How To Hold Onto Faith In Hard Times
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us 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 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. - Luke 8:22-25
I was reading in Luke chapter 8 the other day, specifically the story of Jesus calming the storm when he was in a boat with His disciples on the Sea of Galilee.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve read or heard this story over the years. But as I read it the other day, something new stood out to me that I’d never noticed before.
That’s one of my favorite things about Scripture. No matter how many times you read it, there is always something new to be discovered and learned.
Anyway, as I read this section of Luke 8 where Jesus said, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake,” I realized that this was a promise from Jesus. It was a simple one, maybe even one that is often overlooked, but it was a promise. He stepped into the boat with His disciples and invited them to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee with Him.
He didn’t say, “Let’s get in the boat and see what happens,” or “Let’s sail across the sea and hope we make it to the other side without drowning.” He said, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” I like to think there was a quiet confidence in Jesus’ voice as He made this statement.
But despite His confidently stated promise, a little later in the story, the disciples began to panic. When the storm hit them out of nowhere, they woke Jesus up from His nap in desperation, begging Him to save them, for surely they were about to drown.
Jesus stood with that same quiet confidence and rebuked the wind and the waves, calming them with nothing but the sound of His voice. And then, looking around at His closest friends, He asked, “Where is your faith?”
It’s easy for me to look down my nose at the disciples in this moment because I know how this story goes. But if I take a minute and humble myself, I can relate to the disciples more than I’d care to admit.
There have been so many times in my life where God has given me a promise. He’s assured me that He is in control, that His plan will prevail, and that His will won’t be thwarted. And yet, when the storms of life hit, I freak out…just like the disciples did.
I start to doubt. I start to lose faith. Any amount of trust and hope I once had starts to fade away. And I can imagine Jesus looking at me, full of compassion but challenging me at the same time, saying, “Where is your faith?”
The Lord gives us promises for a reason. He gives us the truth of His Word not just so we can read it like a history book, but so we can cling to the assurances and promises He gives us on the pages of Scripture.
This way, when the storms of life come seemingly out of nowhere, our faith doesn’t have to be shaken. Our doubt doesn’t have to take over. Instead, we can stand strong in what the Lord has said to us and trust that He is going to come through.
Friend, if you’ve been struggling with doubt lately, if the storms of life are overwhelming you and making you think you’re about to drown, cling to the promises of God today. He’s got you. He’s going to work everything out according to His plan and His will. And He’s going to be there with you, guiding you, protecting you, caring for you, and loving you every step of the way.