Do Not Be Afraid

Fear followed people everywhere in Jesus’ time. Fear of sickness. Fear of hunger.

Fear of Rome. Fear of death. And again and again, Jesus addressed it directly.

When storms raged and the disciples panicked, Jesus asked them: “Why are you afraid?”

When Peter began to sink beneath the waves, Jesus reached out and said:

“Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid.” Jesus did not shame fear.

He confronted it. Fear narrows vision. It makes people reactive. It pulls focus away

from God. Jesus knew that fear and faith cannot lead at the same time.

Fear says, What if I lose control? Faith says, Who is in control? When Jesus told