From Fear to Faith

A seagoing captain commanded a passenger ship that was sailing from Liverpool, England, to New York. His family was on board with him. One night when everyone was asleep, a squall unexpectedly swept over the waters and tossed the ship violently, awakening the passengers. They were all terribly afraid because of the storm. The captain's little 8-year-old girl was also awakened. 'What's the matter?" cried the frightened child. Her mother told her that a sudden storm had struck the ship. 'Is Father on deck?" she asked. 'Yes, Father's on deck,” came the encouraging answer. Hearing this, the little girl snuggled back into her bed and in a few moments was sound asleep. The winds still blew and the waves still rolled, but her fears were calmed because her father was at the helm, and she knew that her father could get her home safely.
We all face stormy kinds of situations which make us feel frightened. Some are so fierce they rock our life’s boat to an extent we think we sure are going to sink. How could we not be afraid during such circumstances? How could we maintain peace when everything else around us seems to be collapsing? How can we move from Fear to Faith? Some rugged fishermen who grew up in the region of Galilee were one day caught up in a storm on the Sea of Galilee. How did they respond in that situation? What did they do to get help? Who helped them to reach the shore safely? What lessons can we learn from their story?

Let's look at (Luke 8:22-25) “Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s 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 (windstorm) 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.”

The Context: Initially Jesus limited his ministry around the region of Galilee. He traveled from one city to another city proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Jesus performed several miracles including healing the servant of a centurion, and raising the widow’s son from the dead. His twelve disciples accompanied Jesus on his preaching mission. This was the first time Jesus was leaving Galilee and heading toward the region of the Gerasenes which is on the other side of the lake. In a way he was stepping outside of the Jewish territory and entering into the territory largely inhabited by the Gentiles, as indicated by the large heard of swine later in the chapter. This narrative offers a few key lessons we can learn as we set off to serve God.

I. Jesus risked his life to save one lost soul.
Vs 22, One day Jesus said to his disciples “Let us go over to the other side of the Lake” this indicates the concern on the heart of Jesus that gospel must be preached not only in Galilee but every where else including the gentile territory. If we read vs (Lk 8: 26-39) we will understand that concern. What does going over to the other side of the lake mean to us today? For Wilma and me it meant to leave the comforts of our home and family and serve God in the mission field for twenty years. For some it may mean to go to Kenya, South Africa, India, or the Dominican Republic on a mission’s trip. For others it may mean to reach out to the homeless in Boston or be a witness in the work place, befriend a neighbor, volunteer in a homeless shelter or reach out to new immigrants. Each of us needs to find out from God what it means to us. In simple terms going to the other side of the lake means going out of our way and out of our comfort zone to reach people with the good news of the Gospel. It is just not enough to come to church Sunday after Sunday and sing songs of praise, but we are called to step out and be on a mission to seek and save the lost.

II. You are not alone in your Mission: “Let’s go over to the other side” also indicates that Jesus will go with us on our rescue and restore mission. How would you like the idea of having Jesus as your traveling companion in life and in mission?

I remember in 1986 it was my first international travel ever. I had never travelled in an airplane before. I was going to Philippines to attend a staff conference. I was sick like a dog in the plane, throwing up and was miserable. After reaching Philippines I was so sick I could not join the rest of the staff in the conference. I was left behind all alone, in a strange country, sick and tired, far away from home, could not even get up to go to the bath room. In the midst of all that I remember clearly that my heart was filled with peace and assurance knowing that Jesus was near me in that room. Subsequently in my many missions trips I have felt his accompanying presence. When we step out to reach people for Christ, let’s remember we will not be alone. Jesus has promised to be with us always even to the very end of the age (Matt 28:20)

