John 6:16-24 - Being Okay in the Fear

...they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.

John 6:19b 

When was the last time you were afraid? Really, really frightened?

I'll admit that sometimes when I watch certain TV shows I am thankful my sister talked me into getting DVR so I can fast-forward until that moment of frightful tension has passed. I hate being scared or feeling out of control - but ultimately, doesn't true faith have a little fear tagging along with it?

Stepping out in faith, much like the disciples did, takes an enormous amount of trust and willingness to be the passenger instead of the driver. Truly being obedient in Christ means that we can't see what the future holds but we trust that the promises we have in Jesus are worth taking the step.

When I read this passage of scripture I can see the disciples, sailing off into the middle of the Sea (or rather super big lake) of Galilee chatting away. Maybe they were talking about their wives and girlfriends who were back at home. Maybe they were discussing Jesus and how they really didn't understand everything they were seeing. Maybe they were talking about the weather. Regardless of their discussion, I believe they were relaxed doing what they had done since they were children - fishing. Even as the storm approached, they knew how to handle it. They had been in storms their whole lives.

 And then, like some scary movie, they look out into the distance and see someone walking toward them on the water.

I imagine they would have rubbed their eyes a bit - maybe even cried out to God to be rescued - but then they see that it is Jesus. Jesus - this man - this teacher - whom they have chosen to follow is doing the impossible. He is walking on water - in the middle of a storm. I don't know about you but I would have been pretty afraid. If I am truly honest, even though I know all about Jesus, his miracles, his death and resurrection, even though I know all about him, I think I would still be pretty afraid if I saw him walking on the water toward me.

But here is the amazing thing. The disciples - who were rightly afraid - let him into the boat as soon as he said, "It is I. Don't be afraid." (John 6:20)

How often do we not hear Jesus when he says, "I am with you. Do not be afraid."? Too often our human minds take over and we want to control, fix and twist the situation to what we think it should be instead of allowing God to be in control. I am guilty of this more often then I care to acknowledge. But when I do step back - when I do allow that fear to be quieted because I know Jesus is in control - the result is often more than I could have ever wished or hoped for.

God does want to allay our fears. He doesn't want us to be afraid. But in our humanness we need to be okay with just a little fear - because it is that twinge of fear - that desire to fast forward on the DVR - that let's us know that we are not in control but God is.

 

Scripture

John 6:16-24

Quote of the Day
“The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.”

Thich Nhat Hanh, Monk

Fear Not...And Let God Lead

I hate spiders.

When I was eleven or twelve, I was in the basement of my parents' house watching TV on the couch and I felt something on my head. I lifted my hand and pulled a couple spiders off of my head. They had dropped from the ceiling and were crawling on me! Screaming, I ran up the stairs trying to shake the spiders off of me. To this day, if a spider is above my eye level, I cannot reach up to kill it for fear of it dropping on me.

Fear is often a learned behavior. Prior to the spider dropping incident, I wasn't fond of spiders, but I wasn't afraid of them. When the spiders invaded my sense of peace, they created a sense of panic and fear, one which I still haven't been able to outgrow.

Fear is created when our sense of calm is disrupted. A fear of heights might develop the first time you swing high on a swing or a fear of fire might develop because you touched a hot stove. Fears come frome a variety of places, but they all have a root cause and they have a common cure.

For I am the LORD your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13

We are to "fear not", because the LORD is always with us. We are called to trust in the LORD. We are to trust Him that He will be there for us in all situations. He will help. He will lead us through our fear and back to our peace.

He will take you by the "right hand" and help you. About 90% of the world's population is right handed, which means that when the majority of the world sets out to fix a problem or run away in fear, they start with their right hand. By God taking the right hand, He is taking the lead. We no longer have to be afraid because God will be the shield to protect us and the guide through the troublesome waters.

What is your fear?

You are not alone - - what ever you fear God is with you and He will guide you back to your peace.

Scripture
Isaiah 41:12-14

Quote of the Day
“So I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!”

Martin Luter King, Jr.

Question of the Day

What fear can you ask God to walk you through?

GUMY Christmas is THIS SUNDAY December 4th @ 4PM - - Please bring friends and a giving attitude!!! (OH! And your prettiest singing voices too!!!!)



Have No Fear...Jesus is Near

 “I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, ...that you forget the LORD your Maker, ...For I am the LORD your God, ...'You are my people.’”

Isaiah 51:12-16 (full passage)

"Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself"

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Fears. We all have them and in the modern world of psychology every fear has a known name. Have a fear of spiders? You are arachniphobic. Have a fear of heights? You are acrophobic. Have a fear of tests? You are testophobic (really). We have named, claimed and accepted our fears, almost to the point of pride, but why?

Why in a time and place when there are endless opportunities to try new things, discover new concepts, live each moment to the fullest do we want to stay bound by our fears?

Fears limit our life. If you allow a fear of heights to determine your future you will never climb a mountain, ride a roller coaster, stand at the top of the Grand Canyon, or enjoy the beauty of Tuscany from the top of the Duo mo Cathedral. If you allow your fear of spiders to control you, then you will not go hiking, enjoy nature or go into a basement. And how about that fear of tests? If you are too afraid to take tests you won't graduate high school, go on to college, become a doctor, a lawyer, a firefighter, a police officer, a teacher or apply for countless other jobs.

By giving into fears, we tell God that there is something, we believe in our hearts, that is bigger than He is. Our fears override God's sovereignty in our lives and we forget He has overcome the world for us...could He not handle a spider? or a test? or a little mountain?

What are you afraid of?

Whatever it is - take it to Jesus. Give your fears over to Him and allow Him to heal that part of you that is afraid.

This isn't easy. We are human and we have faults, failings and doubts, but we are also a people of faith. Faith means trusting in what we cannot see. By going to Jesus with our fears, we trust that through His power, not ours, He can transform our hearts, minds and souls; making us courageous.

We cannot overcome our fears....but Jesus can.

Jesus is near and He wants you, and I, to let go of the fears which paralyze us and keep us from obedience to Him. Allow Jesus to give you the gift of peace and freedom from the fears which bind you and keep you from living life to the fullest.

Have no fear...Jesus is near!

Interesting Fact

The term phobia, from the Greek φόβος meaning "fear," is a strong, persistent, and irrational fear or anxiety of certain situations, objects, activities, or persons....There exist more than 600 recognized phobias, many without treatment.

And all they need is Jesus...He's the best treatment around.

Question of the Day

Okay...so we already had this question...but I thought I would try again....

Who is your favorite Superhero? And Why?

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