More Precious to God

Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. –Matthew 8:24-25

I have often heard this passage spiritualized in some way, using the word “storm” figuratively, as in “the storms of life,” or any stressful event we go through. This is all well and good, but keep in mind that the disciples were afraid to the point they believed they were all going to die. Have you ever been that afraid? I have, and at that point in my faith walk I can’t report that I handled it much better than Jesus’ disciples here.

But listen to what Jesus tells these twelve men when he sends them out to preach and teach and perform miracles in his name: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7) It’s comforting to believe God’s love for us is so deep and faithful that he knows even the smallest detail about us, especially when we face life’s hardships, and especially when those hardships are because we follow Jesus.

Anxiety, fear, and worry are the common denominators for a lack of trust. A small child trusts her loving parents. Our heavenly Father wants us to trust him the same way. He knows even each sparrow, of which there must be many millions, of which God does not consider too insignificant for his tender care. For me, when I face a crisis and feel all alone, the temptation is to feel like no one cares, and therefore God does not care. Not true! We have God’s word on it.

When I consider Jesus’ final days on this earth–the agony in the garden of Gethsemane, Judas’ betrayal, the arrest, the disciple’s desertion, the flogging, the mocking, the crucifixion–none of these things caused Jesus to lose his focus. It wasn’t until his last few breaths, his last dozen heartbeats, that he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

The next time you are tempted to feel that God doesn’t care, remember that Jesus can relate to our struggles: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, help us know you, love you, and trust you more each day. May your Holy Spirit calm and strengthen us when we worry to excess or fear to the extreme, and remind us of your ever-present care. In Jesus precious name, Amen.