . . .

storms can begin abruptly and can be rough. These storms can begin with little warning too. The way the land lays causes this phenomena to occur on the Sea of Galilee.

During one particular storm, a boat was out on the sea with Jesus and some disciples on board.

The storm was so bad that they feared for their life.

Flashback just a bit, Jesus had ministered to a great crowd of people. He had been healing and teaching wonderful things. People were excited about what was going on and the crowd began to grow. Even though He was God, His human body had become tired. Jesus had been so busy with His ministry that He needed to lay down and rest. So, He rested.

Ministry can be exhausting although it’s wonderful. Jesus is leading by example here. Sometimes we need to leave the crowd for a bit and simply rest.

The disciples were obedient and took their teacher in the boat as a sanctuary from the crowd He was ministering.

While traveling on the water, a storm began. It was serious. The waves were over their head. Water was filling the boat. The boat even began to break apart. They couldn’t get back to the shore because of the fierce winds pounding against them. The disciples were in deep trouble.

Their boat was out of control and they were afraid to die.

But in the stern . . .

asleep on a cushion, was Jesus. He was unafraid. He was so relaxed that He was sleeping.

When they woke Jesus up, they said “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

Now, do you think Jesus didn’t care about how serious this situation was? Was He so disconnected that He became unaware of the danger around them? These questions really bring to light Jesus’ character. They were doubting Jesus. Not only were they afraid of losing their lives, they didn’t think Jesus would help them. Of course Jesus cares! He still cares, don’t doubt it.

After He was awake, He rebuked the wind and simply said “Peace! Be Still!”

Rebuking means He said these words in a firm way. Jesus scolded the wind.

Immediately, the wind stopped blowing, the boat stopped rocking, and waves stopped overwhelming the little boat. Maybe the dark clouds rolled out quickly allowing the blue skies show through.

It was an atmospheric miracle.

It was calm. It was quiet.

Peace was finally on the sea.

After the great storm had calmed down, Jesus said to the others in the boat “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” They witnessed so many wonderful miracles recently but they were still afraid to die in the little boat.

Fear can make your past seem disconnected to your present. But God wants us to remember what He’s done in our lives. Are we afraid because we’ve forgotten what He’s done for us? Have we lost our faith in the face of great fear?

Sometimes it’s hard to muster faith when fear is so overwhelming and it’s hard to trust that good will come when things look so bad.

God is powerful over the circumstances we face. God is steady on a sea of rough storms. Amazement at His power was real in that little boat. Jesus performed a miracle right in front of their eyes!!

When this time we are in is over, will God say to me “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

What will He say to you?

Did you have faith in the face of great fear?

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he 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?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-41