23 As He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But He was sleeping. 25 So the disciples came and woke Him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm. (Mt 8:23-26) (Also Lk 8:22-25)
The apostles were afraid because as professional fishermen they knew that boats sink, and people die in storms on the sea. They were leaning on their human understanding and experience and from that perspective their fear was valid. But that is the exact opposite of how people of faith in Christ should be viewing life:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding (Pv 3:5)
Your own human understanding can get in the way your faith and trust in God. Notice how the Lord contrasted fear and faith in His question, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” Their lack of faith made them fearful. They were not looking at the situation from a spiritual perspective with faith but from a human perspective based on human understanding. Sure, fishermen die in boats in the storm but not if Jesus is there preventing it! The result of their wrong perspective was fear.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Show Us the Way
The Old Testament provides a great example of the right response in a truly scary situation. King Nebuchadnezzar commanded Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to worship a gold statue or be thrown into a blazing furnace (Dan 3:14-15) but they responded in faith not fear:
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question. 17 If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. 18 But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” (Dan 3:14-18)
They viewed their situation from a spiritual one and did not rely on human understanding. They knew from a human perspective that they would burn and die in the furnace but look closely at verse 17. They acknowledge that God could rescue them even inside the furnace and from the king if it were His will. They were at peace with whatever God chose to allow to happen. They had faith not fear. They trusted God by looking at things from a spiritual perspective instead of a human one. They had no fear because they knew God loved them and they trusted Him.
Choose Faith Over Fear
Do you approach life’s trials, troubles, and dangers with faith and trust or do you lean on your own understanding throwing faith out the window and becoming afraid? Faith and fear are opposites and in a tough spot, you need to choose one.
Remember that God is Sovereign and powerful (2 Chr 20:6; Ps 115:3), Jesus loves infinitely like the Father loves Him (Jn 15:9), you are His child (1 Jn 3:2), and He’s with you always (Mt 29:20b).
Replace your fear with faith. Take Jesus’ advice to Jairus – “Don’t be afraid. Only believe” (Mk 5:36)
Think about it
Do you let fear interfere with your faith?
What makes you afraid? Why does it? Are you looking at it from the right perspective?
Would those things scare you if Jesus was sitting next to you? Why or why not?
Do you know that God can rescue you from whatever danger and trouble you’re in?
Do you really trust God in tough situations even if it means dying?
Are you still afraid when you remember God, His love, and His promises?
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea … (Ps 46:1-2 – NIV)
The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Ps 118:6)
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. (Ps 56:3 – NASB)
BIBLE DEVOTIONS FOR LIVING 