Calming Words

When troubles come, the first thing we want to hear are calming words, reassuring words.  We want to hear words that give us hope.

There is a story in the Bible that I want to relate to you.

Jesus and his disciples have been in a remote place and have just fed five thousand men, not counting the women and children.  They are exhausted.

Even before the last person has left to go home Christ tells the disciples to get in the boat and go to the other side of the lake.  He, Christ, wanted to stay behind to pray and be alone.

As the disciples made their way across the water some terrifically strong winds began to blow and the disciples feared for their lives.

Suddenly they saw a ‘vision’ walking on the water headed straight toward them.  They thought surely they had met their end.  They became very fearful. 

And then they heard a voice. 

Now, do you have the picture?

  12 men in a boat

  Fierce winds

  They are dog tired

  They see a specter

  They hear a voice

What would you and I do in that situation?  We would probably fear for our lives as well.

But the voice … the voice spoke those magical words.

“Take courage. It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”

~Matthew 14:25-27

The voice was the voice of their master – Jesus Christ.  The words He spoke, well they are the words He still speaks into our hearts and lives today.

We face strong winds of adversity.

We face hardships.

We face relationship conflict.

We face financial woes.

We face disappointments on ever hand.

We face loneliness.

And the voice of God comes to us just as surely as it did to the men in that boat. 

Don’t worry.

Have courage.

Be not afraid.

I am here.

I am with you.

He says to us …

~I’ve got this.  I’ve got whatever plagues your life at this moment.

~Are you facing surgery?  Don’t worry.  I am with you.

~Are you afraid?  I’m with you even now.

~Are you thirsty?  I will give you drink.

Our part in this conundrum … listen for the quiet voice of God.  Trust His stable hand to work in spite of circumstances. 

He always has a calming word for us in our greatest moment of need.

Thanks be to God.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time