God is Looking for Faith — E.A. Johnston

Jesus’ Promise in the Storm

In Mark chapter 4, beginning in verse 35, we read, And the same day, when evening was come, He saith unto them, Let us pass over, unto the other side. Verse 37 tells us what happens next, And there rose a great storm of wind, And the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full, And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow.

The Disciples Question Jesus’ Care

And they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? I will stop there, friends. Now here, Jesus's men make some foolish assumptions. First, they allow their trying circumstances to shake their faith in the Son of God.

Secondly, they insult Jesus by insinuating that He doesn't even care for them. Before we are too judgmental of these men, we must ask ourselves, are we just as guilty? Have we allowed a trying circumstance in our own life to make us question God's care over us?

We see in the text that, before they even began their journey, Jesus had already promised them they would safely reach the other side. For in verse 35, He tells them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

He is with them in the ship, but the violent intensity of a sudden storm alarms the disciples, and they become fearful for their lives. After Jesus calms the raging sea, and all is still, He makes two startling statements to His men.

At first, He says, Oh, why are ye so fearful? As if to say, Why has your confidence in me been shaken through unbelief? Then Jesus upbraids them for their unbelief and lack of faith. He says to them, How is it that ye have no faith?

Jesus Continually Looks for Faith

Jesus was looking for faith in His followers because, as He was discipling them, He was at the same time building faith in them. Often in the Gospels, we find Jesus looking for faith, looking for faith in His followers.

We hear Him often remark, Where is your faith? Or, Ye of little faith? Jesus was continually on the lookout for faith. In Luke 18 .8, we read, When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Great Faith in the Centurion and Abraham

In the Gospels, we never hear our Lord Jesus commanding anything as much as great faith. In Matthew 8 .10, Jesus commands the great faith of the centurion. When Jesus heard it, He marveled and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

God honors faith because faith gives honor to God. We must not allow our trying circumstances to give in to unbelief, but rather use our difficult circumstances to rise like a ship, sailing on the sea, on the sea of faith, trusting in the promises of God, believing in the divine power, which is able to perform what He has promised.

He is able. Do we believe Him? Where is our faith? In Romans 4 .20 -21, we see the faith of Abraham. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Like one of my favorite hymns states, He is able, more than able, to accomplish what concerns me today. He is able, more than able, to handle anything that comes my way. He is able, more than able, to do much more than I could ever dream.

He is able, more than able, to make me what He wants me to be. Oh, friends, if we only knew how much God is looking for faith in us today, looking for our faith in our deepest trial, our most bitter grief, in our crushing circumstances.

Faith Tested and Strengthened in Trials

Time and time again, Jesus looked for faith in those He encountered, then touched either eye, saying, According to your faith, be it unto you. In Mark 9 .23, we hear Jesus say, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

At times, God will place us in trying circumstances to try our faith, to strengthen our faith, as He builds faith in us. We must remember, friends, that when a trial comes, and we find ourselves out on storm-tossed seas, our sails must be full of faith.

Abraham’s Hope in God’s Promise

As we come into the harbor, trusting Him, we mustn't let an outward trial disturb our inward faith. In Romans, we read of the faith of Abraham, where Romans 4 .18 declares, Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken.

Listen, friends. My Bible says, All things are possible with God, and all things are possible to him that believes. And I believe that God is still on the lookout for faith today, and let us pray.