Matthew 8:18-27 (Hover over reference to view passage or click reference for biblia.com)
As the disciples were in the midst of the storm their hearts attitude was if they could bale out or turn back some how they would have. Right there in the midst of the storm they should have just held on for the ride knowing that if Jesus asked them to sail out to sea they could be assured that he would not lead them to their imminent death. He wasn’t about to lead them to failure or destruction or loss. If he calls us he is faithful to carry us through!
The Disciples accepted, maybe with ignorance or more gently “blind faith”, the command of Jesus to depart to the other side of the sea. Then when circumstances and situations that seem to pose a threat to the desired goal and destination in light of what Christ asked of them, they became fearful. They worried, thinking that it would be better to go back and maintain life with Christ over here, rather than face losing it all at the cost of obedience! “Ah, Lord I know you said.....and I started to but things just are not going like they are supposed to.......” “Oh you of little faith” SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED as “why have you lost your faith? or where has your faith Gone?” but when Jesus addresses them like this he is speaking to their lack of seeing the whole picture. They had faith in his power and teaching, even in his command. In fact they demonstrated their faith even by waking Jesus up and asking him for help saying “save us!” They had enough faith that Jesus could take them out of the storm but not enough that he could carry them through it!
Being a disciple of Christ is in no way a call to comfortability, Jesus never promised “smooth sailing.” Jesus said go to the other side of the sea, and he went with them. But they wanted to give up when they felt threatened, not thinking about the fact that Jesus told them to do this and why would Jesus lead them to their death. They didn’t trust that Jesus would keep them safe in the middle of the storm, simply because they didn’t give any thought to it, or if they did they didn’t have enough faith to believe him to carry them through!
So instead they took the easy way out, requested that the storm be calmed. We learn so much from this passage of scripture but what would the disciples have learned if they held on and rode it out? held on to the command and call of Christ in the midst of the storm? would they not have gotten to the other side? Sure if he calls us he is faithful to carry us through.
I encourage those of you who are facing what seems to be a trial or some situation that seems as though something went wrong, to hold on to Christ! The testing of your faith produces perseverance (Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-3). Don’t take the easy road but pray and ask God for his grace to hold on through the trial. He called you and he will carry you through!
Pastor Billy
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