Fear and faith, my friends, cannot exist in the same person at the same time – because they cancel each other, as illustrated.

Jesus had spent the day at the seaside teaching in parables. Multitudes crowded him until finally he gave the word to his disciples, “…Let us pass over unto the other side.” (Mark 4:35) Well, the disciples sent away the multitudes, and they all set sail for the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.

No sooner were they en route than Jesus retired to the back of the ship and fell asleep on a pillow. But there arose a great storm of wind – a tempest causing waves to break over the ship. Well, with the ship in danger of swamping, the disciples were filled with fear. They came to Jesus and woke him saying, “…Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38)

Jesus immediately arose, assessed the situation, “…rebuked the wind and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39)

With tranquility now restored, Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “…Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

Now, in a sense that question is shocking. He knew perfectly well why they were frightened, but clearly, he expected something better of them. It was as though he was saying ‘You know better than this. Why are you listening to the voice of your fears and not the voice of faith? He is implying they had a choice, and they chose fear over faith – a poor choice.

In the aftermath, the disciples were stunned! They had expected Him to do something or they would not have awakened Him in the first place, but what He did overwhelmed even them after all they had seen of Him. They actually seem more afraid of Him when it was over than they had been of the storm. “…What manner of man is this” they said one to another, “that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41)

Now, what is the lesson in this story? Jesus was, and still is, so much more than we can possibly imagine! He is all-powerful. When he tells us to choose faith over fear, we have to believe that we have the power to make that choice!

Now, fear, of course, is the natural choice, but we cannot be natural – not if we would know the great calm he has the power to bring into our lives.