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Luke 8:22-25—Trusting Jesus When Fear Rises
Evening Scripture:
One day, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Evening Reflection
When I was in college, my family decided it would be fun (and slightly adventurous) to go hiking at Hocking Hills. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, it’s a beautiful park full of rugged terrain, waterfalls, and rocks in Logan, Ohio. It’s also the place where many people have died when they’ve chosen to go off the beaten path despite warning signs and labels.
That Saturday morning, the sun was shining, and we were ready. Like Energizer Bunnies, we were determined to hike the Grandma Gatewood trail—one of the most challenging in the park. About halfway through the hike, my dad grew tired and said he’d meet Mom and me at the finish. We didn’t mind. Until suddenly, the yellow trail markers disappeared.
Looking for directions and growing worried, our anxiety heightened when a storm began to blow through the area. I’ll save you most of the horrific details, but Mom and I ran in all directions searching for a way out of those woods. Dodging tree branches and flooding waters, I felt like the Disciples in this story from Luke 8.
In Luke 8:22-25, Jesus and His Disciples are on a boat. And again, all is well. Until a storm wakes them all up and they freak out. They even run up to Jesus and tell Him, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” The day Mom and I ran through the woods, I prayed a similar prayer: “Jesus, I’m going to die in this storm.”
As only Jesus could, the Scriptures tell us that He got up and rebuked the wind and waves. But He also rebuked the Disciples, asking, “Where is your faith?”
I don’t think it’s wrong to ask God questions or present problems to Him. In fact, I think it’s necessary for a healthy relationship with Him. But I do believe that He asks us to have, keep, and maintain that faith, even in the midst of fear. Fear is common. It’s something all of us will experience in some way, shape, or form in this lifetime here on earth. Yet, we still have a choice to trust Him amidst the fear.