One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he
said to them, "Let us go across to the other
side of the lake." So they set out, and as they sailed he fell
asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water
and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master,
we are perishing!" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves,
and they ceased, and there was a calm.
He said to them, "Where
is your faith?" And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to
one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and
they obey him?" Lk. 8:22-25
I used to
think, when Jesus asked the disciples where their faith was, that He meant
‘Where is your faith to do this miracle yourselves,’ but now I’m thinking it may
be more like, ‘Where is your faith in Me?’
Jesus gave them directions on what to do- where to go and they did
it. Then trouble arose, and they feared
for their lives. They woke up Jesus
probably because they didn’t understand how he could still be sleeping when
their lives were in danger.
Before I
judge the disciples for their lack of faith, I’ve got to look at myself
first. Many times I’ve gotten into the
boat to go with Jesus where He leads, but then harsh troubles in my life come
up and His peace doesn’t make me think “If He’s not worried, I shouldn’t be”
but like the disciples, “Hey God, this one’s gonna kill me. I can’t survive this!” Somehow, He always manages to get through to
me eventually [I’m a little stubborn :( ] and I learn more
about Who He is.
God is self existent- God is not dependent on anyone or
anything to exist. He is the complete source of life.
For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has given to
the Son to have life within Himself, Jh. 5:26
And He is before all things, and by Him all things
consist. Cl. 1:17
God is immutable- He doesn’t change as man changes from
day to day. That means His promises, His
Word will never fail.
For I am Jehovah, I change not…. Ml 3:6
…the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness nor
shadow of turning. Jm. 1:17
God is eternal-He always was and will always be.
…King eternal, immortal… 1Tm. 1:17
I AM THAT I AM Ex. 3:14
I am the Alpha and Omega, the
Beginning and the Ending, says the Lord,
who is and who was and who is to come,
the Almighty.
God is Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent
-Jr. 23:23,24;
1Kn. 8:27b; Mt. 28:20; Ps. 139:7-10
-Ps. 139:1-4; Ac.
5:1-11; Job 24:23; Ps. 33:13-15; 139:13-16
-Jr. 32:17; Ep. 1:18-20; 4:6; Rv. 19:6; Hb.
1:3; Rv. 17:17
God is sovereign- This means we can be assured His plans
for us will ALWAYS come to pass.
But our God is in
Heaven; He has done whatever He has pleased. Ps. 115:3
O Jehovah, Yours is
the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty.
For all in the heavens and in the earth is Yours.
Yours is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and You
lift up Yourself to all as Head. 1Ch.
29:11
Besides these, He is holy, righteous, is love, is truth.
This is the
God we can trust. This is the God able
to lead the way and keep us safe in the storms of life. This is the God whose peace is available for
us. This is the God that remains with us
in the storms and calms the storms in us.
This is the Almighty, Creator of all the Universe, King of King, Lord of
Lords, Most High, Eternal and all powerful Ever Living God. And He is in the boat with us as we follow
His lead.
Where is my faith?
In God, because He’s the only reliable, faithful and completely
trustworthy person, and only He is able to calm the storms of life!!!