Faith vs Fear

When the disciples saw Jesus walking on water, they were terrified. The abnormal sight of a man walking on water, in the dark, and in the midst of turbulent waters, would understandably scare even the bravest of the brave. But Jesus reassured them with His words, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Unlike the other disciples, Peter did not want to be just a bystander. He wanted to literally follow Jesus. He showed tremendous faith when He asked Jesus if he also could walk on water. Jesus responded to Peter’s faith by equipping him with His power so that he too walked on water.

But Peter’s faith quickly gave way to fear because his focus shifted to the winds, and he started to sink. He called out to Jesus for help, demonstrating for the second time his faith in Jesus. And Jesus did save him.

For believers, the battle between faith and fear is ongoing. It is part and parcel of our spiritual growth. Peter’s faith made him walk on water. But his fear made him sink. Like him, we too can alternate between periods in our lives when we demonstrate unshakeable faith and when we are handicapped by fear.

Jesus cares about our fears—both big and small. He longs to help us overcome our fears. But if we give in to our fears, He never punishes us or leaves us stranded. Jesus comes to our rescue, always…even if we doubt and sink. By asking and receiving help from Jesus, we grow closer to Him and become more and more like Him.

Respond

• Do you acknowledge your fears to God and ask Him to help you overcome them?
• What comfort and strength do you receive from knowing that Jesus’ power is available to you today?