Sunday 6 February, 2022

I have always been arrested by Jesus words here “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”  I mean this was a storm in the middle of the lake, known to swamp boats and drown the occupants!  Who wouldn’t be afraid?  Yet Jesus is forthright, powerful and perhaps a little ‘ticked-off’.  Somehow Jesus had a totally different reading of the situation.  A reading that meant that he was relaxed, relaxed enough to sleep.  A reading that meant he expected his disciples to be able to overcome their fears and know that everything would be alright!  A reading where He expected the disciples to rise in faith not fear!

You of little faith – even when we are pressed in a situation where our natural instinct is fear!

So when is it that fear overwhelms my opportunity for faith and sucks the oxygen out of the room so that faith doesn’t flourish!  When would Jesus say this of me?  For surely He has and with good reason.  When have I baulked in fear rather than risen in faith.

It is almost trite to say I will rise in faith – but that is how I must apply what I am learning here – I must choose faith, even when my natural instinct is fear!

Father, give me courage so that even when I am afraid I will rise in faith and so see your salvation come!

Written by Ps. Richard Botta