Mark 4:40
I recently read, “A Japanese soldier by the name of Shoichi Yokoi lived in a cave on the island of Guam to which he fled in 1944 when the tides of war began to change. Fearing for his life, this man stayed hidden for twenty-eight years in the jungle cave, coming out only at night. During this long period of time, this self-imposed hermit lived on frogs, rats, snails, shrimp, nuts and mangoes. He had carried a pair of trousers and a jacket from a burlap like cloth made from tree bark.
Yokoi said that he knew the war was over because of the leaflets that were scattered throughout the jungles of Guam. But he was afraid that if he came out of hiding, he would be executed.
Finally, two hunters came upon him and told him that he need not hide any longer. At last he was free, and with new clothes to wear and food to eat, he was taken by plane to his home.”
The Lord Jesus asked two penetrating questions to those in the ship on the stormy waters that night; “Why are ye fearful?” “How is it that ye have no faith?” I wonder how many times these same two questions could be asked of each of us? We often live our lives like the man in the jungle. We hide out in our own caves trembling and fearful of most everything. If we would only look back to all of the times that the Lord provided, protected and sustained us in the middle of the great storms of life, our fears would turn into faith in the Lord. Our fear is a direct result of our lack of faith. We are saying I can’t trust God. My friend look back and remember and then look up and be strengthened by these words, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”