Fearless - Day 21

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”Matt.14:26-27

What do you do when God shows up in really unexpected ways? I completely understand the disciples fear in this passage. They’re in the middle of a huge lake, in a storm, and someone begins to emerge out of the darkness…walking on the water! They’re terrified because it does look like a ghost! While it is comforting to find out it’s the Lord, there’s not really a sense of, “Oh, don’t worry guys. It’s just Jesus.” Because He’s still WALKING ON A LAKE!! That’s not normal!

That is exactly the response we should have. He is not normal; He is God! It’s moments like these that a healthy fear of the Lord should surface, as we remember who He truly is. He does not work the way we work. He is not bound by the limitations that we experience. Too often, we try to bring God down to our level and expect Him to work the way we do. When you think about it, that’s kind of ridiculous.

Take comfort in His love, His presence, and in the fact that He is all-powerful. He’s not like us and that's a very good thing.

For Reflection: Do I expect God to work within the “normal” channels of our human systems? If so, why? What does this say about my view of God? What about God working in supernatural ways might make me uncomfortable?

Lord, I thank you that You are all powerful. Forgive me for the times I try to put You in a box and limit You to what I can define and understand. I invite You to work in my life however You see fit. You are God and I am not. I trust You, and that trust means I don’t have to be afraid.