Do you remember the gospel story of Jesus sleeping through a raging
storm on the Sea of Galilee, though he and his disciples were in a boat
filling with water? It's easy to imagine the scene: the taste of salt,
the sound of roaring wind, the feel of cold water washing over you and
covering your feet, the panic rising within you until it as deep as the
sea water filling the boat. How could you not awaken the Master and
cry out that you are all perishing? (Luke 8:22-25 and parallels)
Yet Jesus rebukes the disciples, saying, "Where is your faith?"
Where was the lack of faith? Surely not in waking Jesus, who did remove the danger by calming the wind and waves. Perhaps in shouting to him that "we are perishing!" And behind that shout, the belief that he and they could perish, and God's plan for redemption could be interrupted.
What do interruptions in our plans, natural interferences, and accidental errors do to our faith?
Have you ever felt frustrated when things didn't go exactly as planned? Especially when you were undertaking an activity for the Lord? You might have asked, "Why didn't you help me achieve my plans, Lord?" We have the expectation that things should not get in the way of good plans. Note our false faith in God as a lucky charm, making things go our way. When it's smooth sailing, we're confident God is in control. When things get in the way, we're sure God has jumped ship. What foolishness!
God's gift of presence has nothing to do with earthly circumstances. Faith trusts that God's purposes will be fulfilled, in spite of threats, dangers, detours, and even destruction. Divine power is revealed, not in preventing trouble, but in getting us through it in a way that deepens our understanding of God. After Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, the disciples "were filled with great awe, and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'" (Mark 4:41)