In Matthew 8, Jesus wakes from a nap and chides his disciples for panicking when they encounter a storm on the sea. He tells the winds and the waves to calm down. And they obey.
A few verses earlier, a Roman officer asks Jesus to heal his paralyzed servant. His certainty that Jesus has the authority to do it is so evident that Jesus tells him his faith stands out among the entire nation of Israel.
I’ve read Matthew 8 multiple times, usually considering each of its stories individually. But this last time, I saw the connection — the stark contrast between the disciples’ faith and the centurion’s faith. And I was convicted. Because I’m like the disciples on the boat. But Jesus is calling me to be more like the officer.