Come to Jesus: Overcome Fear, Discover Security and Peace
In July of 2022, my sweet Pastor husband and I vacationed at Crater Lake in Oregon. We spent a week exploring the various trails around the lake and in the surrounding forest. Crater Lake is one of those places where you can really see the stars.
Looking at Stars
We often would walk to the parking lot of the nearby camp store so we could see the stars unobstructed by the trees around our campsite. One night, we chose to drive to the lake and see the stars. The view was more than spectacular.
The drive to and from the lake from our campsite was a two-lane highway on the edge of a cliff. I easily handled the drive to the lake since we were on the inside of the road. When we drove home, I was no longer fine.
Driving in Fear
We drove on that same road with our trailer to get to our campsite and my sweet Pastor husband managed fine. However, in the dark, my fears morphed into a monster. I clung to the door handle as if it was my lifeline. I attempted to control my fear by breathing in and out slowly while also trying not to look out my window and down the edge of the cliff.
My fear was understandable, after all the road wasn’t wide, the cliff was steep, and it was exceedingly dark. Yet my fear was also irrational. My sweet Pastor husband is a safe and trustworthy driver. He didn’t hug the outside of the road, nor was he barreling down at a dangerous speed. Still, my fear had a vise grip on me.
Do Not Fear
Jesus told His followers not to fear more than ten times. In Luke twelve alone He tells His followers not to fear those who kill the body (verse 4); don’t fear because you are worth more than even a sparrow (verse 7); and don’t be afraid because the Father delights to give you the Kingdom (verse 32).
In Matthew fourteen we find the story where Peter walks on water. Jesus had sent the disciples across the Sea of Galilee. Normally, one could row across the lake in two to three hours. However, on this evening, the disciples fought against a strong wind, and their journey went well into the night.
Jesus came to them “very early in the morning (Matthew 14:25), walking across the waves. The disciples’ first reaction was understandably one of fear. None of us expect to see someone walking on stormy waves, especially when it’s pitch black out!
“Immediately Jesus spoke to them. ‘Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’”
Matthew 14:27, CSB
The Full Series of Events
We don’t often spend time examining the full series of events that took place up to this point. At the beginning of Matthew 14, John the Baptist was beheaded. He was Jesus’ cousin and forerunner. Plus, a few of Jesus’ disciples had also been John’s disciples. This event would have rocked their close-knit community.
Jesus attempted to get away to process and mourn John the Baptist’s death. However, the crowds found Him. That evening, the disciples encouraged Jesus to send the crowds away and Jesus told them to find the crowd something to eat. They found a boy with a small lunch. Jesus multiplied the boy’s loaves of bread and fish, and when they finished feeding the large crowd, they had 12 baskets of leftovers.
Rollercoaster Emotions
Take a moment and imagine the disciples’ conversation as they climb into the boat (or boats) and head across the sea. They have been on a rollercoaster of emotions: sorrow, frustration, exhaustion, wonder, excitement, hunger, and satisfaction just to name a few.
Now consider how their conversation and attitudes shifted as they battled the wind and the waves. Several of them were seasoned fishermen. They knew the Sea of Galilee! However, the wind and waves, combined with the rollercoaster of emotions, most likely caused them to be at the end of themselves. They were exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically when Jesus showed up.
The Presence of Jesus
Did you notice Jesus offered His presence as the answer to allay their fears and give them assurance? Peter, who knew the safety and security of Jesus’ presence, seemed desperate to experience Christ’s comfort in that moment. So, Peter presents the hair-brained idea that Jesus should invite him to walk on the water as well. Jesus simply responds with “come.” (Matthew 14:29)
Do you wonder why Jesus said come? Was He like, “if you wanna try, come on!” Or was He thinking, “Peter, Peter, you’re always wanting to push the boundary.” Perhaps Jesus was saying come not only to Peter, but to all of them! “Come to where I am.”
Four Truths to Remember when We Come
As I considered this passage where Jesus says, “Come,” Holy Spirit revealed four truths to me. When we come to Jesus in prayer, we must tender our hearts to remember these truths and allow Holy Spirit to form us as we come. We must learn to focus on Christ just as Peter did.
Jesus Knows How We Feel
First, Jesus knows what it feels like to be living beyond one’s human limits. Jesus grieved the loss of John the Baptist. His heart was broken with sorrow. He tried to step away but instead found Himself face to face with the needs of others.
I’m sure you’ve been there at some point. Perhaps you hit your end financially, but the bills kept coming. Or your children got sick, then your spouse, then you felt sick, but your children came down with round number two. Maybe you were working diligently toward a goal for a long time, and you were almost there when the bottom fell out. You felt exhausted, angry, betrayed, and hopeless.
When we come to Jesus in prayer, He knows exactly how we feel. He identifies with every emotion. And He is with us. “I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says, ‘Do not fear. I will help you.’” (Isaiah 41:13)
Jesus Shows Up in Unexpected Ways
Second, Jesus shows up in unexpected ways. I imagine the disciples called out to God as the storm kept raging. I’m sure they hoped He would stop the wind and the waves. Certainly, they believed God could and would do that for them. Not one of those disciples expected Jesus to come to them on the water.
Jesus chose a different avenue to meet the disciples in their need. When we bring our hurts and needs to Christ, we must remember Jesus may not answer in the way we think would be most convenient. God is all-knowing, sovereign, and creative. He sees ways to meet us, help us, and rescue us that we don’t consider.
Jesus Says “Come”
Third, Jesus invites us to be where He is. Jesus never stops inviting us to come. He holds an open invitation.
We are taught to be independent. In our culture, the strong are honored and held in high esteem. Sometimes, we view ourselves as less than if we continually need help.
However, God desires us to be dependent on Him. Just think of the Israelites in the wilderness. God didn’t tell them how to forage food or discover sustenance on their own. Instead, He daily provided what they needed and taught them to rely on what He offered.
Jesus’ Presence is the Answer to our Need
Last, Jesus is with us in the storm and sometimes, drawing close to Him leads us to step away from what feels safe. Peter chose to step away from the safety of the boat to walk across dangerous waters. His goal was to be as close to Christ as possible.
Often when we read this story, we discuss how we need to get out of the boat. We talk about this story in light of obedience and doing what God asks of us. Take a moment and consider this encounter with a view of survival.
What keeps you from relying on Christ? What do you do to self-soothe so that you can survive your current circumstance? Do you shop, eat, isolate, or sleep? Do you find yourself getting angry too quickly, stomping around your house so that you don’t scream uncontrollably? Do you get in your car and just drive, sometimes too fast?
We all have those habits that we turn to when life becomes overwhelming. Peter sinking into the waves reminds us we must focus on Christ. Jesus offers His presence as an answer to our circumstance. We must make the conscious choice to step into His presence instead of relying on habits that we think make us feel better.
Draw Close
Jesus invites us to come when we’re exhausted and battered. We are welcome when we are at the end of ourselves, and we’re done fighting. Christ encourages us to come near when we are scared or unsure. When we thought we could manage a situation but we’re struggling, Jesus calls us to be with Him.
If your current circumstance feels dark and stormy, Jesus simply invites you to come. You can come with all your myriad emotions. You can come exhausted and spent. In fact, you can come with doubt and hand-clenched fear. Jesus doesn’t mind.
If your current circumstance is smooth sailing, Jesus still invites you to come. He beckons you to draw close to Him. He wants you to know the delight of His presence, so when the storms do come, you know the comfort and peace He provides.
Open your ears and hear your Lord say, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.”
Isaiah 43:1b, CSB
