February 2 I Wednesday

Exodus 29-30

Matthew 21:23-46

“’Where is your faith?’ He asked His disciples.” 

—Luke 8:25

It was not long after the disciples’ miraculous catch of fish that they were on a boat caught in a storm. A squall came down on the lake so fiercely that the boat was being swamped and they were in great danger. While the disciples feared for their lives, Jesus slept in the stern of the boat on a cushion. They awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” (Luke 8:24).

      Most of us tend to panic when storms hit—marital breakdown, unemployment, illness, depression, addictions or whatever our crisis—and we wonder if Jesus knows we are in the boat, caught in a storm. Like the disciples, we have the tendency to become fearful and doubt even though Jesus has helped us before. Luke 8:24-25 says, “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.’”

      In the midst of another storm, this time without Jesus, the disciples were again in the Sea of Galilee, known for its raging storms. They were already frightened, and when they saw what appeared to be a ghost walking on water towards them, panic gripped them and they were seized with terror. The first thing Jesus did was reassure them, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Amazed, Peter called out, “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water.” “Come,” Jesus said, and the next thing Peter knew, he was walking on water (Matthew 14:27-29).

      Every one of us can walk on water in the sense that the only explanation for our lives is the divine power of Christ within us, bidding us to come. Peter, of course, faltered as we all do. The moment he felt the wind, he took his focus off Jesus and began to sink. The storm was still raging, but then he turned back to Jesus and cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “Why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).

      Most of our lives are on a pendulum like that, times when we step out of the boat with Jesus, and times when we hunker in fear. “Where is your faith?” Jesus asked. Peter was the only disciple to get his hair wet but he found his faith. We need to be like Peter; step out of the boat, get our hair wet and trust Jesus in the storm.

Prayer: Precious Jesus, I place my faith in You. Thank You for being the strength that pulls me through the storms of life.