Hard times inevitably come.
When they arrive, we tend to react to the temporary situations around us. This is human nature and completely understandable. No one likes to go through a tragedy or crisis. We don’t enjoy the inevitable pain or grief we all experience living in this world.
Our reaction is such that we easily forget these are temporary circumstances. We treat the middle of the story like the end of the story.
I used to teach this lesson while watching a movie with my kids. The formula in a good story is that about two-thirds or three-fourths of the way through the movie, there is a dark night of the soul moment for the main character. In the plot of the movie, the situation gets so bad all seems lost. Redemption seems impossible.
I would stop the movie at the “all seems lost” moment and say, “Well, that stinks. I guess the movie is over.”
My kids would scream and yell in protest. “Dad, the movie isn’t over! There’s still time left!”
As followers of Jesus, we’ve been given the gift of faith. Faith gives us hope beyond the current circumstance. This isn’t always easy to learn, especially since it requires difficult circumstances to learn the lesson.
Jesus’ disciples had to be placed in such a position to see the need for great faith.
What Is the Context of Matthew 8:26?
In Matthew chapter 8, Jesus and his disciples embarked on a journey in a boat across the Sea of Galilee.
Previous stories in the chapter are miraculous and stupendous in their supernatural activity. First, Jesus cleanses a leper. Leprosy was considered incurable, a curse even under Old Testament Law, which was why lepers were unclean and relegated to staying outside the camp.
Next, Jesus heals a centurion’s servant. The Roman wasn’t Jewish and a symbol of the empire’s oppression of the Jews.
However, when he asks Jesus to heal his servant, Jesus agrees, but the centurion doesn’t want Jesus to come to his house, arguing how unworthy the centurion was for such a visit.
The Roman officer did say that a man of authority like himself need only give an order, and it’s carried out, and Jesus was a man of authority that could heal with only a word.
Jesus remarks in wonder at the man’s faith.
Peter’s mother-in-law is healed of a fever in the following story. Later that evening, he healed all who came to him who were sick.
Seeing the multitude around him, Jesus begins to teach on the cost of discipleship after a scribe commits to follow Jesus anywhere he goes. The Son of God responds that he has no home in this world, implying he’s committing to a hard life.
After that, a disciple of Jesus asks if he can go bury his father before following, and Jesus tells the man to “let the dead bury their own dead.”
This is the context for what happens on the Sea of Galilee. After several clear demonstrations of Jesus’ supernatural power and teaching that his followers had no home in this world and must leave behind the cares of this life, even to a radical degree, the disciples are placed in a situation that tests what they’ve been taught.
A storm rose that threatened their lives. Several of the disciples were experienced fishermen, so they would have understood it as deadly. While fighting for their lives, they look to Jesus.
He was asleep in the back of the boat.
They decide to wake him up and beg for his help. “Save us Lord! We are perishing!” (Matthew 8:25).
It is then that Jesus says, “Why are ye fearful, o ye of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26) Then he gets up and rebukes the storm. The wind and waves are calm. And the disciples are amazed.
What Is the Meaning Behind Jesus Saying, ‘Why Are Ye Faithful, Oh Ye of Little Faith’?
God often places us in situations to practice what he has been teaching us. We don’t often put these ideas together, but it’s important that we do or else we get discouraged and tempted to fall away.
We get spiritual highs when we see miracles done, people get saved, the Spirit moves in a worship service, or God blows our minds with some new revelation. It’s easy to have faith and praise God in those situations.
Then we seem to immediately get thrown to the proverbial lions.
My wife and I came back from a mission trip a couple of weeks ago. We flowed in the Spirit and saw God do amazing things. We came home on Monday, riding on a wave of God’s grace and favor.
On Tuesday, I took our van in for routine maintenance and found out we basically needed a new car. This was not in our plans, financially or otherwise.
A few days later, the check engine light in our other vehicle came on. More financial stress and problems. As the Bible says, this shouldn’t surprise us.
Jesus never promises his people the absence of problems. In fact, he promises the opposite. In this world, we will have trouble, which is the first part of our promise. Thankfully, the second part is also true, where Jesus tells us not to have fear because he has overcome the world (John 16:33).
As experienced fishermen, the disciples were correct in the seriousness of the storm. Faith doesn’t deny the problems are serious.
Faith sees our temporary trouble in the light of a much bigger, more powerful, and eternal God. It doesn’t make our problems less serious or painful. Only now can we endure without fear because of an eternal perspective.
Did Jesus expect the disciples to calm the waves? Probably not. But they should have known who was in the boat with them.
