Reflection: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”

About the fourth watch of the night, He came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen Him and were terrified. But at once, He spoke with them, "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid." He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. Mark 6:48-50

Jesus came to the disciples, walking on water, and they thought He was a ghost. The disciples, even though they spent much time with Jesus, did not recognize Him. Sometimes we do not recognize the Lord when He comes to us in the middle of our "storms."

Taking our eyes off Jesus, and focusing on the difficult circumstances will cause us to get under our problems. But when we cry out to Jesus, He catches us by the hand and raises us above the seemingly impossible surroundings.

When Jesus got in the boat, the wind died down, the storm ceased. Invite Jesus in your life, into your boat. When you have Jesus in your boat, the storms of life will not have as much affect on you.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Jesus spoke to the disciples: "Take courage, it is I do not be afraid." He speaks those words to you too. Trust in the Divine Providence of Jesus. Be not afraid.

Though we may not walk across water, we will go through difficult, faith-testing circumstances. Let us reach out to Jesus and take His Hand when we are feeling alone, abandoned or tempted to sink into despair and we will see His miraculous power will help us.