Questions Jesus AskedSample

“Where is your faith?” Jesus asked His disciples in response to their panic.

The Gospels tell us of a heavy storm that broke out when Jesus and the disciples were at sea. “The disciples woke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’”

Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” He asked.

In fear and amazement, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him.”

It’s normal for us to ask, “Why would Jesus ask them to have faith when there’s a raging storm around them and He’s sleeping through it?”

Jesus was with them long before the blustery boat ride. They sat next to Him, ate with Him, slept by Him, heard His messages, and witnessed His miracles, and yet they still doubted He was fully God. The disciples held a limited understanding of Jesus’ power as God. They were overcome with panic and fear. We too, can give in to panic and fear and forget how big our God is.

Jesus may have felt sad by the way His disciples reacted. Scripture provides glimpses of a few disciples, such as Thomas and James, who didn’t believe Jesus was God until His death and resurrection.

In reflection, would Jesus question your faith in Him today? Do you often find yourself reacting to difficult situations in fear or in faith? What does it look like to respond in faith instead of fear?

We can avoid fear when we trust that God is with us wherever we go. We can experience closeness with God when we turn from fear to faith.

Scripture shares with us in 1 John 4:18, “Perfect love expels all fear. … whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

Let’s learn from the disciples’ experience and ask the Lord to help us grow in trusting He is in control during hard times.