What fears in your life mirror the disciples' fear in Matthew 14:26? The Scene on the Water Matthew 14:26: “When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost!’ they said, and cried out in fear.” What Triggered Their Fear • A violent storm was already battering their boat (v. 24). • Jesus appeared in a way they did not expect—walking on the water. • They misread His presence as a threat rather than a rescue. • Their senses told them “impossible,” so their hearts jumped to worst-case conclusions. Everyday Fears That Mirror Theirs • Fear of the unknown: career upheaval, sudden medical news, uncertain finances—moments when tomorrow looks as dark as that storm-tossed night. • Fear of losing control: circumstances that make you feel as small as a fishing vessel on rough waves—family conflict, economic downturn, global crises. • Fear of misreading God’s activity: times when His answer or timing is so unexpected it seems frightening—closed doors, delayed hopes, radical new directions. • Fear of the supernatural: spiritual warfare, oppressive thoughts, or sensing evil and forgetting the greater reality of Christ’s authority. • Fear of stepping out in obedience: sensing the Lord’s nudge to serve, give, or speak, but feeling the water beneath your feet won’t hold. • Fear fueled by past trauma: old storms replaying in the mind, convincing you this one will capsize you, too. How Jesus Cuts Through Those Fears Matthew 14:27: “But Jesus spoke to them at once: ‘Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.’” • “Take courage!”—courage is commanded because His presence supplies it. • “It is I”—literally “I AM,” the divine name; the God who split the Red Sea now stands on Galilee’s waves. • “Do not be afraid”—fear loses jurisdiction the moment He identifies Himself. Supporting Scriptures That Anchor Us • Isaiah 41:10—“Do not fear, for I am with you…” • Psalm 46:1-3—God is “a refuge and strength,” even when “waters roar and foam.” • John 14:27—Jesus gives peace “not as the world gives.” • 2 Timothy 1:7—God gives “a spirit of power, love, and self-control.” • Matthew 28:20—“I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Living Out Courage in Similar Storms • Name the fear honestly; refuse to disguise it. • Recall the record of God’s past rescues—He never changes (Malachi 3:6). • Replace frantic inner talk with His words—speak Scripture aloud until calm returns. • Obey the next clear step, however small; faith grows by movement, not by waiting for perfect conditions. • Surround yourself with believers who will point out “It is the Lord” when you’re tempted to shout “ghost.” • Keep eyes on Christ, not on probabilities—Peter walked until he looked away (Matthew 14:30). A Closing Snapshot The disciples’ terror was real, yet the object of their fear turned out to be their Savior. In the same way, many modern anxieties dissolve the moment we recognize Jesus already standing on the very waves we dread. |
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