Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? —Matthew 8:26

When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable. Yet our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the elementary panic-stricken prayers of those people who do not even know God. We come to our wits’ end, showing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To us He seems to be asleep, and we can see nothing but giant, breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.

“. . . O you of little faith!” What a stinging pain must have shot through the disciples as they surely thought to themselves, “We missed the mark again!” And what a sharp pain will go through us when we suddenly realize that we could have produced complete and utter joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we were facing.

There are times when there is no storm or crisis in our lives, and we do all that is humanly possible. But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him.

We have been talking quite a lot about sanctification, but what will be the result in our lives? It will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him. And this oneness will make us not only blameless in His sight, but also a profound joy to Him.

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Journal DJR
Good Morning, Lord.
Thank you for the rain today. It’s a good picture of two ways to look at things. I could be stressed out that the camp is getting cancelled, so the schedule won’t be met … and the jobs won’t get done…. or I can rejoice in the “freed up time” in which I can re-calibrate and look to you, to see how to spend it.

These come from two different world views. On the one hand you can try to organize everything, think the best positive thoughts, and try real hard, attract good things, and wind up with a good life and “success.” In other words, you can try to be me. Not a good plan. Tiredness, Disillusion and Depression lie down that road.

The other world view is that since you are not God and are very imperfect, and you have an invitation from the God who is perfect to join Him in an adventure … that you set aside your preconceptions and look to me, learn to see as I see, feel as I feel. Then when you are confused by circumstances of life, you can just step back and be curious for a moment …knowing that I have all things under control and in due time all will be revealed. Perhaps in a way that currently seems good to you. But perhaps not. But it will be my way and I have good plans for you. A person who lives like that will live at rest and at peace. I can be trusted. Really.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun” (Psalm 37:4-6).

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