No Fear?

Matthew 8:26

Good News Translation (GNT)

²⁶ “Why are you so frightened?” Jesus answered. “What little faith you have!” Then he got up and ordered the winds and the waves to stop, and there was a great calm.

I am inspired by some particular friends to write today.  Thanks to them, I have seen something in the Word that I have never seen before.  Maybe I'm just a late bloomer...

Anyway, I've always felt like when my faith is weak, that I hold God back.  Like my faith needs to be strong and courageous in order to move Him to do whatever it is I think He needs to do.  For a long time I've had this sneaking suspicion that I'm running in circles with this sort of thinking, but haven't felt there was any solution other than to pray for stronger faith.  

While probably not a bad thing to do at all...there was a man in the Bible who asked Jesus to help him with his unbelief...there are times in your life that you are so much in the middle of a problem that it is really humanly impossible to have the kind of faith that just flat out takes courage.  There are times when things are really frightening.  Whether it be sickness, finances, circumstances, emotional/mental struggles...those things can be scary!  As humans, we do tend to worry and fret, and yes, we know we shouldn't!  

When I read this scripture, I sort of pictured the scene of the disciples in the boat with the storm going on, frantically asking Jesus to do something about it.  (I know I'd be scared!)  Maybe I'm the only one, but I've always seen this story as a sort of chewing out by Jesus for their lack of faith.  But I look at it a little differently today.  I don't think He was chewing them out.  Maybe He was surprised that after the things He had already done they were still so easily frightened and lacking in faith. (Does that sound like anyone you know??)  I think He was more likely filled with compassion by the weakness they portrayed.

He recognized and acknowledged their fear and lack of faith...and STILL got up and did what they had asked Him to do.  He still calmed the storm.  It comes to me that our fear does not scare God and our lack of faith does not limit His ability.  Even when we are weak and fearful and having a hard time believing...He will still listen and do the work in our lives.