By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Mark 6:49-51 "…but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed…" - NIV
Just imagine the state the disciples were in. It’s the fourth watch of the night (3-6am). They are struggling against a wave and not made progress for several hours. And then a human-like being comes towards them walking on the water as if he wants to pass them by. All of them saw this ‘ghost’ and were terrified at what would happen next. Knowing how scared they were, Jesus immediately spoke up and told them, “Its I. Don’t be afraid.”
How encouraging those words were to them! From extreme fear in a hopeless situation to complete relief that their Master and Lord had appeared in their hour of greatest need. Many are the situations of life that leave us confused, helpless, making very little or no progress because of the forces against us and things not working out. Our God does not leave us that way throughout. He knows and comes to our rescue. Some of the ways He comes may initially scare, being unfamiliar, as if to make an already bad situation worse as the disciples thought.
When God steps into our situations in ways we least expected and speaks, He brings peace. He never intends to worsen an already bad situation. He says,”It’s I. Don’t be afraid.” As Jesus stepped into the boat, the waves stopped and there was immediate calm. And they immediately reached their destination. Call unto the Lord in your hopeless situation in a troublesome world, alone without much progress. And it shall be well. He speaks peace to His own.
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Shalom children of God.