Where is Your Faith?

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “...the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” When trials of life come our way, then our faith is tested. Each of us must endure the storms of life. In Luke 8:22-25 we are told that Jesus and His disciples entered into a boat to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. As they journeyed Jesus fell asleep. Suddenly, a storm blew in with such force that the seasoned fishermen feared for their lives. They woke Jesus up, “Master, Master, we're all about to drown!” Jesus got up and rebuked the wind, and everything became calm. The Jesus asked His disciples, “Where is your faith?” That is a good question for each of us to ask ourselves, so let me ask you, “Where is your faith?”

Within the question is an important point about faith. Faith must be properly directed. It is not enough to just have faith. In fact, it is foolish to make faith its own object. You can't just have faith in faith. Jesus asked, “Where is your faith?” Where is the focus of your faith? Surely you can see that faith that is focused on itself is a useless faith. Faith, to be effectual, must focus on that which is sure and trustworthy. Otherwise we are really just trusting in ourselves. But we know that in the real storms of life we must look beyond ourselves to find help. Drowning men must look beyond themselves and focus their faith on another to rescue them.


So, where are we to focus our faith? We cannot, as was said before, focus our faith on faith. Looking at the disciples in the boat, where do you think they were putting their faith? Initially, I think that they put their trust in their ability as fishermen. This was not their first storm. They had had many experiences with storms, but this one was beyond their abilities and experience to endure. We all seem to do this. We rely on our own abilities up to that point where it becomes evident that we cannot help ourselves. We are stuck with what we can do and are in danger of drowning, until we see the end of ourselves and look to another. Some frustrated with their lack of ability to face the storms look to drugs, alcohol, entertainment, pornography, or other ways to escape reality. The problem is that the boat is sinking. Where are we to look to find our help? In other words, “Where should we direct our faith?”


Jesus asked the question, “Where is your faith?” The question is asked after Jesus had stilled the storm and implied in the question was the answer. Focus your faith on the One Who commands the winds and the storms. Look to Jesus. And we should always be looking to Jesus. We notice that the disciples looked to Jesus in fear of dying after they had done all they could. But Jesus wanted them to look to Him first and always. Our salvation is not in Christ after all that we can do, but our salvation is in Christ alone. Salvation is to them that “...believeth in him... (John 3:16).” Each and every person is a sinner that is drowning in their sins. The sinner is drowning all the while striving to help himself. The sinner's help is to be found in the same place that the disciples found help – in Jesus alone. Where is your faith?


After Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples said this of Jesus: “What manner of man is this!” We have all had people that have disappointed us. A “trusted friend” that wasn't so trustworthy. Parents, teachers, and pastors may disappoint us, but in Jesus we find One that is worthy of our trust. He is worthy of your trust, because Jesus is the Son of God. He is the promised Savior that God has sent to save you. That was Christ's purpose in coming. That is His job. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).” Where is your faith? I hope that you will put your faith fully in Jesus.