What If?

By Alessandra Velsor

“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’”—Matthew 8:23–27 (NIV)

Imagine if Jesus walked among us today and we had the privilege to see all the miracles being performed before our eyes! Would you still have a hard time believing? Many times, I would tell myself, “WHAT IF I lived then so I could see Him? I’d like to believe I wouldn’t doubt Him, and my faith would be stronger than it is now.” But what really stands out in today’s passage is how the disciples still doubted the moment the storm made its appearance.

Doubt leads us to question everything we ever experience, which leaves us confused, while fear leaves us idle, crippled, and lacking confidence. What if they didn’t get in the boat in the first place? What if they had avoided the Sea of Galilee, which was known for these crazy storms? What if Jesus wasn’t sleeping? What if Jesus prevented the storm knowing they were in the boat? What if the disciples simply had faith?

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”—Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

True faith doesn’t require proof. The disciples themselves prove this point in this story! They had more than enough reasons to have great faith, yet they still lacked it. Jesus wasn’t upset they needed Him or that they had awakened Him from His sleep. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and fear of the storm before He rebuked the winds and the waves. We’re not to fear approaching Him and asking for His help, but we must do it with the hope that He will deliver us no matter what.

Jesus also exposes His humanity and deity here. He had to take a nap like all humans do when they’re tired, but when it was time to calm the storm, His authority effortlessly commanded the seas with just one word. This means He could’ve easily prevented the storm, but why didn’t He?

What if God prevented all the storms of our lives? Wouldn’t that be a dream?

But alas, we must learn how to navigate the boat while storms take us by surprise. We think lessening them would help us, but in reality, the trials of life are often necessary for our own personal growth and spiritual development. You see, this is how God increases our faith in Him, which leads us to trust Him. Trials refine us and keep us humbled and dependent on God. But the best part is when our Savior awakens to rebuke our trials and save us once more. It may not look like Jesus in the flesh healing a blind man or calming a storm, but little miracles happen every day when we choose to believe.

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”—1 Peter 1:6–9 (NIV)

Pause: Thank Him today for the times He’s shown His faithfulness in your life.

Practice: For every “What if” question you ask yourself today, rebuke it with a statement of faith.

Pray: Jesus, I rejoice today for what You did on the cross and how You show up daily for me. Thank You for letting me talk to You anytime I want or need You. Thank You for listening to me. Thank You for bringing me calm when life can get stormy. Please forgive me for the times I’ve doubted You. In times of doubt, help my unbelief. I choose to trust You fully and follow You wherever You lead me. Amen.