Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid. - John 14 v27
Simply saying “Never be afraid” is ridiculous. Our very own bodies are geared up with physiological reactions to help us avoid or confront danger! Whether we want to or not, we will be frightened- and it may save our lives.
Encouragement (pep talks) and the like may help us deal with life, and help us respond with more courage. But that’s all. So why say “never be afraid” then?
There are (only?) two good reasons not to be afraid. First, when the person motivating us is Jesus. The verse (above) from John’s Gospel is taken from the last teaching/encouragement session Jesus gave His followers. A few hours later, and Jesus is dying on a brutal Roman execution cross. His willing death broke the back of Death’s power: and His Resurrection “on the third day” was the Father’s affirmation of every word and action of the Son.
This brings us to the second reason not to fear. Though our physical bodies will embrace the act of dying, we have been given the assurance of God’s peace/wholeness/eternal wellbeing: and we will be with Him for ever. The short-lived sufferings in our earth-bound existence fade away when compared to the glorious inheritance when God embraces us with Life.
Today’s photograph was taken one morning when storms were rolling up the Channel. Breaking through the bands of heavy cloud, the rays of sunlight emphasised the coming darkness. Soon after this, the wind was howling and the rising seas were sending explosive waves crashing into our beach defences.
But storms “strut and fret their hour upon the stage, and then are heard no more.” (That’s one of the few lines I can quote from Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”.)
Jesus was rather good at stilling storms…
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Luke 8 v22-25
The Reflectionary 