Text: Matthew 8:26 – “He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.” (NASB)
Fear and faith often ride in the same boat. The disciples had seen miracles, heard the Sermon on the Mount, and watched Jesus heal—but when the storm rose, their faith sank. This moment on the Sea of Galilee reveals something vital: storms don’t create fear; they expose where our faith is anchored. Ron Dunn once said, “You can’t tell how much you trust God by sitting in church—you tell by sailing through a storm.”
Point 1 – The Reality of Storms
Matthew 8:23–24 – “When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, a violent storm developed on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.”
- Following Jesus does not exempt you from storms; sometimes, obedience takes you straight into one.
- The Greek word for “violent storm” (seismos) is the same used for earthquakes—it was a violent, shaking upheaval.
- Ron Dunn: “God didn’t promise smooth sailing, but He did promise a safe arrival.”
Application: Don’t misinterpret the presence of a storm as the absence of God.
Point 2 – The Cry of the Fearful
Matthew 8:25 – “And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing!’”
- Their cry was urgent but marked by panic.
- Fear’s vocabulary is dominated by “we” and “perish”; faith’s vocabulary is dominated by “Lord” and “save.”
- Even in panic, they came to the right Person—better a trembling prayer than no prayer at all.
Application: In moments of fear, direct your cry toward Christ, not toward complaint.
Point 3 – The Question of Faith
Matthew 8:26a – “He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?’”
- Jesus confronted their fear before He confronted the storm.
- “Little faith” (oligopistos) means not absent faith, but a faith that is underdeveloped and underused.
- Fear grows where faith is not exercised; faith grows where God’s character is remembered.
Application: Let Christ’s question “Why are you afraid?” be a daily self-examination of your trust in Him.
Point 4 – The Authority of Christ
Matthew 8:26b – “Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.”
- His authority extends over creation because He is Creator (Colossians 1:16–17).
- The phrase “perfectly calm” (galēnē megálē) means an immediate and absolute stillness.
- When Christ commands peace, nature obeys instantly; when He commands peace to our hearts, fear loses its grip.
Application: Trust not only in what Jesus can do, but in who Jesus is.
Point 5 – The Lesson for the Walk
Psalm 46:1–2 – “God is our refuge and strength, A very ready help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes And the mountains slip into the heart of the sea.”
- The point of this miracle is not merely that storms can be stilled—it’s that Christ is worthy of trust in the middle of them.
- Faith is not the absence of fear but the presence of confidence in God’s character.
- Ron Dunn: “When Jesus is in your boat, you can sleep in the storm or sail through it—either way, you’ll arrive.”
Application: Live today with the awareness that Christ is present, powerful, and purposeful in every circumstance.
Daily Christian Walk Implementation
- Begin your day in surrender (Psalm 118:24).
- Speak God’s promises over your fear (Philippians 4:6–7).
- Remember past deliverances (Psalm 77:11).
- Practice the presence of Christ instead of panic (Psalm 16:8).
- End the day in praise (Psalm 92:1–2).
Conclusion
The disciples learned that the One who commands the storm is the same One who holds them secure. His question—“Why are you afraid?”—is not a condemnation but an invitation. Every storm you face is an opportunity to deepen your faith in the One who sleeps in the storm because He is sovereign over it.
“Why Are You Afraid?” – A Sermon on Matthew 8:26
Text: Matthew 8:26 – “He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.” (NASB)
Introduction
The Sea of Galilee that day was a mirror of the disciples’ hearts — tossed, raging, and unsettled. They had seen Jesus heal the sick, cleanse the leper, and speak with authority. But when the storm came, their theology was replaced with terror. Jesus, unshaken, looked into their fear and asked a question that echoes through every generation: “Why are you afraid?”
Ron Dunn used to say, “Faith is not the absence of fear; it’s the presence of confidence in God in spite of fear.” Jesus’ question isn’t about the size of the waves but the size of their trust.
1. The Context of the Question – Fear and Faith in the Same Boat
Matthew 8:23–25 – “When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, a violent storm developed on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing!’”
They were with Jesus — yet they still panicked. Faith doesn’t mean storms won’t come; it means that storms can’t undo you. The disciples saw the wind and waves but forgot the One who made the wind and waves. In our walk, we often do the same — focusing on the problem more than the Presence.
2. The Rebuke of Fear – Jesus Confronts Their Perspective
Matthew 8:26a – “He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?’”
Fear flourishes when faith fades. Jesus wasn’t belittling them; He was inviting them to see that fear is a misplaced trust — a functional belief that the storm is more powerful than the Savior. Ron Dunn put it this way: “Worry is the Christian’s declaration that God is asleep in the boat and He won’t wake up in time.”
3. The Authority of Christ – The Power Behind Peace
Matthew 8:26b – “Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.”
Only Jesus can speak peace into chaos. The Greek phrase galēnē megálē means “great calm” — not a gradual settling, but instant stillness. This is not just the quieting of a storm but the revelation of His sovereignty. If Jesus has authority over creation, He has authority over your circumstances, no matter how fierce the winds.
