Feb 10: Dont be selective in your faith.

Mathew 8:25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.”

The disciples were in the middle of a life-threatening situation. Their boat was filling up with water and if they did not do something about it, they would sink. So, what do these experienced ex-fishermen do? Cry out to Jesus! Wait, what?! That didn’t make any sense. Jesus was a carpenter by trade.  And yes, He was a Prophet that delivered powerful sermons and healed many sick people. But what can He do with the weather?? 

Often, our faith in God can be selective. We feel God can intervene and do certain things, but not everything. Think about it. You turn on the TV and the weather forecasters are predicting a hurricane next week. The weather patterns look bad. And everyone is preparing to stay safe when it passes through. Maybe you rush to the stores to stock up on emergency supplies. And that’s not a bad thing necessarily. I would most likely do the same thing. But have you stopped and thought about praying and asking God to change that weather pattern? Ask God to reduce the intensity or just not let it come at all?  

In any case, the disciples knew they had no alternative but depend on Jesus in this situation. The good thing is, they cried out to Him. They did not just keep trying to stay afloat amidst the storm at the sea.  The scriptures say “they woke him” saying “Save us, Lord”. What follows is Jesus rebuking the wind and the sea and calming the weather down. In fact, the author says there was a “great calm” in the sea (Matt 8:26). And none of them perished that day.

 Our experiences in the natural realm might make us to think that we are supposed to cry out to God only for certain things in life. I beg to differ. Call out to Him for anything and everything. Your job situation. Your family relationships. Your health. And yes, even the weather!  The Psalmist in Psalm 46 declares this in times of trouble, and it’s a good one to memorize and use in times of need:

1 God is our refuge and strength,

    a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam,

    though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

 To which God responds:

10 “Be still and know that I am God.    I will be exalted among the nations,    I will be exalted in the earth!”

The disciples of Jesus knew where to go in times of trouble. They did not rely on their past professional experiences even in familiar circumstances. They took it to the Lord in prayer. And the Lord rescued them. And there was a great calm in their lives.

Don’t be selective on when you depend on God. Trust in Him at all times, for all things. Nothing is beyond God’s reach.