TUESDAY 24 JANUARY - EXPERIENCING GOD IN THE STORM HELPS YOU STAND FIRM

Read Matthew 14:22-36. Have you ever thought you’d seen a ghost? I’m not sure I have, although I do remember when we were teenagers at Norwich Citadel Salvation Army frightening ourselves silly with stories of the “ghosts” that wandered around that old building! Only peer pressure kept us standing firm and not running out of the door!

At the moment, there’s probably enough going on in your life that you don’t need to be frightened by ghosts! But what stops us from running away from the storms of life we find ourselves in? Only Jesus.

The disciples were fighting exhaustion. They’re trying to keep a low profile following Herod’s murder of John the Baptist. They’re recovering from the responsibility of trying to feed five thousand men and their women and children in the remote area on the shore of Galilee to where Jesus had led them. And they’d been fighting the wind and waves for several hours.

Jesus comes to them. But he comes walking on the water. It is unexpected. Impossible. No wonder they thought they’d seen a ghost! They were terrified. But Jesus says, Don’t be afraid. I am here.

Do you need to hear those words today? Don’t be afraid. Jesus is here. He brings unexpected help and encouragement just at the time you are most desperate. In his presence, fear is gone. Take courage in him today.

THINK IT OVER

Think about the following:

How would you have reacted to seeing someone walk on water in the middle of a storm?