Feeling overwhelmed or scared? "Take Courage!"

Feeling overwhelmed, scared, or unnerved? This sermon dives into what it means to trust God in the storm. Jesus tells us, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

We can look to Jesus, knowing and believing he can do all things and that nothing is impossible. We battle storms and fears at times, but we need to remember faith gives us the victory every time.

What to do when the storms of life overwhelm you

Jesus Knows Best

We should learn from scripture, and the disciples, to obey without question what Jesus instructs us to do.

• We should follow his instruction

• Obey his teaching

• And know that Jesus knows what is best.

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ 28 ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ 29 ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’ 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God’” (Matthew 14:23-33, NIV).

Like the disciples, as we obey the Lord we may experience storms; we may find ourselves in difficult situations at times, not of our own choosing. But that doesn’t mean God doesn’t care or that he loves us any less. Those storms can be uncomfortable and yet they are often the very times that we learn the grace and love of God, which he uses to teach us and conform us into the children of God he desires us to be.

Even the Strong Falter

Peter was one of Jesus’ biggest fans! It was Peter who said, “even if all fall away, I will not.” But here we see Peter falter as he steps out of the boat to walk toward Jesus. Quickly Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and focuses on the wind, then he suddenly cries out to be saved from this situation he’s gotten himself into.

What did Jesus do? He immediately reached out and helped him.

Faith Gives Us Victory

Let’s look to Jesus like little children: knowing and believing he can do all things and that nothing is impossible. Whether we find ourselves in a storm or not, let’s cry out to Jesus daily and listen for those words “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Remember that Jesus’ timing is perfect.

We battle storms and fears at times, but we need to remember faith gives us the victory every time.

• Remember Jesus knows what you are going through.

• Cry out to him from your heart. Don’t worry about the words you use; Peter simply cried out “Lord save me” and you can too.

• Look past the storm and the physical to the Lord in faith.

• Take courage! And don’t be afraid.

• Worship him and share your faith with those around you.

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This and other sermons brought to you by Faith Chapel, an Assemblies of God church in Pleasanton, CA.