Why Are You Afraid?

                                                          John 6:20
                                               "It is I, do not be afraid."

Leaving the Sea of Galilee, the disciples rowed toward Capernaum. As the night grew dark the seas rose all about, threatening to overturn their boat into the raging waters.

Just as they were losing hope, feeling as if this was the end, they saw someone walking on the sea.
                "Who is coming toward our boat?"
                            "Is it a ghost, an illusion?"
                                     "How can they be walking on the water?"

"It is I, do not be afraid."
                Did they hear right?
                           Was that Jesus?
                                     Could it really be Him?

As I read this portion of Scripture I thought about the fears, apprehensions, and circumstances in my life that keep me awake at night, causing doubt and worry to consume my every thought. Just as the disciples tossing all about the raging seas, I become afraid of what the future may hold. My thoughts become filled with "what if's" and I create problems in my mind that never come to pass. If I would only listen with a heart toward Christ instead of allowing fear to consume me, I would hear Him say as He said to the disciples, "It is I, do not be afraid."

The Scriptures continue with the words,
              "Then they willingly received Him into the boat."
                                                                    __John 6:21

As I read these words I considered how willing I would be to receive Jesus if He came walking to me on the water. Too often when He tells me to not be afraid I try to reason with Him, explain to Him how He doesn't understand the many aspects of my situation, and how impossible it is that it could work out with any sense of success. As I contemplated my response, I knew it was time I learn from the disciples. Just as they didn't reason, but received Jesus, I need to do the same.

               "Is anything too hard for God?"          __Genesis 18:4

               "Ah, LORD GOD! Behold You have made the heavens and
                 the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is
                 nothing too hard for You."               __Jeremiah 32:17

               "It is I, do not be afraid."                    __John 6:20
                                         

Truth of God

                                                             Genesis 3:4
                                        Then the serpent said to the woman,
                                                  "You will not surely die."

Once the creation of the world was complete God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, blessing him with a woman named Eve.
                   And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone;
                   I will make him a helper comparable to him."      __Genesis 1:18

The Word of God tells us that Eve was discussing with the serpent, the most cunning beast in the garden that they were not allowed to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil or they would die. Why was Eve spending time with the shrewdest creature in the garden? Didn't she know time with him would only lead to deception and temptation?

Eve believed the lies of the serpent and ate of the tree of knowledge. Then she gave the fruit to Adam and he ate of it.
                   Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that
                    they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and make
                    themselves coverings.                                        __Genesis 3:7

God told Adam not to eat of the tree of knowledge before He created Eve as his helpmate. Nevertheless, Adam listened to Eve, setting aside what he knew to be Truth. He chose to believe Eve over the Word of God.

Just as Adam and Eve fell for the shrewdness of the serpent we, too, can fall into the snares of Satan. Satan will do everything he can to convince us we will not die if we choose his ways over the Truth of God. Sin will take us farther than we want to go, cost us more than we want to pay, and keep us longer than we want to stay. Satan knows exactly what he is doing.

When we find ourselves entangled in the snares of Satan, tempted to believe his lies, our Father will not leave us but promises a way of escape.

                   No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;
                   but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what
                   you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape,
                   that you may be able to bear it.                        __1 Corinthians 10:13

The next time Satan comes calling, answer him with the Truth of God. He will run and the battle will be won!!