Distress
December 29, 2011
Matthew 8:26 – And h said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?
The entire chapter focused on Jesus’ lordship over sickness, people, nature, and spiritual forces. Those who recognize His authority came to Him and were healed, while those who feared him were thos who had little faith.
My friend told me that in prayer, there are two tendencies that are sinful: demand and distress. The first is when we do not recognize Jesus’ lordship and we treat Him as a genie who we demand things from. When we do not get what we ask, we grow bitter and disenchanted with our genie and we fall away. Distress occurs when we do not recognize JEsus’ lordship or His love for us. We fret over our security and we panic because we forget that God is not only sovereign over all things, but that He loves us and works all things for our good; He desires the best for us.
My tendency when I lack faith is to fall into distress. I forget that God is lord over all. He is Lord over my body, my finances, my relationship. He is Lord over NTCBC. But not only is He my Lord, but He is my Big Brother, who desires the best for not only me, but for our church, and He will work all things for our good. When I forget the gospel, that Jesus died for the church, I fall into distress. I become like the disciples who were afraid on the boat in the midst of the storm. I forget who I’m with. I forget who is by my side. I forget that He will take care of me, regardless of how things seem. He is my Lord and Saviour.
And I need to pray for a faith that recognizes His Lordship, and to not only submit to Him, but to trust that He will deliver me.
