Why Are You So Afraid?

Matthew 8: 23-27 (NIVUK)

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’

Sometimes I think I am afraid of too many things: heights, noises in the night, flying, large dogs, snakes, thunder… but, most of all, spiders. When I was growing up, I would call my Dad to help deal with any monstrous spider that was lurking in my room. As he carefully removed a tiny spider, Dad would tease me that he could hear its hobnail boots on the floor and that it would cast a shadow in the noonday sun!

Now I know that a lot of these fears are unfounded, or at least out of proportion to the real danger posed. But I can understand why, in this story, the disciples were afraid. Being out in a small boat in a ‘furious storm’ must have been scary, the possibility of drowning not just an imagined one.

So Jesus’ question seems a little out of kilter: ‘Why are you afraid?’

For a second, they must have thought he was delusional - why wouldn’t they be afraid? But within moments he had given them their answer: calm seas and a peaceful breeze.

Jesus’ question ties into yesterday’s one: if Jesus is indeed God’s Son, even in the scariest of situations, why would you be afraid? The disciples had Jesus in the boat with them but were forgetting who he really was: he was peacefully asleep when the storm blew up, so they should have known all would be well.

When we face situations that cause us fear and uncertainty – perhaps a health scare, financial stress, a work situation, the wise thing to do is to bring it to Jesus. It’s been said that sometimes Jesus calms the storm, and sometimes he allows the storm to rage but calms us instead. Either way we have the incredible privilege of knowing Jesus is with us, the Son of God who knows how to fill us with his peace.

Prayer — Jesus, sometimes I get afraid. Today I'm afraid of… [tell him your situation]. I look to you today, Son of God, to bring me your peace. Thank you.