Fear and Courage:

Today’s Verse

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Matthew 14:26-27(NIV)

Today’s thought:

This verse makes me smile.

I wonder many things:

i) Did Jesus have to think about walking on the water, or was it just something He did to get where He needed to be?

ii) The reality of seeing Jesus on the water blows my mind, no wonder the disciples were terrified.

iii) How did Jesus feel at their reaction? I can almost hear Him saying, “Hey, I’ve just done something incredibly miraculous to be here with you to help you, and all you can do is cry out terrified, thinking I’m a ghost..thanks guys!”

Anyway, the reality is He was there, and even though they were scared of Him, He says:

“Take courage! It is I”

Many of our young people will and do have a mixed reaction to suddenly seeing Jesus in their ‘space’. Fear, confusion, scepticism, disbelief are just a few that I know of, and yet, when He comes He is still saying:

“Take Courage! It is I”

Think of those who you may know are struggling in their faith, buffeted by the winds, and ask Jesus to walk across the water to them, and that they would recognise Him.

And where appropriate, why not speak over and into their lives…

“Take Courage! It is Jesus. Don’t be afraid”

Today’s prayer:

Maybe write down on a piece of paper the names of those children and young people you know, or write down a school name, or a member of staff that Jesus would again come to them and make His presence known to them. Pray that they won’t be terrified, but hear His voice saying “Take Courage”.