Mark 4:37-40...Faith Over Fear Every Time...

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 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?”

Being in a boat when the waves are tossing you about is scary. So too is the report from the doctor that your health is failing, or the news of your source of income being lost. These things are frightening and cause us unrest. The disciples above were in distress because they feared for their lives. The storm was all around them and they could not see anything but certain death in their future. Jesus stepped in and calmed the storm and then asked why the fear overtook them. Did they not have faith? The revelation of fear vs. faith is so clear in this passage. When one increases the other diminishes. I have used the example before of a teeter-tooter where one side rises and the other falls. Faith needs to be the stronger of the two, always. Fear is the devils tool. And it is used widely today to persuade people, to intimidate and to wreak havoc. Fear steals our joy and keeps us from close communion with God. Feed your faith and cast our your fear, you are safe in the Father’s arms.

Blessings,

Alan B Conner