And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure and marveled.
Mark 6:49-51
I talk with so many people who struggle with fear. Fear is not abnormal; it is a mechanism in your body that tells you that you are unsettled and troubled about someone or something.
But Jesus lets us know here that we don't have to be afraid--unsettled, troubled, or tormented about things in this life.
Why? Well, notice something really small but very important in Mark's account. Jesus doesn't tell them not to be afraid after he calms the storm; He tells them not to fear during the storm! You see, they don't have to be afraid because Jesus is with them.
And that's the encouraging part. Jesus doesn't have us live our lives in isolation of storms and troubles. But He desires that we trust in Him through the storms and not be afraid of the circumstances that life brings.
2 Timothy 1:7 says "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
I learned a long time ago that if God has not given us the spirit of fear, who gives us the spirit of fear? It is the Devil. So when you know that you belong to God, then you know that your heart doesn't have to be troubled about anything and that His peace can surpass any circumstance in our lives; His peace will surpass any of our understanding.
1 John 4:18 tells us that perfect love casts out all fear because fear only brings punishment and torment.
So if you are prone to be paranoid or fearful of people or circumstances, just relax. Take Jesus' words to heart; "Let not your heart be troubled" (John 14:27).
When life is all but peaceful, the Lord will leave His place and walk right on the water if necessary, and He'll calm that storm.
Just trust Him. Be of good cheer. Be full of joy in the midst of the greatest storms of your life.
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