Don't Be Afraid

Monday, February 16th, 2026

4:33 am

Good morning! Today I am in Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, and John 6:16-21. After Jesus feeds the people, He insists that the disciples get in the boat and head across the lake while He sends the people home, and goes off by Himself to pray. While He was on the hill, praying alone, night fell and a major storm hit the disciples in the boat. This was about 3 o'clock in the morning. Jesus saw the disciples were in trouble so He went to them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw Him, they were terrified, thinking He was a ghost. But Jesus called out to them, "Don't be afraid. Take courage, I am here!" Peter called out to Him saying, "Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water." Jesus told him to come. So Peter got out of the boat, and started walking toward Jesus on the water. While he was walking on the water, he took his eyes off Jesus and saw the strong wind and waves, and got scared. He began to sink, but Jesus immediately reached out to grab him. He told Peter, "You have so little faith. Why did you doubt me?" They climbed back into the boat, and immediately the wind stopped. And they began worshiping Jesus saying, "You really are the Son of God!" Mark adds that the disciples still did not understand the significance of the loaves of bread, and that their hearts were too hard to take it in.

I love how Jesus saw the disciples and trouble, and went to them. Telling them not to be afraid and to have courage for He was there. When we get into difficult situations, Jesus meets us right where we are. He comes to us, telling us the same thing, "Don't be afraid, take courage, I am with you." No matter what we face, God knows and He is ready to help us. We just have to keep focusing on Him. When we take our eyes off God, like Peter, we will begin to sink. Sinking so low sometimes, that we can't see a way out. But God is the way. God can help you through any situation. Jesus gives us a beautiful example of how we stay focused on Him. Prayer. Jesus went off, again, by Himself to pray and spend time with His Father, by Himself. That is how we make it through. Spending time with Him everyday. Setting our sights on Him and not our situations. Trusting and having faith that God will help get us through.

Are you sinking today? Spend some time alone with God praying. Open up His Word, and allow Him to pull you back up. He is the one that gives us the strength to keep going. Allow Him to help you today. Make Him a priority in your life, so you don't sink. He will help you.