Fearless

This is part 1 of 2 of Lesson 11: More Lessons In Discipleship. Click here to go back to the introduction to this lesson.

Faith grows strong in earnest conflict with doubt and fear.– 4T 116, 117

The story of the disciples in the storm on the lake is a great place to start our discussion on fear. It’s worth reading through the story, even though it will be well known to many of you:

Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And 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?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” Mark 4:36-41 (NKJV).

Pressure reveals what we really think about the big issues of life. Not what we think we think, but what we truly believe at the core of our being.

In the situation above, the disciples were fearing for their lives, battling the waves, and Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat. Naturally the disciples wanted what we also would have wanted – to be saved from the impending disaster.

Now if they really believed that Jesus was the Messiah, sent from God, they would have trusted that all was going to be in control. But in the thick of the storm, the human reaction is to trust the physical world around us, the stuff we think we can work with and influence.

It was certainly a difficult test – I think I would have reacted the same as the disciples. From a human point of view, Jesus wasn’t acting to rescue them as they would have expected a Saviour to do.

So what do we make of all this?

First of all, this ordeal was a test. Jesus deliberately held off intervening so their true beliefs (or lack of them) would show through. Not because He is an exacting schoolmaster, but to help them in the longer term. I think the point was to give the disciples an experience that would push their level of trust in Him to a new level.

If the disciples had trusted in Him, they would have been kept in peace. Their fear in the time of danger revealed their unbelief. In their efforts to save themselves, they forgot Jesus; and it was only when, in despair of self-dependence, they turned to Him that He could give them help. {2MCP 476.3}

Jesus’ doesn’t always immediately intervene to rescue His followers from suffering. In some circumstances this will be for similar reasons to the disciples on the lake – for our ultimate good.

It doesn’t mean that all experiences of suffering are for a test. We live in a war zone. The active work of the devil, in conjunction with the accumulated effects of sin, both personal and global, account for all evil. Jesus Himself advised His disciples to be prepared for suffering and death.

The focus however is not on the here and now, but the fact that our Saviour has triumphed over death and pain, and this eternal security is something to be joyful of.

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NKJV).

Secondly, their declaration of ‘don’t You care that we are perishing?’ is at the same time understandable, as well as resulting from a fundamental lack of faith in Jesus’ loving nature.

Under our own terrible trials, we also may question whether God is for us or against us. And like the disciples this shows a lack of belief in the fact that ‘God is love’.

Thirdly, how often do we try to resolve problems on our own, before seeking God’s help?

How often the disciples’ experience is ours! When the tempests of temptation gather, and the fierce lightnings flash, and the waves sweep over us, we battle with the storm alone, forgetting that there is One who can help us. {2MCP 477.1}

Lastly, if Jesus is our example in all things, then should we be able to sleep through the storms in our lives?

As Jesus rested by faith in the Father’s care, so we are to rest in the care of our Saviour.  {2MCP 476.3}

While Jesus’ calmness is exemplary, I think that we are offered the ability to avoid fear under pressure.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6, 7 (NKJV, emphasis added.)

But what do you think? Is the promise of the ’surpassing’ peace of God a reality in today’s world? Can fear be banished from our lives?

As always, we’re interested in your thoughts on the above.

Click here to go to the last section for this week, Dealing With Fear.