When Faith Is Necessary

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountain side by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land,
battered by the waves because the wind was against it. 

Matthew 14:22-24 

Christ often puts us in situations where faith is necessary. Our text gives us an example from the experience of the disciples. Jesus had done a massive creative miracle by feeding 5,000 men, plus women and children with five loaves of bread and two fish. Immediately after this He made his disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side. The Sea of Galilee is relatively shallow and subject to highly turbulent storms. As the disciples traversed the water, the wind caused great upheaval for the boat. The disciples were there, at the behest of the Master, and things were not going well. If there was ever a situation that warranted faith this was it. Christ puts us in situations that require us to exercise faith. We may be absolutely certain He has led us into a particular place to do what we are doing. We are here at His behest. We know what He revealed to us and have no doubt we are doing what He wants us to do. Perhaps things are not going well. The wind is against us and our boat is tossing about and taking on water. All these circumstances call for faith and are a challenge to faith at the same time. We know He has sent us here. All we can do is continue where we are and trust He knows what He is doing. In such circumstances faith is necessary.  

Our Wise and Holy Savior, 
we rejoice that You know all things. 
We praise You that even when circumstances 
seem to be against us, 
You are still accomplishing Your will. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning