fear.

We've all heard the story of the wind and the waves calmed by Jesus. It's a great story of how Jesus can come to our rescue in storms or save us when we're scared, but it's a lot more than that. The Bible says that Jesus rebuked the wind and came to the disciples' rescue, but then scolded them for having so little faith. They were fearful and "timid" (original Greek, "deilos") They were not only afraid of the storm, but they doubted that Jesus could save them.

For His strength is made perfect in weakness, not in timidity. God gave us all a spirit of strength, power, and self-discipline, not timidity. Not fear. He's called us to be strong and courageous.

How many times have we been so caught up in the storm and doubted that Jesus was able to get us out of it? How many times do we just take the Devil's lie that it's a given that Jesus won't save us? It's a sad trick that the enemy uses against us and it's the opposite of Jesus' joyful, grace-filled, and holy lifestyle we crave. Life to the fullest, God promised us that and "not one of all the Lord's promises...failed; every one was fulfilled." He promises to fulfill His promises. I'm tired of typing promises now. But let that sink in! PROMISED security. PROMISED rescue. PROMISED atonement. PROMISED sanctification. PROMISED justification. PROMISED life to the fullest.

Those covenants should wipe the fear right out of our guts. But it doesn't always, does it? I wonder what we have to do to get it out of us. You know what? We can't lose the fear ourselves. We're not good enough. We are sinful and fallen, that's why we fear life. And that's what makes Christ's love so scary. And amazing. We aren't, and will never be good enough for God, but He loves us regardless because He can see what we were originally created to be. Because of Jesus, God doesn't see all the sins, those are washed away, He sees His image and He works with us to make us more and more like Him everyday. Only Jesus can work that fear out of us.

The only healthy fear is the fear of God. But it's not a "God's going to strike me dead any minute" fear. Instead, it's a fear of disappointing Him. Be afraid because you're His reflection, not because you're afraid He can't calm the storm.

"Oh, you of little faith, why do you doubt?" -Jesus (Matthew 14:31

"Be strong and courageous; do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10