Do not be afraid

FEAR. That seems to be the theme of the week. Anyone who really knows me knows that I am a pretty fearful person. Its not something that I’m proud of, its actually quiet embarrassing. So I just say I’m a realist, which sounds so much better than scared of my own shadow.

Last week at my church the sermon was from Mark 6 v 45-56 and it talked about Jesus walking on the water towards his disciples. There was a crazy storm and even the experienced fishermen were having trouble keeping the boat under control. I can tell you if I was in that boat I would be terrified. So Jesus, starts walking on the water by them and they FREAK OUT. I mean someone walking on water is so beyond anything they could imagine. It says that they were terrified, and it makes me feel slightly better to think that even middle aged men who chill with Jesus get scared too.

Jesus IMMEDIATELY said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” I like that it says IMMEDIATELY. Knowing Jesus, I feel that his compassion for them overwhelmed him and seeing how afraid they were, he rushed to reassure them.

I’ve read this passage a lot but something I had never noticed was… Jesus told them not to be afraid, and THEN he climbed into the boat and calmed the storm. NOT BEFORE…WHAT? Jesus told them to take courage not because the trouble was over, but because he was with them. And that should be enough.

Knowing that Jesus is with me does make me feel so much better, but that ‘storm’ is still nagging me in the back of my mind.

I feel like its going to take a lot of practice but I want to be with the storm as long as Jesus climbs into the boat with me. And I know that He always will for in one of my favorite bible verses, Deuteronomy 31:6 it says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

That’s a promise, and God is the only one I know who will never break a promise, will never lose my trust.

Mark 6 goes on to say that, “As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was…They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.”

The people were so desperate just to be near Jesus. I am so desperate just to be near Him, but do I run? Or do I take my time, knowing that He will still be there when I get around to it? I want Jesus to be proud of me and I want Him to think that I am competent. But the truth that He can obviously see is, I’m not. But He loves me anyway! Where else in the world can you get love like that? I’m so grateful for it.

It says it beautifully in second Corinthians 3v4-5, “Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”

What a relief that I do not have to be good enough on my own. How comforting that when I am weak, God is strong. I know that I can freely run to Jesus when I’m scared because I hear Him say, “What a good opportunity for me to hold and comfort you.”

This part of His character only makes me love Him more, my protector.

Song recommendation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddo1K-03AAc&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL92AA92E9B6E2E61A