From Children to Parents : Dependence vs. lack of faith

“And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Mt.8: 24-26)

While meditating on this passage, something sparked inside of me that hadn’t yet occurred to me so clearly: Not always “running” to Jesus’s feet, means that I am with a plain certainty of faith or in exclusive dependence of Him. Signs of fear and insecurity reveal the exact opposite of a plain confidence in the teachings of God, through the practice of His Word.

Expressing to God how I feel, like my limitations, are not synonymous of weakness, but of surrendering and dependence. I think that where I cannot get to or what I cannot overcome, He is powerful to go beyond. At that moment, through the sincerity of a constricted heart and a willingness to learn from God, we find the answers that we need, by faith. This is the security that He gives us … from the inside out.

But how about when the circumstances overwhelm our faith? And when we hear more the “voice” of the feelings (I), of the devil, of the world … and nourish them? At this point we enter into a destructive spiral, where others can even help us, but only for a brief moment. We become dependent on others to use the faith in our place … the same faith that has been constantly transmitted in the Church, through the radio, television, internet, etc.

And the truth is that, we always run the risk of crossing the turbulent “sea”. We live in a world far from being peaceful and quiet! And will we always have someone around to help us? Hence the reaction of the Lord Jesus: “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” He knew that He would not always be with them…

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hb.11: 6)

Often as children, mothers, fathers, brothers, family, even knowing God, we get up from a prayer in the same way, or worse, than when we presented ourselves to Him. And why is this? Does God not hear us or fails us? No! Don’t even think about it! The truth is that we approached Him feeling sorry for ourselves, lamenting our “sad fate”, asking, “Why me? From everyone in the world, why did I have to have this family? ” This is everything but the plain assurance of faith! That is why it seems that we are about to be “swallowed” by the sea, even supposedly “believing” and “praying”.

Although everything seems wrong and the huge “waves”, from the moment that I really get close to God believing and deposit my pains, problems, situations at His feet in full assurance that He is powerful to supply each of my needs, there is an immediate relief—a “beyond-human” strength that keeps me strong, structured to move through the remaining path and reach my victories.

We must realize that feeling generates emotions, and only faith generates miracles, whether in the family area, love life, financial, personal, and above all interiorly—which is the source of life!

If we do not put into practice what we have learned, we will not be able to overcome the “noise” of the sea and its huge “waves”, but we will “drown” at the sound of the first murmur of the waves.

Where is my faith? In the theory of what I’ve heard, or on what has been revealed through the constant practice of the Word of God?

If our faith falters, if it moves and yields in front of the circumstances that surround us and we do not learn to rebuke evil, to overcome the problems, to dethrone the evil thoughts through the power of faith, we will always be shaken and be defeated by the inner limitations.

Let us reflect together: Am I really dependent on God or on my feelings, based on circumstances that overwhelm my faith?