Bro. Eddie (a member in my local Church) invited our Pastor, Bishop Hendricks to speak at his college one day and the Lord used him to deliver this message.
Matthew 8: 22 “Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. 23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith?” (or in Marks account) "And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”
Since these disciples were fishermen and had experience in dealing with tempests no doubt before they called the Master they tried everything in their power to keep the boat floating. But the tempest was so heavy that all of there efforts failed.
Many times when we're faced with a trial we try to do everything in our power to stay above the waves. We paddle with all our strength and our might. We call on brethren for help, but some how it never seems to be enough. Then we fear that we're going to drown. We think we're going to lose our salvation, so we panic. We become fearful and afraid. Then we say, “Lord, where are you, don't you care about me, don't you care that I'm going to die!” but remember that Jesus will always respond, he'll always give you an answer. Jesus says, “where is your faith, don't you realize that I'm in the boat with you, do you really think that I'm going to let you die? I saw you, you thought that I was asleep, but I was there all along.” -and here Jesus may simply say "peace be still" to cause everything you’re going thru to stop, but then he may say "hold on, it's just a test, hold on". You have to remember that all power belongs to God- Matthew 28:18, and the devil can’t do anything without Gods permission- Job 1: 10- 12. God is still in control in your situation, and he loves us enough to die for us, so never believe that God doesn't care, but believe that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" Rom 8: 28,
There are certain things that we face that only God can deliver us from, and God will deliver you, and when he has delivered you you’ll know that you’re delivered and that he and no one else delivered you. But during such storms, lets take the example of our Master, don’t panic, sleep thru the storm. And always remember that Jesus is with you in every storm, no matter what trial it is- Heb 13: 5, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 41:13, Matthew 28:20
Replies