These were the anxious thoughts of the disciples as they were in the boat with the Lord. Experienced fishermen they were, on board that day, men who knew well the terror that the wind and sea could cause. Fear struck them and caused them to doubt Jesus’ care for them. Dr. Luke records for us the events of that day.
“Now it came about on one of those days that He and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." And they launched out. But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended upon the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. And they came to Him and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?"(Luke 8:22-25 NASB)
Though the disciples were expressing doubts, an ancient believer, Job, had already discerned the Power of the Creator, the Christ.
“He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. “He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.”(Job 9:8-10 NIV)
Those fearful disciples represent us who also are experiencing the rage of many tempests. For some, the loss of employment or retirement savings has raised fear in the soul. Others are experiencing loss of health, domestic upheaval, whether with family members or the necessity of relocating due to increasingly difficult circumstances. A question comes to our mind -- does the Lord care? The answer is an emphatic yes -- He cares. But it is necessary for us to exercise the faith that comes from knowing that. Since we have placed our faith in Christ, we are His possession and His responsibility. By faith, just as with those disciples on that day, we too can see the Lord bring calmness to our anxious souls. Note that the presence of the Lord did not prevent those men from facing a serious situation. However, they were in error to think that they were perishing, for those who belong to Christ never perish. Physical life may be difficult and even come to an end, but the soul that has trusted in Christ is never separated from the love of God. Paul, in writing to the believers in Rome, reminded them that the persecution that was about to come against the early Christians could not change their eternal destiny.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”(Romans 8:35 KJV)
The apostle answers with a statement that is most profound and encompassing of everything in creation.
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Romans 8:38-39 KJV)
Just as the sea responded to the voice of the Creator, so our souls should respond in faith as we our call for help. The writer of Hebrews stated --
… “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised.”)(Hebrews 10:23 KJV)