Deep Faith

When I read the Bible, I find that almost every time I get corrected.  It’s much like a professor redirecting a student during a course correction. This is a really good thing and I greatly appreciate it because this means the Lord Himself is paying attention to me and redirecting me “off the deep end,” so to speak. 

For example, here is a short passage from Matthew, chapter 8.  See what it means to you and I’ll tell you what it means to me:

“Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.  And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves.  But He was asleep.  Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him saying, ‘Lord save us!  We are perishing!’  But He said to them, ‘Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?’  Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  So the men marveled, saying, ‘Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’”

What does the Lord say to you?

I’ll wait…

[Pause]  

Now it’s my turn. 

I have been in some scary situations where I have leaned upon the Lord much like the disciples in Matthew’s writings.  I remember feeling really pleased with my response once.  Years ago, my husband, kids, and I were in a car when we hit a patch of black ice.  Instantly we were spinning around the highway.  The car was completely out of control. I called out, “Jesus!”   When the car finally came to a stop a bit off the road, I looked in the back seat and declared to my dear children, “You are fine!”   And so they were.   

Another time, I reached out to Jesus as a preventative.  It was when somebody drove by the church I attended, aimed, and left bullet holes in the wall.  When our nation saw the first school shooting I again relied on the Lord for guidance and protection.  I was teaching Sunday School at the time, so I practiced what I would do if I needed to lay down my life to protect the kids.  That resolved, I rarely gave it another thought and continued on with life.   

But what does this all have to do with the episode in Matthew?   

The current message to me is to be brave and stand in faith in both the big and little things.  The lack of faith opens the door to fear, and the spirit of fear definitely is not a gift from God. Jesus is not pleased with fear, and I definitely want to please Him.  This is why it’s important to see what the disciples realized during that terrible storm.  Faith in Jesus overrides all fear because the Lord walks beside us, always providing His protection.  

Then said they unto Him, 

What shall we do, 

that we might work the works of God? 

Jesus answered and said unto them,

THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD,

THAT YE BELIEVE ON HIM 

WHOM HE HATH SENT.

John 6:28-29

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Pat has been a follower of Jesus Christ since 1974 and loves to encourage people to trust God. which comes naturally to her. Her professional background includes journalism, advertising, and public relations. In 1964 she married Bill, earning her the nickname, “MrsZ”. Together, they raised two wonderful children who married terrific spouses, five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

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