His Place of Faith and Peace

 

 

 

 

A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 

 

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

 

But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 

—‑Mark 4:37-40

 

Many disappointed and frustrated believers become upset at God because of their storms. This story documented in Mark 4 of Jesus and the disciples focuses on many of the concerns we face regarding faith. 

 

Jesus was at peace in the storm. He was fully convinced that the storm was not going to drown them. You can see this from His place of peace. 

 

The disciples were fearful and then accused Jesus of not caring. But Jesus had faith. He rebuked the storm, and it suddenly became calm. And then he rebuked the disciples, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 

 

The main characteristic of true faith is peace. Regardless of the circumstances, the spirit of peace prevails. You know you have the victory no matter what. When believers are frustrated and begin to question God, that is a sign that they do not believe by faith, even though many declare they do. 

 

The difference is that God’s kind of faith—the faith Jesus had—is not mental. It is not emotional. It is spiritual. It is of the heart and not the head. This is where many well-meaning believers (including me) have missed it. 

 

“I know I’m believing by faith because I’m convinced the Word is true,”  many declare, “but why does this sickness still plague me?” This kind of statement is often made out of frustration and not out of peace. Faith that has to physically see what you believe for is not God’s kind of faith. It is human faith that struggles to believe out of discouragement.

 

True faith has already spiritually seen God's victory. True faith cannot be shaken or discouraged. True faith believes in the outcome before it comes. God’s kind of faith does not fail. Just as Jesus rebuked the storm, He calls us to rebuke our storms. 

 

How do we enter into God’s kind of faith? The same way Jesus did. He could only do what He saw and heard from the Father (John 5:19). Just because we know God’s Word doctrinally does not mean it has come to life in our hearts. We, too, can sleep in peace and trust God. Daily fellowship with the Lord takes us into His place of faith and peace.

 

 

www.lynnlacher.com/2023/12/his-place-of-faith-and-peace.html