“Where is your faith?” Jesus uttered these words after being awoken on a boat by his disciples. Luke 8:22-25 tells about a little outing Jesus decides to take with his disciples. Verse 22 states that one day Jesus says to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So, there began their little adventure. Everyone climbed into the boat, put their lifejackets on I’m sure, and set sail. It was supposed to be just a nice relaxing trek across the lake. Not one of Jesus’s followers thought their faith would be tested out on that water. When I think of a day on the lake, I envision sunshine and laughter. Shoot…Jesus had even settled in and was taking a nap. It was the picture of a perfect day on the lake…until it wasn’t. The bible tells us that a fierce storm come down on the lake. This wasn’t just any run-of-the-mill storm. The boat began to fill with water and they were in real danger. The disciple’s kind of started freaking out a bit. They had a very human response to the danger they were facing. They began shouting to Jesus terrified they were going to drown.
Now, in this moment, I feel Jesus gave us a glimpse of his true self. His first actions were one of the Son of God. With nothing but words, He calmed the raging waters. Think about that for a second. This man who loves us like no other, who just wants our love in return, has the power to command the wind and water. Jesus also showed us just how human he was when he said, “Where is your faith?” I imagine Jesus being frustrated with his disciples. Exasperated almost. When will it finally sink in (no pun intended)? He had spent days and weeks and months, teaching them how to live so that they might share eternity with Himself. When will they realize that those life jackets they so meticulously put on before leaving the shore, were useless. The only thing in that boat that could truly save their lives was standing in front of them, mastering the weather with a single word.
So, what is faith? In my opinion, it is an exercise in trust. It’s a trust that comes from deep within my marrow. It is making the decision to hand over control of our lives to Christ. With this comes an understanding that not everything will be sunshine and roses. We will feel pain and hurt but we will also feel great joy and love. For me, faith is this invisible life line to Christ. Even on those days when my armor has cracked a bit and the enemy is seeping in with his lies, my faith is there. My faith is there to dispute every lie the devil spews with nothing but God’s truth. I’m in love with the song Even If by MercyMe and I feel it really captures the truth that is faith…
They say it only takes a little faith, to move a mountain. Well good thing, a little faith is all I have, right now. But God, when You choose to leave mountains unmovable. Oh, give me the strength to be able to sing it is well with my soul.
So where is my faith? My faith is in my God. My Lord who knew me and loved me and cherished me…even before he made the stars in the sky. My faith reaches to the heavens where His open hand reaches down for mine. My faith comes from the knowledge that no matter what, my Father and his army of angels are standing at my back, fighting for me, pushing me to become who He intended me to be, and loving me when I can’t even love myself. That’s where my faith is. My faith resides in Christ and His never-ending grace. Where is your faith?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
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