From Panic To Praise

From Panic to Praise

Mark 4:35-41; Psalms 95:1-7

The author of Hebrews tells us that “faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith allows us to stand firmly on the unseen foundation of God’s truth—not because we were eyewitnesses, but because we trust the One who was there in the beginning. As Hebrews 11:3 affirms, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command.” None of us stood at the edge of eternity when God spoke into the darkness, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). We did not witness the separation of the sky from the waters, the rising of dry land, or the birth of seed-bearing plants and trees. We didn’t see the oceans swarm with life. We didn’t watch the skies fill with birds. We weren’t there when God created mankind in His own image (Genesis 1).

Faith is not blind; it is rooted in the trustworthiness of the One who spoke all things into being. We believe—not because science has proven it, but because God's Word has spoken it. The world offers countless theories about the origin, age, and complexity of the universe. And while science can offer valuable insights into the workings of creation—pointing us to the brilliance and order of God’s design—it must never override the authority of divine revelation. We are grateful for the discoveries that help us better understand the world God made, but our ultimate confidence rests not in human knowledge, but in the eternal Word of the Creator Himself.

But faith in God's creative power is not just for the classroom or the quiet moment of study—it’s for the storm. Most Christians affirm that God is Creator and Sustainer—but clinging to that truth as an unshakable rock in life’s fiercest storms is another matter entirely. When we’re standing on the mountaintops of blessing, it’s easy to shout “Amen!” to God’s sovereignty. But when we descend into the valleys of affliction—when suffering replaces normalcy and pain overshadows peace—it becomes much harder to see God’s providential hand.

In those terrifying moments—a cancer diagnosis, a crumbling marriage, looming bankruptcy, or the sudden loss of someone we love—we rarely feel like echoing Job’s words:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21).

Yes, Scripture calls us to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), but this reverent trembling is not fear of random chaos overtaking us. As Ecclesiastes 9:11 acknowledges, “time and chance happen to them all,” and Romans 8:22 reminds us that “the whole creation has been groaning” under the weight of a fallen world. But our trembling is not rooted in despair—it is anchored in awe of a sovereign God who never loses control. That’s why Paul could say to Timothy, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). Fear may knock on the door, but faith—fueled by God's Spirit—gives us the strength to stand.

Before we go further, let us be honest: even the disciples, walking with Jesus in the flesh, had moments when their faith faltered—especially in the storm. And it’s often in life’s fiercest gales that our faith is most exposed and most tested. So today, we are going to take time to fuel our faith: by reflecting on God's power not only in the pages of Scripture but also in the pages of our own lives—times when He showed up, carried us, and proved Himself faithful. Let us remember: we all falter in faith from time to time. Even the disciples did. But we don’t need perfect faith—we need a perfect Savior. This morning, we’re not just talking about faith. We’re talking about the kind of faith that holds—not because we are strong, but because He is. The kind that clings to Christ when the storm hits.

Faith is Shaken when we Focus on the Storm

One of the clearest pictures of storm-tested faith is found in Mark 4, when even the disciples—those who had walked with Jesus, witnessed His miracles, and heard His teaching firsthand—were overcome with fear during a violent storm.

Earlier in the chapter, we’re told that the crowds around Jesus had grown so large that He got into a boat to teach along the shoreline (Mark 4:1). Then, when evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side” (v. 35). The boat they used—typical of first-century fishing vessels—was about 26.5 feet long, 7.5 feet wide, and 4.5 feet deep. It could hold about 15 people, just enough room for Jesus and His twelve disciples, but with little space to spare.