Jesus said to His disciples, “Don’t worry! I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid. “Peter replied, “Lord if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come on!” Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward Him. But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. “Save me Lord!” he shouted. At once, Jesus reached out His hand. He helped Peter up and said, “You surely don’t have much faith, why do you doubt?” Matthew 14:27-31. It’s clear in this text, Jesus tells them all not to worry, or to be afraid, Peter let fear and disobedience in, and he doubted Jesus was who He said He was. Peter also was believing more in what he saw around him than what Jesus told him he was able to do. Is there something or someone around you that has caused you to doubt that Jesus is who He says He is?
David told Solomon in 1 Chronicles 22:13: “If you obey the laws and teachings that the Lord gave Moses, you will be successful. Be strong and brave and don’t get discouraged or be afraid of anything.” If we obey the Lord-we should not be afraid of anything! God told Joshua in Joshua 1:7:”Long ago I promised the ancestors of Israel that I would give this land to their descendants. So be strong and brave! Be careful to do everything my servant Moses taught you. Never stop reading the Book of the Law, he gave you. Day and night you must think about what it says. If you obey it completely, you and Israel will be able to take this land.”
Oh, but the waves around us are so high– or the people in our family– or staff on the job or people in general are promoting fear into our lives, these are perilous times that we are living in, if we do not trust and obey in a living, risen savior in these times, then courage will not be easy. I do remember many times that the hair stood up on the back of my neck, but I still did what God wanted me to do, because I was sure I heard His voice, and knew that I was doing what he asked me to do. Without His power through the Holy Spirit, I would not have been able to do the things that God wanted me to do. I believed Jesus is who He said that He is. He is Lord, He will forgive you of all your shortcomings, Come to Him today. Believe that He died for your sins and for a chance for eternal life. He rose again to grant you that second chance, believe today that He is Who He says He is, take courage, surrender your life to Jesus, then trust and obey what he teaches you through His living word.