Just within the previous few days, they had seen him heal leprosy and other sick people, along with regular miracles and healings along Jesus’ ministry. They literally had an example of what to do with Jesus in the boat.
He was at rest. If they were his followers, then they should have acted the same, using him as their model. The fact that they didn’t follow his example but instead gave into fear, which brought about the comment, “Ye of little faith.”
When my wife and I wanted to freak out over cars and financial problems, not knowing where some of that money would come from, we stopped and said, “This is a test.”
We prayed, and God told us to trust him, to rest in him. We wanted to be stressed and worried, and God was at peace and rest when we turned to him. We endured those hard times with that in mind.
Faith is the perception and ability to pursue the eternal and unseen heavenly reality. Faith sees beyond the temporary crisis and empowers us to follow what Jesus is doing in the midst of it all.
Where Else Does the Bible Talk about Faith?
Faith is a central theme in the Bible, and there are numerous passages that discuss the nature, importance, and examples of faith. While it is impossible to cover all of them in detail, here are some key passages.
Hebrews 11:1 provides a foundational definition of faith: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” It emphasizes the confidence and trust believers have in God and His promises, even when they cannot physically see or fully comprehend them.
Hebrews 11:6 declares the importance of faith, stating, “And without faith, it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”
It underscores the necessity of faith as the pathway to a relationship with God and highlights the expectation of divine rewards for those who faithfully seek Him.
Paul writes in Romans 1:17, “For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” Faith is an ongoing, transformative journey, and living by the eternal perspective is how we are to live.
Jesus teaches about faith in Mark 11:22-24, saying, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
We can debate whether or not Jesus expected the disciples to calm the storm and the sea, but living by the perspective of heaven will produce miraculous results, beginning with overcoming fear and worry.
James 2:14-26 explores the relationship between faith and works. It highlights that genuine faith is accompanied by actions that demonstrate its authenticity.
James asserts that faith without works is dead, emphasizing the importance of a faith that produces tangible evidence through deeds of love and righteousness.
This is why faith is both the perception and the pursuit of God and the eternal reality. It wasn’t enough the disciples heard and saw what Jesus did; they also needed to act according to that truth.
What Can We Learn from Matthew 8:26?
The passage in Matthew 8:26 where Jesus says, “Why are Ye fearful, Oh, Ye of little faith,” offers valuable lessons for believers today.
1. Trust in God’s power instead of our own. The disciples' lack of faith stemmed from their failure to fully grasp the authority of Jesus, who had the ability to calm the storm.
While expert sailors, they couldn’t survive without him. Similarly, we are called to trust in God's power to intervene in our lives, knowing that He is in control of every situation and we can’t save ourselves.
2. Overcoming fear. The disciples' fear during the storm prevented them from fully relying on God’s protection and provision. Likewise, when faced with daunting circumstances, we must choose to trust in God's faithfulness rather than allowing fear to dictate our actions and emotions.
3. Deepening our faith. Jesus expects His followers to grow in their understanding and trust in Him. This requires intentional effort to study His Word, cultivate a personal relationship with Him, and continually seek His guidance. Through this process, our faith will be strengthened.
4. Faith beyond sight. Jesus challenges us to have faith that goes beyond what our physical senses perceive. We are called to believe in God's promises and trust that He is working behind the scenes, even when we cannot see the outcome.
5. Faith during trials. In challenging times, it can be easy to lose faith and become overwhelmed by doubt. However, Jesus' rebuke reminds us to have unwavering faith even when facing trials and difficulties. It is during these moments that our faith is tested and refined.
6. Prayer and faith. Jesus' rebuke prompts us to examine the relationship between prayer and faith. He encourages us to believe that our prayers will be answered when we have genuine faith in God.
It is through prayer that we express our trust and reliance on Him, and it is through faith that we receive His provision and guidance.
7. The assurance of God's presence. Jesus' response to the storm demonstrates that God is present in our lives, even in the midst of turmoil. His ability to calm the storm reaffirms His care and protection for His followers.
When we face challenges, we can find solace and strength in the assurance of God's presence and His faithfulness to sustain us.
When hard times come, let’s remember not to treat the middle of the story like the end of the story.
Through faith, we’ve been given a gift to see the reality of God’s love, his presence, and the end of the story for those that love him and are called according to his purpose. Let us endure with that faith and hope.
Peace.
For further reading:
What Did Jesus Mean By ‘Ye of Little Faith’?
What Is the Significance of Jesus Calming the Storm?
What Does Faith Over Fear Really Mean?
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Nathan Cowley
