Be Not Afraid

Be Not Afraid

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Matthew 14: 26, 27

We often fear what we do not understand. When Christ came to His disciples, as they were enduring the winds and waves of adversity, they became understandably alarmed. This was entirely outside the realms of their normal experience. They did not recognize the Savior. It appears, that they were more likely of the mind that this appearance was that of a spectre of death, perhaps prefiguring their own deaths. Christ assures them by saying ‘Be of good cheer; it is I; Be not afraid.’ He calmed them with the sense of His Presence. We are much like the disciples. In the midst of doing what Christ has sent us to do, we encounter great storms of adversity. We are, as the Irish phrase goes, ‘at wits’ end corner.’ When Christ does appear to us, we scarcely recognize Him, if at all. We even at times, mistake Him for someone who has arrived to do us ill. Yet Christ, speaks to us by His Word, through His Spirit. He calms us with the sense of His Presence. He speaks peace to our over-wrought mind; lays His Hand upon our heaving chest; and smooths our furrowed brow. Christ arrives at the moment we are most in need of Him, not to harangue and berate us for our weakness and misapprehension, but to draw near to us with words of comfort and encouragement. He makes plain to us that He is here to help. Child of Grace, today you are upset and fearful. Behold, the Christ of the disciples is your Christ as well. ‘He shall come and not be silent.’

Our most Gracious and Loving Savior,
we rejoice that You calm all our fears; give us peace in the midst of storm;
reveal Yourself to us; and love us most freely.
We today rest on You, and trust in You alone, in the midst of all our adversity.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning