Ever been in such an emotional storm that you think you are not going to make it; then it gets worse! The disciples seem to be in that kind of place in today's reading (Matthew 14:13-33).
And it was Jesus who started it all: "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side." They get a long way from shore and are finding themselves more and more battered and hindered by the contrary winds. It gets very very late and all of a sudden they see something walking toward them on the the water. "'It's a ghost,'" they said, and cried out in fear."
But then the One on the water spoke words that were probably burned into their hearts and need to be in ours. "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." The disciples find out at the end of this adventure that this One can make the furious unrelenting wind stop. At that point they cannot help but worship and exclaim, "You are really the Son of God." (New Living Version)
And it was Jesus who started it all: "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side." They get a long way from shore and are finding themselves more and more battered and hindered by the contrary winds. It gets very very late and all of a sudden they see something walking toward them on the the water. "'It's a ghost,'" they said, and cried out in fear."
But then the One on the water spoke words that were probably burned into their hearts and need to be in ours. "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." The disciples find out at the end of this adventure that this One can make the furious unrelenting wind stop. At that point they cannot help but worship and exclaim, "You are really the Son of God." (New Living Version)
I come away from this account with two words - Look and Listen. I want to remember in the middle of any storm or fearful apparition to look to Jesus and listen for those words, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." As I keep my eyes on Him, the wind will finally stop. Then nothing will be left but to worship.
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