One of the definitions of fear, according to the dictionary, is, “a feeling of anxiety concerning the outcome of something or the safety and well-being of someone.” We all experience fear. Fear comes from things that actually happen but more often from the unknown. Fear is very much a part of our lives.
I would say Peter, one of the chosen followers of Jesus, experienced tremendous fear when he tried to walk on the Sea of Galilee. This incident followed Jesus’ miracle of feeding the multitude.
The disciples had been sent away in their boat to go ahead of Jesus to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus dismissed the massive crowd, and He went alone to the mountain to pray. Evening came, and Jesus was alone with the Father. The disciples, on their boat, found themselves a long way from land.
As is common even today on the Sea of Galilee, the wind began to blow; and the waves tossed the fishing boat around in the dark. It was in the early morning hours that those on watch saw something on top of the water. In their fear, they supposed it was a ghost.
Scripture says the disciples “cried out in fear” (Matthew 14:26 ESV). Immediately, Jesus spoke to them. His words were meant to disrupt their fear and calm them. His simple words were, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).
If you know anything about Peter, you know his impetuous nature would not allow him to let this go. He must know more about this mysterious figure gliding over the water. He wanted to be a part of this phenomenon. So his response to the voice in the dark was, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (verse 28). Peter didn’t want to say it wasn’t the Lord, but he was not convinced that it was.
The voice answered him, “Come” (verse 29). So, Peter left the boat and walked towards Jesus. He had been so sure of himself; but as he looked around, he saw the wind; and “he was afraid” (verse 30). Because of his fear, he began to sink; but look at what he said. “He cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’” And Jesus did save him.
This was not the only time the disciples were afraid. They were afraid as they sailed across the Sea of Galilee in Mark 4. A storm came up, and they feared for their lives. But Jesus saved them with His calming voice, “Peace! Be still.” They were probably the most frightened when the soldiers led Jesus out of the Garden of Gethsemane. They probably feared for their lives.
The disciples had their moments of fear because they had not yet learned to trust totally in the Lord. The time came for them when they were faced with pain, suffering, and even death. They faced all of these challenges because they served a higher power, and they had a promise of eternal life with the Father.
Fear is a dangerous thing. It can cloud our thinking, make us doubt our faith, and allow Satan to enter into our hearts. Fear can destroy us.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about their sufferings. His words apply to us just as they did to the Corinthians. He said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too” (Second Corinthians 1:3-5).
God does not want us to be afraid. He wants us to reach out to Him. Listen to the words of David: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalms 23:1-4).
This psalm is our guarantee that the Lord is there even through death. As long as He is with us, we have no need to fear anything or anyone. If we will let Him, He will comfort us.
I once had a teacher who had an unusual attitude about worry and fear. He said, “Don’t worry. If you can change the circumstances of your fear, do it. If you can’t, stop worrying.”
There is only one thing we should fear. Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
I realize we are human, and we tend to worry about and fear especially those things that are unknown. As children of God, we have nothing to fear. This earth will pass, and our eternal destiny will depend on our obedience to our Creator. Be sure of your salvation, and you will have nothing to fear.
Sandra Oliver
I never had grandparents on my mother’s side or my father’s. I am told that my grandfather on my daddy’s side was a Christian with strong convictions. He had always taken an active part in sitting up with the sick or even those who had died. In those days families kept the body in their own home and often needed outside help to keep a vigil for the elected number of days visitors would come before the funeral. My grandmother too was part of all that culture, but in 1918, the Spanish Flu took them both within just a few days of each other. During that plague, did they understand the need for social distancing? Likely not.
The pitiful thing about this time of crisis was that they had two little boys–my daddy, age five, and his brother, age eighteen months. I was told that my father lay unconscious more than a year and doctors predicted he was likely not to live. When he finally regained his consciousness, he could not walk, but he lived.
Did the families fear? Some may have because that was a terrible time. Looking back we see the disease took the healthiest of the population–the young adults, not the elderly or the babies. But those who were left learned something from their experiences. Even I, one hundred years later, have learned that times of trouble draw Christians together, make them stronger, and give them hope for eternal reward in heaven where there are no tears, no sickness or dying, no sorrow–Revelation 21:4.