It Is I; Don't Be Afraid

COMMENTS

Our God is such a remarkable God.  I felt Him drawing me this morning—calling me to just spend some time with Him.  If I’m honest, I can tell you I haven’t done much of that lately.  Oh, I’ve read and studied my Bible like a good Christian girl, but I haven’t really LISTENED to what He wanted to say to ME.  So, I went to His word; but I didn’t know where to read.  Does that ever happen to you?  I mean, it’s a BIG book with lots of good stuff in it.  Spending time with Him started by just listening for Him to tell me what to read.  A series of thoughts led me to John 6, where I read a familiar passage.  And, as He so often does, the Lord caused one simple sentence to stop me in my tracks.

NOTES

John 6:16-21 takes place on the evening following the feeding of the 5,000.  Jesus had left the gathering earlier, but His disciples stayed.  Later, they got into a boat to row to the other side of the lake.  They were about 3 miles out when a strong wind caused the water to become quite rough.  Suddenly, Jesus appeared to them, walking on the water.  Needless to say, it scared the wee-willies out of them!

“But He said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’”  (John 6:20)

At that point, they decided to let Him in the boat (like they could have kept Him out!); and instantly, the boat “transported” (for Star Trek fans) to its destination on the other shore.

As you’ve already figured out from the title of this missive, Jesus’ words to them captured my attention.  How many times have I read those words?  Countless.  But today, their power and simplicity overwhelmed me.

What’s going on in your life right now that causes you to need Jesus’ words?  What’s scaring the wee-willlies out of you?  “It is I; don’t be afraid.”  They had to wait for Him to come to them; but we always have Jesus with us because the Holy Spirit lives in us.  He’s always in our “boat”.  Sometimes, however, we forget He’s there.   But when we listen, He says those same words to us.  “It is I; don’t be afraid.”  (Yes, I know I’m repeating that a lot; but that’s because we need to hear it a lot.)

And His presence always brings about remarkable events.  What’s sad is that we don’t see many of them as remarkable.  In the passage above, the boat was instantly at its destination.  I’d venture to say that all of us would agree that was remarkable.  But isn’t it just as remarkable that Jesus died for me when I didn’t deserve it.  That I’ll spend eternity with Him instead of spending it in the hell that I do deserve?  Let’s get more practical.  Isn’t it remarkable that He comforts me in my sorrow, gives me strength when I’m weak, enables me to more than endure difficult circumstances—even granting me victory over them, fills me with joy when the world says I should be sad, gives me peace in the midst of turmoil, grants me wisdom where I would be a fool had I relied on myself, gives me patience when I’d rather be annoyed, and fills me with love for those He brings into my life—even those who are, in my mind, unlovable. 

Whatever is going on with you right now, Jesus is there.  It is He that’s there with you.  You don’t need to be afraid.  And wherever Jesus is, remarkable things happen!