Don’t Let Fear Rule Your LIfe

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” 28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Don’t let Fear Rule Your Life

Have you ever been on a boat or ferry or ship when the water is rough in the midst of a storm? Not a very comfortable feeling. My wife and I were on a ship in a storm where even the ship’s crew got sick. While it was uncomfortable, we were not afraid or in any danger. As I think back on the experience and think about the scene with the disciples on Sea of Galilee, I realize my experience was a piece of cake. The Greek word for the storm in which the disciples were involved is “Basanizō.” The word means ‘demonic torment.‘ This was a storm on the Sea of Galilee in the middle of the night. This is not simply bad weather… but weather that exhausts every resource they had. Their arms are spent; every skill has been used and their strategies to survive are gone. They are defeated and in despair for fear that life would soon end in a drowning. That is precisely when Jesus shows up but they think they see a ghost. They are truly terrified.

Jesus arrives on the scene with the words “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Again we see Jesus’ oft-repeated words, “Do not be afraid.” Peter is still not sure it is Jesus so he asks Jesus to command him to go to Him. With Jesus’ simple word “Come,” impetuous Peter is out of the boat and walking on water. Peter, however, gets distracted as he looks around. His fear returns as he looks at the raging storm. With no solid place to stand, he starts to sink. As the water covers his ankles, then his knees and creeps up to his waist, Peter cries out “Lord save me!” Jesus is there with a strong arm and reaches out to save him from drowning.

Fear shows its face in many ways. The fear of drowning, the fear of sheer terror as the disciples see Jesus (a ghost they thought) walking toward them. Fear of Peter stepping foot into water in the middle of a storm. Fear in Peter’s face as the distraction of the storm draws him away from Jesus. The disciples are terrified. We are too when we become too focused on the state of the world with its wars and disinformation and disasters closing in on us. The fears we face are real and too often debilitating. But isn’t that the way of life in these times and in our lives? That is precisely when Jesus shows up in our lives to remind us of His words to the disciples “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” God is not done with us yet.

We imagine Jesus as scolding Peter when He asks the question “Ye of little faith.” But what if Jesus’ tone was a playful and amusing one. Remember Matthew in chapter 17 where Jesus talks about “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed…” Perhaps the meaning Jesus was trying to say was “You of little faith why did you doubt [that you could?]” A little faith may be all that is needed to transform a story that starts in terror but becomes a story that ends in worship.

The heart of the story is God will never give up; He is with us and for us and He will do what we cannot. This is the promise that helps us cope with and rise above fear. Fear is a part of life and it has its place in our lives. Being fearful is not the same as faithlessness; nor is courage the absence of fear. It is the ability to take a stand and do what needs to be done even when we’re afraid.

God’s promise comes to us to help us overcome our fears as He sends us out armed with courage and confidence to live and share God’s abundant life. Fear is real and is a powerful part of life, but God’s promise and vision is more powerful still.

There is more to this story, however, than the promise of comfort and courage and the presence of God. In the end, all of these are a part of God’s larger promise and vision of what we might become, the person God has called us to be, the hopes and dreams of what God has for each of us. There is something more for each of us, for our stories are not over. Our pasts do not determine our future. Our faults and failings do not disqualify us from God’s love and acceptance and hope.

Peter doesn’t flounder because he takes his eyes off Jesus, but because he grows afraid and, honestly, that fear is justified. It is a raging storm after all. He has good reason to be afraid. And so do we. Whether it’s the fear of illness, loss of stability, loneliness, not being accepted or scared or worried about what the future holds, we have reason to be afraid. In response to Peter’s fear, however, Jesus doesn’t simply instruct Peter to keep his eyes on him. Rather, when Peter begins to sink, Jesus reaches out and grabs him, saving him from drowning and restoring him to his vocation as His disciple. And so also with us! Jesus will not let us go. Jesus will not give up on us. Jesus grabs hold of us when we falter and restores us to where we can be of service.

The words Jesus offers, even before Peter steps out of the boat, could not be more clear “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Whatever the storm, whatever the uncertainties, whatever the fears, the one that is willing to risk a closer step toward Jesus has nothing to fear. With Him, there is courage to engage every change, every uncertainty, every fear. Without Him we do not have much to offer the world. With Him there is little else we need.

Jesus comes to meet us, just as He met Peter that day so long ago. Getting out of the boat with Jesus is risky and scary and exciting. It is always worth it! Don’t let fear stop you. Trust and believe that Jesus will be there by your side, calling you to be all that you can be.