Ye of Little Faith

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:23-26

How is it that the disciples have little faith, when they cry to Jesus to save them? The disciples in question probably would have counted among their number at least three professional fisherman (and boat-handlers), and Jesus' trade as carpenter and preacher probably didn't offer much at the moment. Yet they clearly have some faith that he can save them. Is it faithless to ask Jesus for help?

Now compare a passage just prior:

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:26-27

When the winds came and beat upon them, and the rain descended and the floods came, the disciples were afraid, ignoring what Jesus had said about His own teaching. How good would it be for others if His house would fall when the winds came? And so we see how the disciples do not yet believe, for they do not take Jesus at His word.