"Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his
disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while
he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into
the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
"Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away
from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy
waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them,
walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the
water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, 'It’s a
ghost!'"
"But Jesus spoke to them at once. 'Don’t be
afraid,' he said. 'Take courage. I am here!'
"Then Peter called to him, 'Lord, if it’s really
you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.'
"'Yes, come,' Jesus said.
"So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked
on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and
the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. 'Save me, Lord!' he shouted.
"Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. ‘You
have so little faith,' Jesus said. 'Why did you doubt me?'"
~Matthew 14:22-31New Living Translation (NLT)
In this age of uncertainty and fear—amid all of the chaos of a world gone mad—it is easy for us to lose focus. Like Jesus' disciples, we forget that Jesus is control no matter the circumstances. We feel overwhelmed by the storm raging around us, and are terrified by it. But what we must remember is that Jesus is in control.
In the passage above, Jesus was the one who told his disciples to take the boat back to Capernaum. The disciples were doing God's will when the storm started. Jesus wasn't surprised by this. The storm didn't catch him off guard. Mark 6:48 says that Jesus was watching the disciples from the hilltop. Even in the midst of chaos, God was still watching over His people. And what was it Jesus said to his people when he came to them? "Don't be afraid. Take courage, I am here!" Or more accurately: "...the I Am is here!" (See Exodus 3:13-15)
God is always with us. He will never leave us, and He is always in control—no matter how hopeless our circumstances may seem. That is why He tells us not to be afraid. The phrase "Do not be afraid" appears 365 times in God's Word; once for every day of the calendar year. So the next time you are feeling overcome with fear and uncertainty, remember: God is with us. When the worries of this life and the struggles of living in this fallen world seem too much to bear remember: Jesus Christ has overcome the world. (John 16:33)
The I Am is with us. And if our God is with us, whom then shall we fear?
In this age of uncertainty and fear—amid all of the chaos of a world gone mad—it is easy for us to lose focus. Like Jesus' disciples, we forget that Jesus is control no matter the circumstances. We feel overwhelmed by the storm raging around us, and are terrified by it. But what we must remember is that Jesus is in control.
In the passage above, Jesus was the one who told his disciples to take the boat back to Capernaum. The disciples were doing God's will when the storm started. Jesus wasn't surprised by this. The storm didn't catch him off guard. Mark 6:48 says that Jesus was watching the disciples from the hilltop. Even in the midst of chaos, God was still watching over His people. And what was it Jesus said to his people when he came to them? "Don't be afraid. Take courage, I am here!" Or more accurately: "...the I Am is here!" (See Exodus 3:13-15)
God is always with us. He will never leave us, and He is always in control—no matter how hopeless our circumstances may seem. That is why He tells us not to be afraid. The phrase "Do not be afraid" appears 365 times in God's Word; once for every day of the calendar year. So the next time you are feeling overcome with fear and uncertainty, remember: God is with us. When the worries of this life and the struggles of living in this fallen world seem too much to bear remember: Jesus Christ has overcome the world. (John 16:33)
The I Am is with us. And if our God is with us, whom then shall we fear?
(Psalm 27)
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