Daily Devotional for Thursday, September 21

Be of Good Cheer

“But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: for they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid,” Mark 6:49, 50.

Have you ever seen something and not known what it was? Or heard something and did not know the source? The first and expected response to this is apprehension, then you realize the sight or the noise was a familiar one. Either way your fear subsides, yet you wonder at the tricks your mind had played.

The disciples thought they saw a spirit. Jesus knew they were troubled, so He spoke to calm their fears. Their fear turned to shock that it was Jesus. They could not believe it.

Jesus did many things so the disciples would learn who He was. Yet their faith fluctuated. They would witness a miracle and by the time Jesus performed another one they would respond with amazement, forgetting all the ones they had already witnessed. Jesus did not scold them, instead He reassured them.

How often are the things that God has done for you forgotten? How often do you pray for a specific outcome to a problem and when God answers, you are amazed that things turned out so wonderfully? Just like the apostles, doubt creeps in so subtly, so suddenly. Still, Jesus just wants you to know He will take care of you. In this fact, you can have comfort, peace and courage. You do not have to let fear overcome you. Remember the words of Jesus. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: You can have peace because the promises of God are true. Take comfort in His Word when you feel anxious or afraid, knowing He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Karry Irizarry