Fear is a natural human reaction to stressful and potentially harmful situations. We have all been “afraid” at certain times in our lives, and often, those times are indelibly etched in our memories. Jesus’ disciples were no different. In fact, on at least two occasions, fear enveloped the disciples while in their fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee.

As the disciples were cleaning their nets after a long night of fishing in which they had caught nothing, Jesus began teaching along the shore as crowds gathered around him. Noticing the discouragement of the disciples, Jesus “compelled” Peter to take the boat back out and let down the nets again. After Peter’s initial complaint, he did as Jesus told him, and the result was a miraculous catch of fish, so great in number that the nets began to break. It was then that Peter knelt before Jesus, acknowledging his own sin and calling Jesus, for the first time, “Lord.” At that moment, Peter recognized Jesus’ deity, and He began to “fear” as he knelt in the presence of God in the flesh. Jesus responded, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching people” (Lk. 5:10).

Sometime later, the disciples were once again in the boat heading to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, but this time, Jesus was not in the boat with them. A violent storm suddenly placed their little craft in danger as the wind and the waves threatened to sink the boat. Suddenly, they saw what they thought was a “ghost,” but it was Jesus walking to them on the water. Jesus responded, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Mt. 14:27). And the moment Jesus got into the boat with them, the storm ceased.

There is no need for any of us to approach Jesus “fearfully.” In fact, the Bible says that we can “…come near to Him with confidence, knowing that we will receive mercy and grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). Nor do we need to fear as we face “stressful” circumstances. When we invite Jesus “into the boat with us,” that is, to join us in our circumstances, He promised to “calm the storm” that was brewing in our souls. In both circumstances, we need not fear. Let’s take our fears and replace them with confidence as we invite Jesus to be with us in all our circumstances.