In the darkest storms of life, the most powerful words we can hear are Jesus saying, "Don't be afraid. Take courage! I am here!"
Encouraging Words Devotional
Jesus Is with You
[music] Jesus had been teaching on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, but now it was evening, and he insisted his disciples sail across the lake to Bethsaida while he went to the hills to pray. About three o'clock in the morning, Jesus saw that the disciples were in serious trouble, rowing hard against a terrible storm. Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. But thinking he was a ghost, they cried out in terror. Mark chapter 6 tells us they were all terrified when they saw him. So beautiful, however, was what Mark wrote next. He says that Jesus, caring about their fear, spoke to them at once with these words. "Don't be afraid. Take courage. I am here." What a difference it makes when Jesus says, "I am here." When God asks Moses to lead the children of Israel out of captivity in Egypt, God told him, "I personally go with you, Moses." When Moses eventually died after leading the children to the edge of the Promised Land, God appointed Moses' assistant Joshua to lead them on saying to him, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you." God gave similar promises to others down through the years. The prophet Nathan assured David, "God is with you." The prophet's Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Haggai all heard God's same promise, "I will be with you." Are you facing storms that threaten to sink your boat? He says the same thing he told the disciples, "Don't be afraid. Take courage. I am here." And the Bible says, "He will never leave you nor forsake you." You've been listening to encouraging words with Darlene Salah. Visit guidelines.org for more.