Matthew 14:24-31 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
The words “Fear”, “Fearful”, “Afraid”, and “Doubt” appear in the Bible 601 times. Jesus often began his words to the disciples with the phrase “Do not fear, why are you afraid or why did you doubt?”
It is a fact of life here on earth that those who live on this side of eternity often are afraid and have doubts. Why is it so hard for us to just trust the Lord and to not be afraid?
When Jesus commanded Peter to step out of the boat and walk on the water, Peter was doing just fine until he took his eyes off Jesus and put them on his situation. Once Peter ceased looking to Jesus, he saw the circumstances he was in, became afraid and then he began to sink into the water.
Fortunately Peter had the will to cry out to Jesus in his fear and the Lord was gracious enough to grab hold of Peter and rescue him. Jesus’ question to Peter was the same that He asks us today in our fear over the events that are happening in our life: “Why did you doubt?”
Had Peter simply kept his eyes on Jesus and continued walking towards Him, the water, the wind and the waves would have had no effect upon him. Peter was able to rise up above his circumstances because He looked to Jesus and did not consider his own circumstances.
How many sleepless nights, stressful days and fearful moments have we endured because we have forgotten the power and promises of God? Jesus said that He would never leave us or forsake us. He promised that everything that happens to us in our life, He would work them all out for our good.
Hebrews 13:5 … For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Romans 8:28 …And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons that Jesus referred to us as “His sheep”. The sheep are the most easily frightened, constantly fearful, timid creatures of all farm animals. At the first sign of danger they scatter in fear. A sheep can become so afraid that it can fall down, roll over on its back, and not be able to right itself again. If the shepherd does not constantly watch over His sheep night and day, they will die simply by this act of falling and not being able to right themselves.
In our walk with Jesus today, may we remember that we have a good and faithful shepherd who does constantly watch over all of us as His sheep. We really do not have anything to worry about at all. Jesus has already seen every event of our life and planned out the maximum blessing for us, if we will but trust Him. If fear has overtaken you today, perhaps you should lift up your eyes from the storms, winds and waves that surround you, and begin to look again into Jesus’ beautiful eyes. “Lord save us from our fears, help us to not look at our circumstances but to look up and trust you…”
Rob Robinson
[...] Nice related topic here: http://www.bibleprophecyupdate.com/http:/www.bibleprophecyupdate.com/bible-studies/rob-robinson/dail... Additionally on this topic you can read: [...]