Verse: Matthew 8:25-27
25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
Devotion
Why does Jesus ask them why they are afraid? It seems obvious, right? The storm is bad! Looking at their external circumstances it makes sense for them to be afraid, worried, and upset. So why is Jesus asking this question?
I think one part of it is that he’s hoping by now their worldview would have changed. He was hoping they would have learned as they watched him heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. He was hoping that they’d begin to understand that when you are with Jesus you are never alone, and all things are possible.
In Psalm 77, Asaph says something very similar. The Psalm starts with,
I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.
And then he reminds himself of who God is:
Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
If I were to summarize: “Life is so difficult right now, but I can remember all the times God has been there for me in the past during hards times, so I can find peace in knowing he will be with me again.”
I wonder if that’s what Jesus was challenging in the disciples? “You are freaking out, but haven’t you seen me handle bad situations over and over again?”
And aren’t we the same? How quick we are to forget what God has done, and panic that God won’t meet us now. Today, can you remember specifically a time that God has been there for you, met a need, answered a prayer, or given you peace? As our faith gets tested we need to learn to hold onto those truths we have learned in the past, so we can face our present situations with faith and trust in him.
Author: Christian Dunn
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