Matthew 14:23 “But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
While the Lord’s “disciples” were fearfully struggling in the awful storm, they “saw him walking on the sea”, even while the storm was raging. At first, they didn’t recognize Him and “they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear”. He had told them to go on without Him and that He would come later, but they could not have imagined that He would catch up with them “walking on the sea”, in the midst of the storm, so even more “fear” gripped them. They must have thought that it was over, they weren’t going to make it. “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” My heart is overwhelmed as I reflect upon how pleasing and comforting it must have been to hear His loving voice above the dreadful noise of the storm. Even, in our day, in the midst of the storms of our lives, our beloved “good shepherd” (John 10:11) still speaks to us in our heart’s ears, “saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid”! Then we know that we are not alone and that victory over our trouble is certain!