In today’s Gospel there are 13 men in a boat: Jesus with his apostles. When the storm sets in, 12 are in a panic, but one is so calm that he sleeps peacefully in the back of the boat. Who is right here? Jesus is, of course. Storms come and go, but God is working his purposes out. Nothing is out of control. Even in the sad a tragic moments of our life God can and does bring forth good. He can make a way a way out of no way and write straight with crooked lines. All things work together for good to those who love and trust God and are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) For every door God closes he opens another.
After calming the storm Jesus asks a question that you and I must answer: “Why are you so terrified? Do you still lack faith?” You and I have to answer this question. Clearly our fear is rooted in our lack of trust, but why is it that we fail to trust? As I look back and even the most difficult moments of life I can see that God was up to something good, something better. Yet still fear and panic are only one setback away.
Consider Jesus sleeping through a storm, consider 12 other men in a panic. Who is right and who sees more truly the reality of that moment, the 1 or the 12? Why are you terrified? What if the storm is supposed to be there. What if it’s actually doing something good? Why are you so terrified? Be still! ….and there was a great calm.
So often when reading the bible I notice that there has to be at least 100 reference when God says “Fear Not” followed by a promise that through it all He will take care of us. Fear is like second nature to us, its all over the bible even in the beginning with Adam and Eve. Is is humanly possible not to fear? I”ve read that Fear is dangerous to your faith because it will always call you to play it safe but Faith, on the other hand, calls you to step away from what seems safe and trust in God.
Fear does seem to be our “set-point” Only boat loads (pardon the the pun on this parable) can offset this fear!