Three Lies Fear Whispers in the Storm

I love God's word because it shows me the failures of God's people. It does not give examples of those who had perfect faith (if there were there such a thing), or even whitewash the sins of those it highlights. Rather, it gives a very real picture of both the brokenness of man and the grace of God.

The phrase "do not fear" is the most repeated command in Scripture. It is an instruction given to God's people many times over. Why then, if we are told not to fear, is this such a difficult command to obey? In part, it has to be that in many ways, fear lies to us in the midst of the storms of life. It deceives us into believing it has power it does not possess. Fear also exposes a misplaced focus on circumstances rather than on the promises of God.

As I consider fear in my own life, I am encouraged to realize that even Jesus' disciples battled fear. It reminds me that the walk of faith is a process. The longer we practice faith, the more we grow; often as our own failings encounter the steadfast patience of God.

The Gospel according to Luke tells us, "One day, [Jesus] got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, 'Let us go across to the other side of the lake.' So they set out and as they sailed, he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake and they were filling with water and were in danger" (Luke 8:22-23).

They woke Jesus, " Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm" (Mark 4:38-39).

"He said to them, 'Where is your faith?' And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, 'Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?'" (Luke 8:25).

Considering this passage, there are three lies that fear whispers to us in the midst of the storm:

Lie #1: Jesus is indifferent to our suffering.

"Do you not care that we are perishing?" (v 38). I have asked this question of Go, in various forms, during storms in my life. Don't you care, Jesus, that this is happening? If you cared, wouldn't you calm the storm? Don't you care that I am about to drown? Where is your concern? Where is your comfort? Where is your care?

By the time Jesus led the disciples into this storm, they had already seen him heal a man with an unclean spirit, preach of the coming kingdom, cleanse lepers, and heal a paralyzed man among other miracles (Mark 1-4). They had seen his power, his care, and his compassion. They had seen a glimpse of who he truly was, yet their immediate response in the midst of fear: "Don't you care?"

I have seen the faithfulness of God throughout my life, yet I struggle with the same lie. I have experienced his goodness and kindness, yet when suffering arises it's easy to assume Jesus is indifferent to my pain. As I battle this lie, it's important to recognize Jesus both led his disciples into the storm, yet as he led them, he was with them. The storm was no accident. And his presence with them was intentional.

When fear arises, when anxieties ensue, it's easy to question like the disciples, "Don't you care?" The fact that Jesus is near and "a very present help in trouble" shows just the opposite—he cares deeply.  And because he cares, he leads us through the storm (Psalm 46:1).

Lie #2: The storm is the problem and is to be feared.

Teachings around this text often suggest that Jesus wants to calm the storms in our lives. Jesus wants to bring peace in the midst of our raging sea. While these things can be true, if that is the primary take-away much has been missed.

Jesus not only rebuked the wind and the storm, he also rebuked the disciples for their fear and faithlessness. "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" (Mark 4:40).

When storms come, it can be difficult to direct our gaze at anything other than the storm. Beyond that, we have been conditioned to believe the storms of life are to be feared. These storms are often painful and can feel all consuming. It's easy to believe the storm is the biggest issue and the care of Jesus is merely seen through his causing the storm to cease.

The truth, however, is that storms are often the catalyst Jesus uses to expose misdirected hope and belief. The raging seas revealed the disciples were more confident in the power of the storm than they were sure of Jesus' control and authority in the midst of it.

He often uses the storms in our lives to reveal the same. The difficulties and pains of life are often mercies disguised as storms as God’s sanctification process cuts away, reveals, and refines us. God will often give the gift of learning patience, rather than imparting patience to his children. He will give the gift of humiliation to teach humility. He will give the gift of persistent weakness and difficulty to expose self-reliance and pride. Just as he gave the gift of a terrifying storm to the disciples to reveal their fear and faithlessness.

I wonder if the disciples had paused to consider that Jesus was asleep in the boat, would it have changed their sense of fear and urgency? He was at perfect peace. The storm was not the problem; their misplaced focus and confidence were.

As difficult as it is to believe, when storms arise they often feel terrifying because they reveal misplaced hope and belief. The disciples were looking at their understanding of the storm, yet they had the Creator of the Storm asleep in the boat with them. Fear in the storm was the tool Jesus used to expose the deeper issue of their lack of rightly-placed faith.

When storms arise in our lives, they expose false beliefs and misplaced trust. The storms are not the issue nor are they to be feared. They are there to help us grow in faith and understanding of Christ. Faith comes not by studying the storm, or understanding its power and the threats that come with it, rather, by what pastor Martin Lloyd Jones once declared, "we can only conquer our doubts by looking steadily at Him."

Lie #3: We are in danger.

Jesus' rebuke of his disciples has always been hard for me. The passage says they were in real danger. These were seasoned fishermen who knew the waters. They knew when to sail and when to stay ashore. They were professionals who knew the power of the sea. In this moment, their boat was filling. It was not some imagined danger or overreaction to their circumstances. As they understood things, there was real danger. Yet Jesus rebuked them for their fear and lack of faith.

The raging storm was absolutely a threat to their bodily safety! Yet no matter what their bodies faced, they were secure because they were with Christ,

This is a lesson I have had to learn many times over; God's promises are always true for my soul. Scripture promises that every word of God is true for my soul. There is literally nothing that can rip my soul from God's hands. My body may be ravaged, my body may be in danger, my body will die—but my soul can never be in danger.

Jesus led the disciples into the storm, in part, to reveal their misplaced hope and trust. He used the storm to show them his power. He used the storm to reveal their pride and self-reliance. He used the storm to remind them that they were never truly in danger, despite the fear that told them otherwise.

Like the disciples we are often conditioned to listen to the lies that fear tells us in the midst of the storm. Jesus is asleep and indifferent to our suffering. The storms are to be feared because they present danger. The reality is that Jesus often leads us into the storms to reveal the truth of who he is. He is present, near, and in control. He is purposeful and intentional. Jesus reminds us there is no storm that needs to be feared because he has promised he will never forsake our souls; we are his.

These are all easy things to think through, yet despite knowing these truths, I still battle fear. I still struggle to rest in the care of Jesus. I still fight against the dread that arises as I consider what sorrows await me. The journey from head knowledge to heart acceptance is long and difficult.

I am encouraged, however, as I remember that even those who were with Jesus still battled fear. Even his closest circle of followers had to be reminded there was a better way; a more faithful way. These followers didn't have to be told just once, rather, they had to learn the same lessons many times over. It's a kindness of God to give us examples of imperfect faith. When the storms of life expose misplaced faith and fear arises, encouragement can be found when, with each passing storm, we marvel a bit more at the power and authority of Christ.