Years ago, I heard of a believer whose bible was worn thin with notes. Next to certain verses, two small letters appeared again and again: “T & P.” They stood for “Tested & Proven.” This was the moment faith moved from the pages into their lived reality, etched in their story as living testimonies. Each “T/P” meant God had proven faithful once again. There’s only one time in the bible God gives us permission to test and prove Him, that’s in Malachi 3:10 concerning tithing. But even when circumstances don’t prove faithful, God remains, esteeming His word above His own name. Each day, we get the opportunity to write our own “T/Ps” with God—moments where faith is both Tested & Proven.
Matthew 8:26 (NASB): “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?”
Mark 4:40 (NASB): “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Luke 8:25 (NASB): “Where is your faith?”
Each one strikes the same chord—fear will challenge faith, but Jesus calls it out every time.
Faith isn’t Theory—it’s tested and proven in the storms of life.”
Our faith should have a place; it should be anchored over any fears that come to tempt us, and our 7actions should always measure it. In the event that leads up to question #27, the disciples are with Jesus on a boat. While things started out calm and smooth, it appeared that after Jesus went to lie down for a nap, the winds and waves wanted to rage. Now, before you knock them, put yourself in their position. They’re experienced fishermen on a small lake about 7 miles long and 13 miles wide, surrounded by mountains, 680 feet below sea level, and the water is 150 feet deep—A storm is no joke.. In other words, nobody can get out and swim to shore unless they’re an experienced swimmer, and even people who swim in triathlons don’t swim that far. Unless these winds and waves let up, the boat would soon capsize. Interestingly, what terrified them was the very moment Jesus was using to train them.
Scripture isn’t just to be read, but lived. Jesus was moving them from classroom theory to storm-tested faith. This is what all the Bible reading is about. We are not supposed just to gather up head knowledge, but life experience grounded on the word we’ve hidden in our hearts. Every experience, especially storms, is an opportunity to move scripture from the page into our hearts. This is why I believe Jesus asked, “Where is your faith?” This is the time we need to use our faith, for rarely do we need it in the good times. Jesus was getting an opportunity to reveal Himself to them in a new way. The fact that they went to him crying out for Him to save them was huge— they believed He could do something He’d never done before, but their fear distorted how they approached Him. In terror and fear, they questioned His care. Here’s a new view for storms, they’re not interruptions, instead invitations. His correction wasn’t for waking Him, but for letting fear overrule faith.
Remember who’s in the boat with you. True faith is not the absence of fear; instead, recognizing the presence of Jesus is everything we need. Today’s storms look different— layoffs, sickness, marital problems, wayward children, rejection in a relationship, or even uncertainty with all that’s going on around us. We may feel rattled by some things in our lives that come to shake us to the core. Our culture sells us control, but our storms remind us we have none. But storms remind us that we control nothing, and faith steadies us in that truth. Just like the hidden mustard seed, faith often works quietly until storms reveal its strength. The storms are always lessons. Don’t forget, it’s a controlled environment.
Time of Reflection:
** Amid panic, we’re called to respond in faith, not react out of fear. How will I respond this week?
** Faith is not the denial of fear—it’s the decision to trust who’s in the boat with us.
Heart-Probing Question:
** If someone examined my life today, would they find my faith anchored—or drifting?
Closing Prayer:
Lord, help me to lean on You when the storms rise. Teach me to trust, even when my boat feels like it’s sinking. Write Your “T&P” across my life as testimony of faith that endures.
Reference:
Scripture References:
- Matthew 8:26; Mark 4:40; Luke 8:25; Malachi 3:10; Psalm 138:2.
Chronological Bible Order (Questions of Jesus):
- Matthew 8:26 → Mark 4:40 → Luke 8:25.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge Cross-Refs:
- Fear vs. Faith: Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 56:3–4; 2 Timothy 1:7.
- Storms & God’s Power: Psalm 107:28–30; Nahum 1:3–4.
- Testing & Proving God: Malachi 3:10; Romans 12:2.
