22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
How very much like life! It can be such smooth sailing and all of a sudden storms can whip into our lives like a frenzy leaving us much like the disciples, in great danger. There is a wealth of wisdom we can glean from this. First of all, they were being obedient to Christ’s command when the storm came. It was He who said “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake”. Granted, there are some consequences we can forgo through obedience but certainly not all trials come upon us by our poor choices. We live in a fallen world and we can expect tribulations – Christians and non-Christians alike (do I hear an “Amen”?!?). Secondly, for believers in Christ, it is paramount during such times of trials for us to keep a proper focus on Jesus resisting the temptation to focus on our circumstances. Always remember that there are many things too hard for us to do yet nothing too hard for our Lord.14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? Gen 18:14 (NIV)
The writer of Hebrews tells us:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb 12:1-3 (NIV)
I love what Spurgeon has to say about “our light and momentary troubles”: "Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try our faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord’s faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father’s countenance is hidden. A faith which can say in direst trouble, ‘Though he slay me, yet I will trust in Him’, is heaven-born faith.” Amen! To this Peter adds:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)
The Bible Knowledge Commentary expounds on these great verses of Scripture: “1:6. A living hope results in a present joy. In this likely refers to the truths mentioned in verses 3-5. Peter encouraged his readers to put their knowledge into practice. Their response to the tremendous theological truths taught so far should be that they would greatly rejoice. Knowledge alone cannot produce the great joy of experiential security and freedom from fear in the face of persecution. God’s omnipotent sovereignty needs to be coupled with human responsibility. Christians are responsible to respond in faith. Faith turns sound doctrine into sound practice. Faith acts on the content of theology and produces conduct that corresponds to that content. Faith makes theological security experiential. The Apostle John wrote, “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). This kind of faith or living hope can enable believers to rejoice even when they are called on to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. Peter stressed that a Christian’s joy is independent of his circumstances. James used the same two Greek words (poikilois peirasmois, trans. here “all kinds of trials”). The trials themselves are seen as occasions for joy (James 1:2). Though trials may cause temporary grief, they cannot diminish that deep, abiding joy which is rooted in one’s living hope in Christ Jesus.” Proverbs proclaims this truth:10 If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength! Prov 24:10 (NIV)
We would do well to remember the Bible’s definition of faith: 1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Heb 11:1 (NIV)
As Christians, we do not maintain faith in our faith but faith in Jesus “the author and perfecter of our faith” being sure and certain of Him. “Faith honors God, and God honors faith.” L.B. Cowman