“Immediately He talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid” (Mark 6:50).

 The disciples were in the middle of the night, in the middle of a storm, in the middle of the sea, and in the middle of profound confusion and terror. The Lord Jesus directed them to get into the ship and meet Him on the other side of the sea. Somewhere between 3:00 and 6:00 in the morning, the Lord saw the disciples struggling and came walking to them on the water. They were terrified. Wonderfully the Lord called out to them, “It is I. Be of good cheer.” These experienced fishermen were fearful because they were in a life and death struggle on the waters. Likewise, there are many things that can cause us fear. Some of these fears sound funny, but they are real, honest fears. Have you ever heard of acrophobia? It is the fear of heights. How about brontophobia? This is the fear of thunder and lightning. Maybe you have experienced claustrophobia. This is the fear of confined spaces. How about nephophobia? I doubt that many subscribers to my Daily Prescriptions are afraid of this. It is the fear of clouds. Or how about zoophobia which is the fear of animals? These fears are very specific and limited to a small portion of the public. More commonly, most of us could easily fear such things as an unknown illness striking a loved one, the insecurity of the workplace, or the outcome of the hardship and trial though which we are traveling. In the middle of the night, in the middle of the storm, in the middle of the sea; is this how it is feeling right now to you? Be listening for His voice as you read His Word. He will speak to you by saying, “It is I. Be of good cheer. Be not afraid!”

 For today: Stormy times are great times to hear the voice of the Lord through the Scriptures. We have to be listening (reading).