know

“Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Mark 4:38-40 NIV

The way of Jesus is the way of trust.

The world will tell you to understand in order to believe, but Jesus relentlessly taught that believing leads to understanding. (Mk 5:36) His time on earth consistently demonstrated absolute faith in the Father and he challenges each of his disciples to exercise the same belief.

Notice Jesus didn’t question the disciple’s feelings. He questioned their faith. Emotions are an honest assessment of what we’re experiencing, but Jesus invites us to intentionally seek him through our pain and discontentment, leading us to deeper devotion and discipleship that will transform our core being.

Faith is an active trust that believes God is working all things together for good and will usually lead us in the opposite direction of our feelings. Though the disciples felt afraid, perhaps faith would have led them to lay down next to Jesus and dispel their fear of the unknown.

Consider Psalm 30, we see David in the midst of distress and yet, his faith led him to exalt God anyway. “Sing praises to the Lord, you his faithful people. Praise his holy name.” (Ps 30:4) This perspective shift helped him to move away from demanding answers and rest in the presence and surety of God’s control.

Rather than allowing affliction to influence passive faith, cast all your anxieties onto Him, because He cares for you— affectionately and watchfully. God loves you and will protect you. (1 Pe 5:7) He will not let you drown. Our calling is to rise up now, in the midst of the turmoil, to walk above the waves of our circumstances, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. (He 12:2)

Practice:

encouraging one another

“Encourage one another, and build each other up.” (1 Thess 5:11) What is your next step today? How can you encourage a brother or sister in Christ to persist?

-Intentionally reach out and build up one person to stay strong in their faith.
-Learn more about our future hope that is to come.
-Share your hope about Jesus with a friend, perhaps someone who doesn’t know Christ. 

centering prayer

LORD, rather than let my problems consume me, help me to passionately pursue you. amen.