Biblical exposition
Lloyd-Jones asks what faith actually is. He first explains what it is not.
Faith is not simply a feeling. Feelings change according to circumstances. A Christian may feel discouraged, anxious or overwhelmed, but faith involves the whole person, including the mind, understanding and response to God’s truth.
He then introduces the thermostat as an illustration of a mistaken understanding of faith.
The illustration — self-contained paraphrase
Imagine a heating system controlled by a thermostat. You set the desired temperature, and the thermostat automatically maintains it.
If the temperature becomes too high, the system responds by bringing it down. If the temperature falls, the heating switches on again. The process happens automatically, without you having to intervene.
Some Christians imagine that faith works in exactly the same way. They assume that once they have faith, it will automatically keep them peaceful and calm, whatever happens in their lives.
But this is a misunderstanding. If faith operated automatically, the disciples would never have panicked in the boat. Their faith would have immediately taken control of their fear, and they would have remained calm.
Jesus’ question shows that faith must be actively exercised.
Dr. David Martyn Lloyd-Jones in WHERE IS YOUR FAITH
The illustration’s point
Faith is not an automatic mechanism that guarantees a peaceful emotional state. It is something believers must deliberately exercise when difficulties arise.
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