It is I, don’t be afraid

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 14:27 (NIV)

The disciples were already overwhelmed by the storm they were facing when they saw something that looked like a ghost approaching them (of course it had to be a ghost for what else could walk on water!) (See Matt. 14:22-36). To them the appearance of ‘the ghost’ must have felt like going from the frying pan into the fire. They had more than enough trouble with the storm as it was, so the prospects of encountering a harmful ghost terrified them and made these strong men cry out in fear.

Yet, what they thought was more trouble, was the Lord. Sometimes what looks to us like trouble might actually be the Lord. I remember God speaking to me through this passage almost 20 years ago. I was going through a small storm where everything seemed to be against me (as it was for those disciples). Doors were closed, men where unco-operative and I was running out of time. I had prayed and prayed for things to change but things seemed to get worse instead of better. So I decided to take a night off and ask the Lord what he was saying. (Actually, this is what I should have done at the beginning!). That night the Lord spoke these words to me,

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” – Matt 14:27 (NIV)

Sometimes what looks like trouble might actually be the Lord coming to our aid. Indeed that was my situation back then. The Lord was telling me it was not the devil or my fault that the doors were closed. It was him at work and I was to keep trusting and walking with him. Sometimes we are unable to keep trusting and walking with him, because we want an explanation right now. Yet the Lord’s comforting word to us is, ‘Don’t lose heart. Don’t faint. Don’t fear, for it is I. I am in control. I am at work. I may not explain everything to you, but please trust me. I am here. I AM’.

Notice that the storm did not cease immediately the Lord appeared. All the while Peter was experiencing his walk on water, the storm and wind was blowing. Yet Jesus was there. Our faith must rest on the fact that the Lord is here, even if the storm and winds are still blowing. In due time the storm will be over. The Bible says the winds ceased when the Lord stepped into the boat. God gave me victory over that storm I faced back then. Yet things didn’t change immediately after that night he spoke to me,. but everything changed inside me. I knew who was in control and I concentrated on rejoicing in him and walking with him as I waited to see what he would do. And he came through for me in his own way.

I am not saying that every storm is from the Lord, but I am saying that we need to be still and let the Lord speak to us on every such occasion, because what may look like trouble may actually be the Lord!

Spiritual Famine

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7 NIV

In Amos chapter 8 we encounter one of the sobering truths of the word of God – when men refuse to have God, he will not strive with them forever. When men continue to harden their hearts, a time comes when God lets go and withdraws his presence. And one way by which God does this is to make his word scarce.

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD,
“when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. Amos 8: 11-12 NIV

Surely the daily rhema from God’s word is a sign of God’s continual presence. And in the same way when we go day after day without any light from God’s word we must be concerned lest God has withdrawn his presence. But a famine of God’s word is even worse. For then not only in your personal time with him, but even through other means of grace, there will cease to be the Spirit’s quickening to make it living for your soul.

There may still be multiplied gatherings where the Bible is taught in abundance, but there will be very little quickening of the Spirit to turn it into real food for men’s souls. So the multitudes will be malnourished. There may be excitement and noise but people will still be lean in their souls.

‘Men will stagger…searching….but they will not find it’ – verse 12

They will stagger from the weakness of their malnourished souls. And they will jump from one conference to another. They might not even know the object of their search, but there will be unsatisfied longing. And this will lead to staggering – an unsteadiness of life, a carelessness and confusion. For the word is light –‘it is in your light we shall see light’ (Ps. 36:9). If God does not shine on us, we are left in gross darkness.

The Lord shows himself to those who hunger for him but he hides himself from the proud and hardened. Would you pray with me, ‘O Lord grant us a love and reverence for your word so that we may continually see light in your light. May we turn away from the crowd with their itching ears and look for you. Grant us a heart that hungers and thirsts for you; a heart that hears and is set to obey.’

Without the light of God, lives will be wasted.

‘“In that day the lovely young women and strong young men
will faint because of thirst.” – verse 13

Without the voice of the Lord there will be wasted lives and wasted potential. Amos says that even young women who are ‘lovely’- that is, with the power and call to beautify – will waste away; and young men who are ‘strong’ – that is, with power to fight and save a generation – will be weak. O Lord may our youths not faint. God’s word must come to our youth today in power so that this generation of youth will not waste away. May God raise a mighty army among them today.