Faith in Difficult Times: Knowing God’s Character
In a previous article, titled Strengthening Faith During Life’s Storms, we studied Mark 4:35-40, which narrates an encounter where Jesus and His disciples are caught in a storm while out at sea. From this story, we learn that our faith should be rooted in the unchanging character of God, rather than in fluctuating circumstances.
In the encounter, the disciples asked Jesus an important question: “Master, don’t You care that we are perishing?”
When the disciples asked that question, you will note that Jesus did not provide them with an answer. Does Jesus not care when we perish? And if so, how can we know?
This is what we’ll get into below. But first, a quick recap of the scene.
A Stormy Night at Sea: A Test of Faith
“Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’” — Mark 4:36-38 NKJV
The disciples were traveling by boat after a long day of ministry with Jesus. Without warning, a raging storm arose, threatening to capsize their boat. They now found themselves on the brink of loss and destruction.
In the deep dark of night, and out in the middle of the sea with no one to help, they were stunned to realize that Jesus was silent and asleep, seemingly indifferent to the trial that had struck them.
“Master, Don’t You Care That We Are Perishing?”: A Question of Trust
In their shock and distress, the very first question they asked Jesus was evidence of a deeply held belief they had. They asked Jesus, “Do You not care that we are perishing?”
In their minds, there was a relationship between what they were experiencing (trials and storms) and whether or not Jesus really cared about them.
In other words, they measured the character of Jesus by their circumstances. They figured that when things were going well, it was a sign that Jesus loved and cared about them. But, on the other hand, when things were not going well (such as when the storm arose), they interpreted this as being a sign that Jesus did not care about them.
Their tendency was to judge their view of God and His character by how good or bad their circumstances were.
Little Faith vs. Great Faith: Trusting God’s Unchanging Character
We may do the same in our day. When things are going well, we delight in the love of God. But when things are not going well, we start asking God doubtful questions:
Does God really care? Is He really loving? And (like what the disciples asked), is God really willing to see us perish?
When Jesus saw their doubtful response to the storm, He described them as having “little faith.”
According to Jesus, the tendency to measure and judge the character of God based on external circumstances is a symptom of having little faith.
From this, we find two features that characterize “little faith.” Little faith results from:
- Judging God’s character based on the changing circumstances around us, and
- Believing that God does not truly love us and is willing to see us perish.
What we believe about the character of God, and whether or not He loves us, greatly influences the strength of our faith.
This should be a very eye-opening truth because it reveals to us a clue for how we can cultivate “great faith.”
We can develop great faith when we do two critical things:
- Base our understanding of God’s character on something more certain and stable than circumstances, and
- Have an assurance that God loves us and that He is unwilling to see us perish.
Once we grasp these two things (i.e., a stable source of knowledge about God’s character and having an assurance of His love), we will begin to cultivate “great faith.”
Building Faith During Trials: The Importance of Knowing God’s Character
“Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you.” — Job 22:21 NKJV
In the book of Job, the Bible promises us that peace comes from being acquainted with God, from having personal knowledge of Him. When we know God, we can be at peace.
But where can this knowledge be acquired? In speaking to the Jews of His day, Jesus said to them: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” — John 5:39
The Scriptures testify of Jesus. This means that the writings of Scripture, both the Old and New Testament, offer us a deeper understanding of the character of God. The Scriptures are the most reliable source of accurate information about Jesus.
Sometimes the circumstances of life will seem to indicate something contrary to what the Bible tells us about Christ. For example, we may face difficulties that make it seem as though Jesus does not care about us. Great faith requires us to trust what the Scriptures say about God and His character, more than what the fluctuating circumstances make us feel or think.
This is because the Bible is the Word of God, and “the word of the Lord endures forever.” (1 Peter 1:25). Speaking of His word, Jesus says, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” (Matt. 24:35)
This is the foundation on which we must base our view of God, not our changing feelings or circumstances.
God’s Assurance: He Is Unwilling to See Us Perish
When we ask the question, “Master, don’t You care that we are perishing,” the answer we seek should come from the reliable word of God.
You’ll notice that Jesus did not answer the disciples’ doubtful question the moment they asked Him. This is because Jesus had given them a comprehensive answer elsewhere.
In another instance, Jesus made a most memorable statement, saying:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” — John 3:16-17
God loves the entire population of the world so much that He was willing to offer up His Son to die for our sins. This is how far God was willing to go to ensure that we do not perish.
This is how much God can’t stand the thought of losing you and me. When Jesus died on the cross, He gave unquestionable evidence of the fact that God is unwilling to see us perish!
When we face trials in our lives, some of which occur as a result of our own sinful ways, we can be tempted to ask, “Master, don’t You care that we are perishing?”
Looking at the changing circumstances of life may shake our faith and distort our picture of God.
Jesus points us to the Bible and its promises, to be the foundation of our trust. In the Bible, we find countless assurances of the fact that God is unwilling for us to perish.
The death of Jesus Christ on the cross, taking the punishment for our sins, is the Bible showing us that God cares too much for us to see us perish.
When we trust His word and the sacrifice of Jesus, even in the midst of our storms, we exercise great faith.
“This is a faithful saying… that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” — 1 Timothy 1:15
“Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’” — Mark 9:23
“That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:15
