Take Heart

Matthew 9:22 (KJV) - But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

“Good Comfort” The New King James Version says, “Be of good cheer”, the NIV says, “Take heart”. I like to think of this in the light of the thought, “If God is for us who can be against us?” There is hope in the midst of the storm if we are in the boat with Jesus. Just one word from Him and the wind has to cease, the storm has to calm, and the waves must be still. I do not have to fear because I am sheltered in the arms of the Mighty One. Often times the greatest danger is not from the attacker but from the fear that tries to overwhelm us. Fear creates panic and panic makes us do foolish things. From Genesis 15:1 when God told Abram “Fear Not, Abram, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” to Revelation 1:17 when Jesus tells John, “Fear not, I am the First and the Last.” Scripture is full of examples where God is rebuking our fear and exhorting our trust in Him. Five times in Matthew and nine times in the book of Luke Jesus tells us to “Fear Not”. It is natural for us to fear the things that we cannot control but there is one that can walk on the storm, walk in the fire, and He is right here right now telling us, “Take heart, be of good cheer” Stand your ground and trust in Jesus something good is about to happen.