“And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:26
In the forty-sixth Psalm, we find a context which is so prevalent on this earth, either by the constant shifting of the elements such as the sea and mountains, or the wars between men and nations. Whether the circumstances be constantly changing, and there continues to be wars, and rumors of wars, the call to the believer is to trust in God. However, that trust is characterized by a resting of one’s whole weight upon the only One who can sustain, keep, lead, and provide. The Lord is ever looking for the one who will truly trust Him, not in a passive way, but actively believing Him to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are perfect towards Him.
But what about those whose hearts are not perfect, but find themselves in impossible circumstances or danger? What about their cry to God for mercy? Psalm 107 reveals to us something of the mercy and grace of God, how He chooses to answer the cry of the heart. At least four times in this Psalm we find the phrase: “Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble.” The result is that He intervenes to deliver, save, or bring them out of their distresses. The great and wonderful basis for God’s response to the call of the heart is His goodness, manifested by His mercy and grace. But what about the attitude of the believer? What is his reaction, and response to be in the storm, in those tumultuous circumstances, whether in nature or man-made? Let us look at Christ, who is our example, but also our Life. God always has a purpose in the storm, and it is primarily to manifest His glory in some way or another. Sometimes that glory is revealed immediately, for He is a very present help in trouble. Sometimes, it is not until years later, when in the circumstances of God’s choosing, He reveals to us the moving of His hand in the past. Such was the case of Joseph, who was separated from his family for at least thirteen years, his Father Jacob believing him to be dead. However, according to the saving purpose of God, Joseph was preserved, protected, and prepared for a day when he would be greatly responsible for the saving of countless lives in the midst of a famine. But how does one trust, and what is to be the attitude and manifestation of true faith in the storm?
In three of the Gospels, we find the account of Jesus with His disciples who were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. A tempest arose, and the waves began covering the ship. Jesus was asleep during the storm, most certainly because of fatigue, as He had been ministering to the multitudes. The disciples, some of whom were fishermen, knew the perils of the sea, and saw that their destruction was imminent. They awaken the Lord, declaring to Him, “Lord, save us: we perish.” (Matt. 8:25) Then we see Jesus rise with no trace of fear in His voice or manner. He asks the disciples, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” What was the difference between the disciples’ reaction in the storm and that of the Lord Jesus? Jesus’ faith was entirely in His Father, the Almighty Father. But not only this, His surrender to the Father was entire. He thus “rested” in the care and control of His Father rather than looking to anything in and of Himself. He is not fearful, but fully confident, for all has been entrusted to the Father.
It was J.S. Pigott who wrote the following: “Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art, And thy love, so pure, so changeless, Satisfies my heart. Satisfies its deepest longings, Meets, supplies its every need, Compasseth me round with blessings, Thine is love indeed.”
Dear Father, We rest in Thee, resting in Christ’s all sufficency. In Jesus’ name Amen.