III. Unannounced storms in life:
Before they embarked on the journey Jesus did not click on to the Fox News weather forecast. The sky must have been clear and there were no threatening signs of a storm. He got his boys together and said “Let’s Go boys” so they sailed off to the other side of the Lake. It was towards the evening, the sun is setting, the sea breeze was refreshing, the waves were gently lapping at the boat making it gently rock.
It was a perfect situation for any one to doze off a bit. After a hectic ministry schedule Jesus must have been quite tired so he fell off to a deep sleep on a cushion. The boat was cruising along and the disciples too must have been relaxed. Finally they could get away from the bustling crowds and get a breather. They must have been chatting away and recounting all the adventures of ministry. “All of a sudden without any warning, (Matt 8:24) “a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake and they began to be swamped and they were in real danger. When it comes to think of it these disciples were no ordinary men, they lived all their lives on the rugged sea catching fish, until they were called by Jesus to follow him, they left everything and followed him. Now their lives were in danger. They knew too well that it was going to be a disaster.

When we set off to do ministry, or for that matter when we decide to live for Christ initially things seem to go smoothly. When we think we are having a good time and have nothing to worry, and relax a bit, then all of a sudden without any warning a storm hits our life. This storm could come in many forms; it could be a loss of a job, loss of a house, a diagnosis of cancer, a divorce in the family, or the chronic sickness in the family, and the death of a loved one. In such moments we tend to think God is million’s of miles away from us? We begin to wonder whether God has abandoned us. Does he care what I am going through? Does he even care if I die? Just like the disciples we too can be frightened thinking that we are going to drown. What did the disciples do when they were frightened?

IV. Moving from Fear to Faith: I have good news to tell you, there is no problem to deep that God can not solve, no mountain too high that God can not move and no storm in life is too great that he can not calm. Every thing is possible to God. Jesus can redeem any situation. The frantic disciples realizing that they were going to drown they (made a 911 call) rushed to Jesus and woke him up saying Master! Master! We are perishing. Matt 8:24 “Lord save us we are going to drown” Mark records in Mk 4: 38 “Teacher don’t you care if we drown?”

How did Jesus respond to their call? Did he rebuke the disciples for disturbing his sleep? No instead he got up from the sleep and rebuked the wind and the surging waves and they stopped, and it became calm. The word rebuke carries certain intensity here in the passage. Jesus employed the same word when he set the man free in the synagogue who was possessed by an unclean spirit, (Luke 4:35), when he healed Peter’s mother-in law and when he cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits.

Commentator Matthew Henry, explains “Perhaps the devil, who is the prince of the power of the air, and who raiseth winds by the permission of God, had some suspicion, from some words which Christ might let fall, that he was coming over the lake now on purpose to cast that legion of devils out of the poor man on the other side, and therefore poured this storm upon the ship he was in, designing, if possible, to have sunk him and prevented that victory.”
Interestingly the OT sometimes portrays the powers of nature as demonic; but at the same time it also depicts Yahweh (God) as Lord of the sea and his power over the sea as mastery of a monstrous, evil power. Hence as Jesus rebukes the storm he is acting as God acts, manifesting his authority over the powers of evil. Psalm 107:28-31“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

Satan can hurl storms at us and throw fiery darts to discourage us in our mission so that we quit and give up. From this story we can learn that when we are hit by life threatening situations we can run to Christ and cry out for help. With one rebuke Jesus is able to disarm the powers of darkness and bring order in a disorderly situation. He is able to restore peace. He is able to establish calmness in a chaotic condition.

Being a follower of Christ or even committing our lives to serve God doesn’t guarantee a trouble free life. God has not promised a rose Garden, neither did he promise sun shine all the time. We all face challenges, at times life threatening situations and quite frankly there will be times we are overwhelmed and disheartened. Even after seeing several miracles and receiving answers to our prayers, it is possible when a calamity threatens our security just like the disciples we too can be afraid. When struggles engulf us and threatens to drown our life boat let’s remember who is on the Deck.

What could help us to move from fear to faith? I offer the following suggestions: Firstly realize that Jesus was willing to go to any length and face any danger in order to save the lost, hence he left a model for us to follow. Secondly, be assured that he will not send you to a place where he will not go with you. Thirdly, don’t be alarmed by the unannounced storms in your life. Fourthly, remember and recognize that Jesus has the power to rebuke the enemy and set you free from any dangerous and life threatening situation and restore peace. Learning these truths can help us to move from Fear to Faith.