"He said to his disciples, 'Why are you so afraid?
Do you still have no faith?'"
(MARK 4:40)

Mark 4:30-41
I used to believe that the opposite of faith was doubt. If I had doubts, I worried I was losing my faith. But in her book “The Cloister Walk,” Kathleen Norris writes, “The opposite of faith is not doubt. It’s fear. Kids don’t doubt. They fear.” I think she’s right.


Soon after, I read Mark 4, the story of when the disciples are panicking and Jesus is napping. They wake Him and He tells the wind and the waves to “be still.” Creation recognized the voice of its Creator, and it obeyed. The waves listen to Him because He made them. And then Jesus asks His disciples this: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” His question puts fear rather than doubt up against faith.


Fear reveals my faith and it reflects poorly on my Father because I am acting as though He isn’t kind or in control or doesn’t know enough to help me. God’s gift to all of us is His assurance that though the journey is not always smooth, our safe arrival is already taken care of in Christ. Let this promise dissolve your fear and grow your faith.



Scripture Focus

Mark 4:30-41

Insight

"NOT A HAIR CAN FALL FROM MY HEAD WITHOUT THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN."
(HEIDELBERG CATECHISM Q & A #1)

Bible In A Year

  • Jeremiah 1-2
  • Psalm 104
  • Acts 28

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