The more things change, the more they remain the same. Isn’t that how the saying goes? We determine that we’ve handed over our anxieties to God, and then new breaking news comes out way; we’re back to the habits of yesteryear. Then we realize that even our cycle of anxiety is nothing new to God. Consider today’s Holy Nougat
“Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?””
Mark 4:40 NLT
What struck me in this version of Jesus’ admonition is His use of the word ‘still’. The Greek suggests that it is a present state of faithlessness. It suggests that Jesus and the disciples have been down this road before. In fact, although we know that Jesus knows all hearts; His response here seems to reflect shock or mild exasperation. Like,
Again … thought you’d graduated solid faith!
Sometimes I do believe that is Jesus’ response to my fears – and when I am rational, I am exasperated with my irrational fears. Seriously.
But fear ISN’T rational.
So when we get hourly updates on catastrophic events and we are battling fear; that may increase panic rather than reduce it, and we forget that we have a special weapon – Jesus.
In every account of the larger narrative, Jesus is asleep in the boat. And nothing in their situation changed until Jesus intervened; unto they moved forward in desperation. So too, we must be ready to fully let go for fear to be dismantled. And the best place to make that happen is with Jesus.
In the wider narrative, what preceded this admonition is The Rescue. Jesus spoke to the storm, and it was silenced. Then having calmed their fears, He admonished the disciples. AFTER He rescued them; not before.
When we call on Jesus, we have the reassurance that He SHALL respond first, and express disappointment after. We also know that our panic is not new to Jesus. Not in the least. We also know that if He’s done rescue time and again for the disciples, chances are – He’ll do it again and again for us.
