The Storm ~ Matthew 14~

"Take courage! It is I! Don't be afraid"

Later that night when Jesus went up on the mountainside to pray, the boat began to shake, buffeted by the wave. The wind was against it. The disciples were in the boat in fear for hours, long enough for one of them to ask;

"Where is Jesus? Is God anywhere near?"

Having the instinct that their life was at stake, His face appeared in their mind. And from the storm came an unmistakeable voice.

"Take courage! It is I! Don't be afraid!" (Matt 14:27)

Like the disciples, we too have entered numbers of stormy places. But the thing is, we didn't really see who is coming towards us in the midst of the storm.

The disciples thought it was a ghost coming out from the raging storm. When Jesus appeared, one of the Twelve, Peter, didn't believe and asked to come to Him on the water. So Jesus called him, saying;

"Come." (Matt 14:29)

Peter was finally on the water, walking. But then he saw the wind and was afraid, and began to sink. He cried for help and Jesus immediately reached out his hands and caught him. Peter had shown his little faith. Jesus' question hit him.

"Why did you doubt?"

Why do we doubt? When Jesus calls our name, why do we doubt? Why are we still scared of other thing when we know it is Him who we are listening to? God gets into things. He is ready to reach out our hands when we are sinking. So why? He gets into things. Believe that no matter what it takes.

I entered the stormy places many times and many times also, I sank. But He is never too late to catch me. He gave me signs that He is near. In sky I saw a heart-shaped cloud. I saw millions of stars shining through the darkest sky. In the highway I saw a car passing by with a sticker on its back, saying, "It'll be fine". Even in lyrics, everywhere. He answers me.

Christ is there, in the midst of it all. All we have to do is to look just a little bit closer.