And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. -Matthew 8:26(ESV)
It is everywhere you look. It has permeated every aspect of our way of life. Whether it is shopping, eating dinner out, sports or even church attendance, you cannot escape the reality that we have been changed. Whether it is expressed in the form of a face mask or in the personal isolation that so many are practicing today, the fear of what might happen has altered the way we navigate this life. Many refer to it as the new normal. I am not sure what that means, because it seems that every day “the new normal” is changing.
Just when we thought things were getting back to what we used to consider normal, it appears the threat is still there. People are still getting sick. Businesses are short-staffed. Churches are still having to close. And now as school starts back, the worry is back and seemingly as strong as ever. It is not only a medical issue, but a political issue and most importantly a spiritual issue. The threat before us is causing us to reprioritize our lives. Unfortunately, for some, instead of turning to the Lord, they are listening to their fears.
Well, if “the new normal” is a life of fear and frustration, then I don’t accept it!
Now please don’t misunderstand where I am going with this. The fear is real. So is the threat. Not one person hasn’t been touched by the pandemic. Someone we all know has been affected to some degree or another. I myself have had Covid. I do not wish to repeat the experience or have anyone I love go through it. It was miserable. So please do not think I am one of the anti-vaccination advocates or am in any way trying to diminish the reality that has caused so much suffering. In fact, I took my vaccination and would encourage you to do the same. However, if you feel you shouldn’t, then that is your business. I won’t try to tell you what you should do medically. I am not qualified. I am also not taking a political side in the debate. You see, in spite of all the pundits we see every time we turn on the tv, for me it is not a political issue as much as a spiritual issue. With that said, as a believer, I feel it is my duty to acknowledge the pain that so many are feeling and to do what I can to help alleviate it. Also as a believer, I feel the example and teachings of Christ are important in how we deal with this “new normal.”
Here is the dilemma that has so many people at odds on this issue. As believers, we are to be good stewards and caretakers of the physical life God has given us, but at the same time, we are not to walk in fear. Where is the balance?
Considering this dilemma, I cannot help but think of the story of Jesus calming the storm found in Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:36-41 and Luke 8:22-25. In it, Jesus and the disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee when suddenly a storm approaches. The mountainous landscape around the Sea of Galilee makes it prone to sudden and unforeseen violent storms. The disciples were frightened as anyone would be. Yet, look at what Jesus was doing. He was sleeping. In the midst of being tossed and drowned, he was getting some much-needed rest. How can that be?
Well, most would answer this by simply saying…”Well…He is Jesus. Of course, he wasn’t scared. He is God.” And this is true. And of course, we think this way because most of us instead relate to the disciples in this story. I would probably have been right there panicking with the rest of them. However, while I guess that all of this is true, I think Jesus’ somewhat understated reaction was more than just the calm and cool collectiveness that must come with being the Son of God. It was faith.
Sure, being God incarnate, he obviously had a unique understanding of the storm. He created thunderstorms after all. But notice what he told the disciples. In each gospel account, He rebuked them for their lack of faith. I must admit that I’ve always struggled with this passage. They had good reason to be fearful. This rebuke always seemed a little harsh to me. But something recently occurred to me that has helped me with this passage. He wasn’t rebuking them for being afraid. He was rebuking them for having little faith during their time of fear. In other words, they allowed their fear to overshadow their faith. The storm was real. The threat was real. Their fear was real. What was lacking was faith.
Fear is real. It is not a bad thing. It is fear that keeps me from standing too close to the edge of a cliff or ledge. It is fear that keeps me from picking up a rattlesnake. Fear leads me to wear a life jacket when kayaking. It is fear that keeps me from doing many things that might be harmful to me or from taking reckless risks. It is also fear that helps me look for help that is stronger and more capable than my own abilities. You see, fear can cripple us, or it can push us to move forward. It is all about how we deal with it.
The disciples in this story were letting it cripple them. They weren’t remembering that Jesus had led them to board that boat. He obviously had a reason for this trip, part of which was still unknown to them. It was to teach them that peace could be felt in the midst of the storm. In addition, though, He had a purpose on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. He was able to sleep, not just because He was God, but because He knew there was a plan and purpose to all of this. This would not be the end. They had more work to do across the sea. God wouldn’t let them drown halfway across when there was work still to be done on the far shore. You see, God-given purpose can bring great peace, no matter the situation.
For believers living in the age of a pandemic, we must remember that God has a plan. That plan might include going through this storm. It also might mean realigning our priorities. It might be that he is using this period of history to lead us to get serious about spiritual things and to strengthen our faith. After allBeliever, what has changed? I mean really changed. There has always been sickness and disease. We have always been just one breath away from our mortal reality. Medicine has advanced and vaccines work to an extent, but most diseases still exist in some form and in some degree. We all get sick. We all eventually die. Our physical existence is just as fragile as ever. Life is still that precious and valuable. Perhaps it is time we remember that. There is nothing like a good storm to help humble us and help us remember just how dependent on the grace of God we all really are. As Paul taught us in Romans 5:2, we are all really just standing in the grace of God.
Instead of fearing the worst in the midst of the storm, perhaps we should be watching to see what God is going to do in it. We cannot ignore the storm and it would be foolish to do so. Nevertheless, one thing remains true during the days of “the new normal”. God is still able to calm the winds and the wave. God’s word still speaks of a future that has not yet happened. This pandemic is not the end. It is just part of the story, not the ending. There is still work to be done. Believer’s more than ever still have a purpose. Gospel urgency is stronger than ever. This purpose can be life-changing if you will allow it to be. It can bring you peace.
The storm in the scripture story set the stage for the disciples to learn a valuable lesson. Perhaps due to the pandemic, the stage has been set for us. Perhaps, more than any other time in our lifetime, people need to hear and may actually be ready to hear the hope and peace of the gospel message. I’ve had conversations like never before on the subject of our mortality and on eternity, all thanks to the storm brewing all around us. It is just a thought. But it is a thought that brings me some peace. Let it do the same for you.
It is in this peace that we can best walk the line of being good stewards of our lives and also walking in faith and not fear. So take the shots if you need to. Social distance to a degree if you need to. Wear a mask if you think you need to. Take every precaution you can to be safe, both for yourselves and for others. But don’t let the fear of what may or may not ever happen overshadow the spiritual truths we cherish. People are God’s priority. His word, fellowship with other believers, worship, and church are all important parts of taking care of that priority that cannot be forgotten during this storm. In fact, they are sources of strength and healing. And don’t turn away from the source of peace that is Jesus Christ. It’s all in His hands anyway.
Maybe Jesus is asking you today to get on the boat and go with Him to the other side to get some work done, to move from fear to faith. Are you ready to truly trust Him should the storm not subside? If you don’t, fear could cause you to miss out on a tremendous blessing along the way. What is going to happen only He knows. That’s kinda the point. That after all is faith.
Comments