Faith over Fear?

Easier said than done.

Truly, this is a challenging story before us today. The end is neat and all, but the path to get there is…hard to believe.

The disciples cry out in panic, wondering if Jesus even cares. It echoes the cry of Psalm 44 — Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Both voices come from places of fear and desperation, yet both are grounded in a deep memory of God’s faithfulness. Maybe we cry out not because we don’t believe, but because we do — and we’re asking God to act like the stories we’ve heard, the goodness we’ve known.

But there are times—perhaps quite familiar to you right now—when it does not feel like God is at work. Like he’s sleeping.

Jesus was actually sleeping. And the situation was actually dangerous. It wasn’t just a storm, but the boat was filling with water. The only next step was for all to go under. Yet when he awoke, Jesus didn’t start with calming the sea — he started by asking, Why are you frightened?

If not when the boat is on the edge of capsizing in the middle of the storm, would there ever be a point at which it would have been okay to be frightened? It seems quite reasonable a question to ask.

Even then…Jesus asks, “Don’t you have faith yet?”

This is challenging. Even Jesus himself, in Gethsemane, wrestled with what was in front of him. Maybe he wasn’t frightened. Maybe he believed that the Father would take care of him. But he still felt the feelings of the moment.

What’s the difference?

Maybe there’s a difference between fear and a lack of faith and the feelings that come at the moment of difficulty. Grief, frustration, annoyance…these may all come (they did for Jesus in different situations). But Jesus’ admonition here is to not let those things lead to a loss of faith.

Perhaps that doesn’t solve everything in this challenging story, but it might be a beginning toward understanding the nuances.

Mark 4:35-41

Later that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” They left the crowd and took him in the boat just as he was. Other boats followed along.

Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat so that the boat was swamped. But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?”

He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, “Silence! Be still!” The wind settled down and there was a great calm. Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?”

Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

Psalm 44:1-2, 23-26

We have heard it, God, with our own ears; our ancestors told us about it: about the deeds you did in their days, in days long past. You, by your own hand, removed all the nations, but you planted our ancestors. You crushed all the peoples, but you set our ancestors free.

…

Wake up! Why are you sleeping, Lord? Get up! Don’t reject us forever! Why are you hiding your face, forgetting our suffering and oppression? Look: we’re going down to the dust; our stomachs are flat on the ground! Stand up! Help us! Save us for the sake of your faithful love.

Prayer

God,

I confess there are times when I am frightened. It feels like I have a lot at stake - a spouse, children, a home, neighbors, vulnerable people who I value. The world can feel quite shaky.

I do believe in your full deliverance at the end. I guess I forget about it often. You can’t blame me, can you? I mean, my experience is what it is! I’ve experienced your resurrecting power in various ways, but 99% of the time, my experience is just this ordinary life.

So help me, God: Give me faith in the midst of the threat of difficulty. I don’t want to be ignorantly blissful. But I do want to be strong.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.