Are You Afraid?

Things are hectic as I prepare to leave for my mission trip next week, so I had excused myself from writing my blog.  However, this morning while having my time with the Lord He spoke so clearly to my heart, I would be remiss to not share it with others.  We all have fears that live within us.  These fears come in all sizes and shapes.  This morning, in my mind I was wrestling with a fear most would consider small.  For me, this fear starts small then as I began to play all the horrific possibilities attached to it, it can grow bigger and become more than I can handle.  I have what one might call a "wondering" mind - which wreaks havoc on my quiet time.  This morning while reading God's word, my mind began to go to that fearful place.  However, God spoke directly to that fear.  As I was reading Mark 6:50 my heart was immediately calmed.  “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” I can't even describe what took place.  All I know is at that moment, I knew I had just received a very bold word from the Lord.  He removed my fear. I began to weep.  He is such a personal God.  He meets us at the place we need Him.

The scripture above is what Jesus says to His disciples when He walks out on the water toward them.  The previous verses 48-49 tell us what transpired prior to Jesus telling them to take courage.   "He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.  Immediately he spoke to them..."  The disciples were terrified the scriptures tell us.  First they were fighting against the wind in a boat. I can remember a time when I was in Alaska fishing.  We were in a small boat and it was bad weather.  The wind and waves had me terrified.  I actually went into the cabin and held on tightly for fear I would drown in the freezing waters of the Inside Passage.  Second, they saw something coming toward them.  I can't imagine adding seeing a ghost walking on the water toward me.  I would swear angels were coming to take me home and my life was over.  The beautiful part of this passage is Jesus spoke and their fears were gone.  Guess what, this is true today!  Today, if you feel like you are fighting life against the wind and feel terrified, He is saying take courage...don't be afraid.  We have to mirror the disciples and recognize that Christ isn't a ghost.  He is very real.  He is alive and saying to you, "It is I."  He is there waiting to give us the strength and confidence we need to get us through.   Our worries might be small like a slight breeze, not yet painful but enough to give us concern.  We might feel the wind blowing in our faces and causing our eyes to water as our fears are beginning to build.  Or some of us might feel like we are caught in a terrible tornado and our worlds are being ripped apart, fear has landed.  Whatever your windstorm, recognize the one Who is walking toward you.  He is reaching out His hand and telling you to take courage and do not be afraid.