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Where's Your Faith?
“One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him” (Luke 8:22-25)?
We were visiting San Antonio a couple summers ago when the minivan displayed a warning light on the dash that looked like a car battery. I had never seen this particular light, but thought “surely a symbol resembling a battery means we need a new battery.” I quickly went to the internet and found that this symbol does not mean a problem with the battery, but a problem with the alternator. I called a local mechanic, and he said that when an alternator light displays on the dashboard it is indicative of an alternator failure and typically there is not much time before needing replacement. He also added they were too busy to fix the car that week. “Can we make it back to Houston, I asked?” He replied “you will likely end up on the side of the road.” I didn’t like that answer so I called a member of the church who is knowledgeable about vehicles. He agreed with everything the mechanic told me but finished with a spiritual admonition that caught me off guard. He said “where’s your faith?” I was embarrassed because up to this point I had not considered God or even prayed about our predicament. I only thought, “how can I fix the situation and make it back to Houston without getting stuck on the side of the road, in the middle of the summertime heat, with 3 kids and a spouse with heart failure?” I called several other local mechanics but it was Friday afternoon and everyone was booked. With the words of my Brother fresh on my mind, I told the family “let’s go home!” We checked out of the hotel one day early and headed east on I-10. After loading and starting the minivan I noticed the warning light did not display on the dash. I thought “God may get us through this!” After traveling for the first hour the light came back on and my faith wavered. We quickly looked up the closest auto parts store in order to stop and test how much battery life was remaining. After testing it, the store worker said “the battery has full life.” “How could that be, I thought”. “God may get us through this” came back to mind again. The light went off and came on several more times but the van kept going. As we got closer and closer to home my confidence grew and I had time to reflect on the goodness of God and the weakness of my faith.
This is a paltry example of the difficulties and challenges we will face in life, but it’s a reminder that our confidence should always be in the Lord. Even if the car died God would have provided a way home, possibly by giving a brother or sister in Christ the opportunity to serve, and come pick us up from the side of the road. The Lord works all things together for good even if we can’t see it in the middle of a troublesome experience.
The Apostle Peter tells us in I Peter 5:7 to “cast all our care on Him because He cares for you.” As Moses passed the leadership role to Joshua he told him in Deut 31:7-8, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” So, Brothers and Sisters, where is your faith? What challenges are you experiencing? Are you responding with the boldness and conviction that God will get your through? Or do you wake up saying “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Don’t forget you serve a living God who is powerful enough to calm the winds of life and give us peace that surpasses understanding. God sharpens us through the challenges, hones us with difficulties, and purifies us with fire, all the while promising, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”.
“Father, my faith is in you.”
