Faith over Fear

.Faith in the Middle of the Storm

Faith in the Middle of the Storm

“And He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace! Be still! And the wind ceased, and there was immediately a great calm.” — Mark 4:39 (AMPC)

It was a dark, cold winter day. Nothing about the weather seemed unusual. The days before had been much the same. Although it was winter, we still occasionally enjoyed beautiful sunny days, as our winters are not as harsh as they once were.

But January 3rd, 2017, felt different. Not because of the weather outside. Because of the storm inside. It felt as though a dark cloud was hanging over my head. My world suddenly seemed as if it might come crashing down. Everything I thought was secure felt threatened.

That morning I went to the hospital for my routine mammogram. In the Netherlands, women over fifty are given the opportunity to have regular breast screenings, and this was my turn.

I arrived feeling confident, although a little nervous. I have never liked undressing and walking around half-dressed in front of strangers, even in a medical setting. Privacy has always been important to me. After the X-rays were completed, I was asked to wait in the waiting room with my daughter, Sapphire.

A short while later, a nurse called my name.“We have seen something that needs further attention,” she said. “We would like to do an ultrasound.” My heart sank. “God, what is happening? I trust You. How can this be possible?” Fear immediately tried to take hold of me. For a moment doubt crept in, but then I began speaking God’s Word. “Devil, you are a liar.”“It is written: By His stripes I am healed.” “Jesus shed His blood for me.” “Jesus, Your Name is above every name, and Your Name is above this situation too.”

Remembering My Mother

My dear mother had died from breast cancer in 1984.

Watching her suffer had left a deep impression on my life.The memories came flooding back. Yet through all those years I had also learned something else: Jesus had always been faithful. He had always been the answer to our prayers.

I knew I had to trust Him.Waiting After the ultrasound there was more waiting. Time seemed to crawl. I even caught myself thinking selfishly: “Can’t they do mine first?” Then I would remind myself of God’s Word and try to find peace again. My doubts had to make room for the greatness of my God and Lord Jesus Christ. I cried. “Jesus, please don’t let me go through this.” I felt very much like the disciples on the Sea of Galilee. The storm was raging around them while Jesus slept peacefully in the boat.

“Master, do You not care that we are perishing?” How could He sleep when they felt they were in danger?Yet Jesus stood and simply spoke:

“Peace, be still.”

And immediately there was a great calm.

The Lesson of the Storm

For years I wondered why the disciples reacted the way they did.

After all, Jesus was right there with them.But over time I began to understand something important. The disciples had heard Jesus teach. They had watched Him perform miracles. They had listened to His explanations. The Bible tells us that Jesus explained many things privately to His disciples. They had received the teaching. Yet they still had to learn how to walk in faith themselves. They had to make His teachings their own. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, but faith also grows as we learn to trust Him in our own storms. The story is there to teach us. It mirrors our own lives. We know Jesus. We sing about Him. We pray. We say we trust Him.Yet when storms arise, fear often tries to take control. God knew we would face moments like these.

That is why these stories are recorded for us.

The News

Finally the results came.

They had indeed seen something. I would need to return in three days for a biopsy. My goodness. My faith was being challenged. Not by God, because God does not test us with evil, but by the circumstances surrounding me.The waves seemed high.

I had to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus. January 4th — Counting My Blessings One day had passed. Had fear completely stopped trying to attack my mind? No. There were moments when the enemy attempted to fill my thoughts with fear and uncertainty. But every time, I stood on God’s Word. Again. And again. And again. I spoke His promises over my life. I reminded myself of His faithfulness. I chose to count my blessings. I looked back and remembered all the things God had already done for me throughout my life.The biopsy was scheduled for the following day, and even then there would still be waiting for results.

Yet through it all, Jesus remained Lord.

My Prayer

I prayed:

“Jesus, I do not understand why this is happening. I am not questioning You, but I do not understand.” “You suffered on the Cross for me.” “By Your stripes we are healed.” “Your body was pierced.” “So why should my body have to be pierced with a biopsy?” “I believe You have already done everything necessary for my healing.” “I believe I am healed.” “I do not want this biopsy.” How it would all work out, I did not know.

But I knew who held my future.

God’s Peace

That evening God gave me peace.

A deep peace. A peace that could not be explained by circumstances. Yet from time to time the enemy still tried to cloud my mind with fear, questions, and worries about the future. As I read my daily Scripture, I rebuked those lies in Jesus’ Name.And each time, God’s peace returned.That night as I went to bed, I prayed: “Thank You, Father, for Your peace.” “Thank You that You are in control.” “By Your stripes I am healed.” “In Jesus’ Name.”

Amen.

Reflection

Fear may knock at the door, but it does not have to stay. Storms may come, but Jesus is still in the boat. When circumstances seem overwhelming, we can choose to remember God’s faithfulness, stand on His Word, and trust the One who speaks:

”Peace be still”