“Jesus said to them, ‘It is I, be not afraid'” (John 6:20).

Afraid (Def): (Gr.) Phobeo from Phobos: To frighten, alarm, to be in awe and reverence

There are circumstances in life that catch us off guard, when in a sudden moment of time everything changes before our eyes. We become frightened and alarmed by the situation and cry out to God for help.

The Disciples experienced such a moment recorded in the Gospel of John, Chapter 6. In the evening after the miracle of the feeding of the Five Thousand, the Disciples went down to the lakeside shore to enter into a boat to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, at Capernaum. Just a routine journey for experienced fishermen who know the Sea and can handle a boat with skill; but while traversing the Sea:

“The Sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. After they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty furlongs, they saw Jesus walking on the Sea and drawing near the ship, and they were afraid. (John 6:18-19).

In the moment of sudden fear from the chaos of the storm, they saw Jesus walking on the water toward them saying, “It is I, be not afraid“. What a wonderful Savior, Helper, Friend, Companion, Lord of Life, and Master we have, who comes to us in our hour of need.

“Then they willingly received Him into the ship, and immediately the ship was at the land where they went” (John 6:21).

The Apostle experienced this joy of companionship with the Lord in the midst of the Sea as well, as Luke wrote and recorded in the Book of Acts:

“When there was neither sun nor stars in many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we would be saved was then taken away. But after a long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them and said, ‘Sirs, you should have listened to me and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. Now I exhort you to be of good cheer for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship only. For there stood by me this night the Angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve; saying, ‘Fear not, Paul, you must be brought before Caesar, and lo God has given you all them that sail with you.’ Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer for I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me'” (Acts 27:20-25).

Then it came to pass even as the Apostle had spoken.

What encouragement it must have been to Joshua and to all Israel when the Lord spoke through Moses concerning their entering into the Land of Promise:

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them, for the Lord thy God, He it is that goes with you, He will not fail you, nor forsake you. And Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ‘Be strong and of a good courage for you must go with the people into the Land which the Lord has sworn to your fathers to give them and you shall cause them to inherit'” (Deuteronomy 31:6-7).

What encouragement is should be to us to hear the word of the Lord, “It is I, be not afraid”. In the midst of our troubles, in the midst of our unexpected storms of life, in the midst of the chaos and craziness of our circumstances, the Lord is with us. The Lord is near, The Lord shows up in the most unexpected way, walking on the water, no less. Now welcome the Lord, receive Him into your circumstances and you will make it, just as the Disciples did to your desired haven, your destination, and you will get there in very short order, as the Lord commands.

The Lord has promised us to make the changes in our lives that we need. Trust Him and you will go from fear, from being afraid, from being alarmed, to awe and reverent worship of your Divine Companion and Friend.

“Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the Age” (Matthew 28:20b).

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