Where is your faith?
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!” Luke 8:25
The account of Jesus calming the storm always amazes me. Not because of the fact that Jesus spoke to the winds, and they obeyed. He spoke to just about everything that got in His way. The amazing part to me was that after He spoke to the circumstances, He asked the disciples: “Where is your faith?” As if they could have done the same thing? I haven’t seen, not even one time in the gospels where Jesus said: “Don’t try this at home, boys! I’m the Son of God, that is why I can do these things.” He never said: “I’m going to do a miracle now, but you can’t do these things so after I am gone, so are my wonders.” No! In fact, He was training them to do these things so that they could also go out and help people and bring them into the kingdom.
Jesus had told the disciples that they were all going to get into the boat and go to the other side of the lake. He expected that they would believe His words no matter what problems or obstacles came up. When He asked them where their faith was, there were two options for an answer. Their faith was either placed in Jesus’ faith filled words that they would make it to the other side or in the storm that had come up to knock them off their course and mission. It doesn’t feel like the disciples got this message because their response to what He said was all about what He did, and they were afraid. In stead of realizing that they had authority over the crisis, just like Jesus did, they became afraid of Him because of that power. Later on, of course they began to understand that they had been given the power too, that is when they turned the world upside down.(See Acts17:6)
Now don’t laugh, but I consider if that is what Jesus did, I’m going to do that too, in His name. So, I will admit to you that I have spoken to the winds and storms that come up in the atmosphere around me. I tell them “Peace be still!” Surprisingly, most times it works. Is it coincidence? Maybe, but I am willing to take the chance since I do not like to lose my power and have trees fall around me. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I do it and I believe it works. My problem is when storms come in my plans or the circumstances surrounding me. I don’t remember to speak to them. I know that I can use my faith filled words and calm the storms of life around me, but for some reason I don’t believe that as much as I believe I can affect the weather. Sounds ridiculous, right? So, I need a reminder. I am going to begin to use the absence of peace in my heart to turn my attention and remember that I have authority over the problem and tell the circumstances to be peaceful and still. Maybe it will work or maybe it won’t, but it for sure will not make matters worse. The thing is, I usually will talk about the problems and even complain about them. Why not start talking to them and put the pressure back on that stress instead of carrying it all myself. Of course, I pray about it also, but I believe God wants me to take my authority in this world since Jesus delegated it to people when He ascended on high. (See Mark 16:17-18)
So today I will ask you: “Where is your faith?” Is it in the circumstances and dilemmas that come up against you each day or is it in the Word’s of your heavenly Father that He will take you to the other side of those problems. Trust Him today and ask Him for the words to speak to those storms when they rise up to oppose the progress you are making. Then begin to believe that those words will actually make a difference in the conditions around you. Walk out your days in this world in all the power that God has given you through His Spirit. It doesn’t mean that troubles will not come, but it does mean that you will overcome! He died to give you the victory in all areas of life. Start living your life in that victory and stop being the victim of your circumstances.
Today’s scripture reading: Luke 8:22-25
22 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.
23 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.
24 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 a calm.
25 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 Daily Dose 