17^th March

“”Take courage, I am here.” Then Peter called out to Him, “Lord, if its really you, tell me to come to you, walking on water.” “Yes come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on water toward towards Jesus.”

Matthew 12:27-28

Life has storms. It’s a given. We live in a fallen world. Yet just because life has storms, doesn’t mean we need to give up and drown in those storms.

In today’s passage we pick up the story of Jesus meeting His disciples in the midst of their own crisis. Jesus has just fed 5,000 people. He sends His disciples away and has some alone time (important principle if even Jesus had His own time). On their journey crossing the lake, the disciples encounter a storm that is proving to be very dangerous. As they look out into to the waves and the storm, they see a figure walking towards them and assume that it’s a ghost.

The disciples were in a state of panic. The wind and waves were crashing around them and they were struggling to contain them. And then to top it off, a ghost like figure starts walking towards them. However, as Jesus approaches, He reveals His identity and by doing so, eases their fears and worries.

Jesus’ comforting words to the disciples can also be a comfort for us today in the midst of our storms and trials. “Don’t be afraid….Take courage, I am here.” These words have so much life in them. They are so comforting and the great thing is, is that they are eternal words. Yes they were for the disciples at their time of need, however we can rely on these words as our promise today, because the same person who spoke those words to the disciples, is the same person who lives in us. So today “Don’t be afraid….Take courage, Jesus is here.” Jesus is at hand, in the midst of your storm..