“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”
--- Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd President of the United States of America; 1882 - 1945)
Fear comes to all from time to time. Some fear is healthy. It helps us to survive. Other fears however impede us from progressing. One of the first effects of "the Fall" of Adam and Eve was fear (See "Return of the King -- Part 1"). Said Adam when the Lord asked where he was, “I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” (Gen. 3:9-10)
When Jesus came to His disciples walking on the Sea of Galilee, “…They were afraid. But he [said] unto them, ‘It is I; be not afraid” (John 6:19-20). Later, walking upon water in the midst of the wet waves and winds of a storm, the disciples saw something coming towards them, “They were troubled, saying, ‘It is a spirit’; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (Matt. 14:24-27). Peter does the extraordinary, asking to join Jesus on the water. His feet touch the same wet seawater and surely the cool wind is still blowing in his face and ruffling his hair. Initially, he made ground on the sea, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, ‘Lord save me’. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, ‘O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (vs. 30-31). Peter’s error was losing focus of the Lord and giving heed to the troubled water around him. He began to doubt the reality of the situation and started to sink into doubt. I do not imagine Jesus was rebuking him for doubting but was, in a way, assuring him lovingly that all was alright and to trust in Him. When he fell, Jesus caught Him immediately.
I don't think we're that different from Peter. We all get scared or even doubt the things we can do from time to time. But the lesson here is that we don't have to rely on ourselves. We have a Savior that is always there to lift us up and to help us do the things we cannot do alone. And we're meant to go through life together. "It is not good that the man should be alone" (Gen. 2:18). Life isn't so scary when we go through it together.
Faith is the opposite of fear. Faith and fear cannot coexist for the one will expel the other. Our Lord and our God both tell us to “Be of good cheer”. Those are not mere words of assurance but also instruction; it might even be considered a commandment. Be of good cheer! Fear not!
In the darkest of nights before His Atonement (See "Great Sacrifice" and "Knowest Thou the Condescension of God?"), the Lord gave words of good cheer to His disciples in a tense as if the Atonement had already been accomplished, “…I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). If the Savior in the moments before that final countdown to indescribable torture and death, could speak of peace and cheer, surely, we can stay hopeful and faithful in our times of tribulation.
May we ever look towards Christ and doubt not though the storms may combine against us. If we are built upon the rock of our Redeemer, which is Christ, we shall not fall and we will not sink. Then may we “Be still and know that [He is] God.” (Psalms 46:10)
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