“And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.” – Matthew 8:23
The first time I remember getting into a boat was just after my dad had purchased a small bass boat. I was young, about 8 years old, and we took it to Lake Ellsworth for its maiden voyage. Even at an early age, I loved to fish, but this was the first time I’ve been in a boat on a large lake. To be very honest, I was terrified. The boat looked enormous in our driveway, but compared to the lake, that was tiny. We got in the boat, put on our life jackets, and set out looking for the big catch. I had just started to get comfortable when my dad decided that he wanted to try fishing closer to the dam. My active imagination was moving much faster than the small outboard motor on our boat. I was terrified of getting too close to the dam. What if we got sucked in? What if we went over the top? Thankfully, we had many more exciting fishing trips after that day.
My nervousness was somewhat expected since I was a small child, and it was my first time on the lake. The disciples’ fear that night on the lake was unexpected. Most of Jesus’ disciples were experienced fishermen. They had grown up on the water. They were experts at handling boats. However, Matthew tells us they were “Afraid.” The wind was strong, and the waves were crashing into the boat. As the power of the storm grew, the disciples began to imagine the worst. Finally, they went to Jesus, who was asleep in the boat. They woke him up and pleaded, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” (Matthew 8:25)
It only took a moment for Jesus to calm the storm and the water that day. I can only imagine that it took a lot longer for the disciples’ hearts to stop racing. First, they were scared by the power of the storm and sea, but now they were “amazed” that they were in the presence of the One who, “even the wind and the sea obey.” (Matthew 8:27)
Fear is a part of life. At times we are rightfully afraid as we consider our specific circumstances. Other times, we are afraid because our imagination is unchecked. Storms appear quickly in our lives. Even if we are prepared, we can find ourselves in the middle of a situation that causes great anxiety. This moment in the boat with the disciples reminds us that our focus must remain on Jesus. Our faith must be anchored in the One who loves us and who is so good to us. Throughout the scriptures we are told that we should not be afraid. We only avoid paralyzing fear when we remember that God is with us, that God loves us, and that God hears us when we come and say, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
