Matthew 14:26
When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
Have you ever had some unexpected events happen in your life that caused tremendous fear only to find out later that it wasn’t as bad as you initially thought it was? Sudden calamities can result in great fear unless we know who is behind the event. Such was the case for the disciples when they were out in their boat at night. Suddenly, they saw a figure walking on the water and assumed it was a ghost. They feared for their very lives. But as the figure got closer and closer, they could see that it was Jesus. Their fear turned to joy because now they knew whom they were confronting. This seemingly life-threatening event turned into one of the great miracles of the Bible. Peter was invited to walk on the water-and he did just that.
Matthew 8:23 Now when Jesus got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But Jesus was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
But Jesus said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Many times we have events in our lives that cause tremendous fear. The events are real. The emotions are very real but it was not quite what we thought it initially was. We need to hold fast to the reality that nothing can touch us without passing through God's filter. He allows only that which is necessary to touch us. And if it does, it has a purpose. But we may not know it for a while.
Is there some fear in your midst? Look beyond the appearance and let God turn your fear into a miracle. Let him calm the storms that may rise up in your life. As a believer, do not fear he is there with you always.
Tim Carlisle
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