No Need to Fear, But I Do

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²² Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out. ²³ But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. ²⁴ And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. ²⁵ But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”
And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!” (Luke 8:22-25 NKJV)



There are times when storms wreck havoc in our lives leading us to believe all is lost. We cry out to God, yet feel as though He is sleeping. The disciples experienced this when Jesus slept through a storm while waves crashed against their boat filling it with water. The disciples felt as though this thing is going down. I can just picture the disciples in a panic crying out, “Why is He sleeping?” In their desperation, they awoke Jesus saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” The book of Mark says the disciples sounded out, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” (See Mark 4:38) Now were the disciples really in any danger? Of course not, God would not allow Jesus or the disciples die before their time. God had a plan and a mission for them to accomplish; absolutely nothing could derail it. In fact, I am sure Jesus knew beforehand exactly what would happen, and what He would do. Maybe it was His plan to cause the storm while sleeping through it in order to test and teach His disciples that they might grow.


I know I am no different than the disciples. Oh boy, in this day and age, with all the crazy things going on, it is easy to get caught up in worry and fear.
What are some of the things people fear in this world today?

People fear losing their jobs.

People fear an economic collapse.

People fear a stock market crash.

People fear illness.

People fear death.

People fear people.

People fear the devil. 

The thing is, as followers of Christ, we do not have to fear. Then, why do we fear? He promised to never leave us or forsake us, didn't He? (See Hebrews 13:5-6) Does His word not guarantee us that God will deliver us from every work and preserve us for His heavenly kingdom? (2 Tim 4:18) Of course it does. Did He not give us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind? (2 Tim 1:7) Yes, God did give us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. The spirit of fear does not come from God, now does it? If fear does not come from God, then where does it come from?

Recently I heard someone say, "If the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, then fear of the devil must be the beginning of stupidity." I can see many things in my life where fear caused me to do something stupid or kept me from accomplishing something worthwhile. Then I think of the many times where I had an opportunity to speak to someone of Jesus, yet I did not. Why? Plain and simple, fear.

Lord, help me to be wise while bold and living a life not in fear.

(Scripture references for the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom:  Proverbs 9:10 and Psalms 111:10)