4. The Heart of the Lesson – Faith Anchored in His Presence
Psalm 46:1–2 – “God is our refuge and strength, A very ready help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shakes And the mountains slip into the heart of the sea.”
The disciples didn’t need a bigger boat; they needed a bigger vision of Jesus. Fear asks, “What if?” Faith says, “Even if.” The presence of Christ is not just comforting — it’s commanding. His nearness transforms panic into praise.
5. The Call to Application – Living Storm-Proof by Trusting Him Daily
Isaiah 41:10 – “‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”
Our spiritual growth depends on transferring trust from self to Christ. We often think peace is the absence of trouble; in truth, peace is the presence of Jesus in the trouble. When fear knocks, faith answers with the promises of God.
Daily Christian Walk Implementation
- Start the Day in Surrender – Before your feet hit the floor, pray Psalm 118:24: “This is the day which the Lord has made; Let’s rejoice and be glad in it.” Surrender the day to Him before storms arrive.
- Speak God’s Word Over Your Storm – When anxiety rises, declare promises like Philippians 4:6–7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
- Remember His Past Faithfulness – Keep a “faith journal” of answered prayers and past deliverances. Revisit them when new storms come. Psalm 77:11 says, “I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; I will certainly remember Your wonders of old.”
- Practice Presence, Not Panic – When pressure mounts, whisper His name instead of rehearsing “what if” scenarios. Psalm 16:8 says, “I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
- End the Day with Praise – Conclude each night thanking Him for keeping you afloat. Psalm 92:1–2 says, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord And to sing praises to Your name, Most High; To declare Your goodness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night.”
Poem — “Why Are You Afraid?”
The wind was loud,
and the water was high.
We were sure we would sink,
yet You slept,
calm as the morning.
We shouted in fear,
our hands shaking on the ropes,
our eyes fixed on the waves,
forgetting You were near,
forgetting who You are.
You stood and spoke,
and the wind lost its voice.
The sea bowed low,
and the sky cleared,
because You willed it so.
You looked at us,
not with anger,
but with the ache of love,
asking why we trust so little
when You are in the boat.
Now I know—
storms may still come,
but they cannot own me.
Your presence is the calm
my soul has always needed.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the Master of the wind and the Maker of the waves. We confess that our hearts are often like the disciples’—quick to panic, slow to trust. We forget that the One who called the sea into being is the same One who is in our boat. We call You “Lord,” but sometimes live as though the storm is greater than Your power. Forgive us for the smallness of our faith.
Father, we thank You that Your presence is not diminished by our fear. When we cry, “Save us, Lord,” You hear. When our faith falters, You still remain faithful. Even when the wind howls, You are not alarmed. We praise You that Your peace is not circumstantial—it flows from who You are. We worship You for the “great calm” You bring to the soul.
Holy Spirit, remind us to lift our eyes above the waves. Let the memory of Your past deliverance fuel present confidence. Teach us to speak Your Word over our storms. Help us to live with the truth that if You are in the boat, the destination is certain. Anchor our faith deep in the unchanging character of God.
And, Lord, as we face the storms of today, may we hear Your question, “Why are you afraid?” as an invitation to trust. May we live so aware of Your presence that fear becomes a stranger. Let our lives bear witness to a peace the world cannot explain. In Your name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Devotional — “The Calm That Comes from Christ”
Text: Matthew 8:26 – “He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.” (NASB)
There is no contradiction in a Christian feeling fear—but there is a call to bring that fear to Jesus. The disciples, seasoned fishermen, had faced storms before. But this one seemed certain to sink them. The boat was “being covered by the waves” (Matthew 8:24), and Jesus was asleep. They shook Him awake with desperation: “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!”
His first response was not to the wind but to them. “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Jesus was not scolding them for waking Him—He was challenging the belief beneath their fear. Faith is not believing the storm will end; it is believing that Christ is in control whether it ends or not. Ron Dunn often said, “Peace is not the subtraction of problems but the addition of God’s presence.”
When Jesus stood and rebuked the storm, the sea became “perfectly calm” (galēnē megálē in Greek—“great calm”). This was no gradual fading of the wind; it was instant, absolute stillness. That is what happens when the Creator exercises His authority over creation. And it is also what happens when He speaks peace into our hearts.
For the believer, this passage is not merely about miracles on the water—it’s about living anchored to His presence. We will have storms, but we are never alone in them. His question—“Why are you afraid?”—becomes a daily invitation to trust more deeply. We replace fear’s “What if?” with faith’s “Even if.”
Daily Implementation:
- Start with Surrender – Before fear can take root, invite Jesus into the day (Psalm 118:24).
- Speak His Word – Let Scriptures like Philippians 4:6–7 be your reflex when worry rises.
- Remember His Faithfulness – Keep record of His past rescues to remind your present self.
- Practice Presence over Panic – Set the Lord continually before you (Psalm 16:8).
- End with Praise – Close the day acknowledging His faithfulness, even in storms (Psalm 92:1–2).
When we learn to see storms as opportunities to experience His authority, we no longer measure life by the size of the waves but by the size of our Savior.