Think about it:  FEAR vs. FAITH.  FEAR paralyzes you but FAITH pushes you forward.  Kick FEAR to the curb!        

                                                                                                                                                                                 BEHIND THE WORD 

I teach the 4-7 year olds in the Children's Workshop at my church.  I love that age group because they are so eager to learn. :-) 

The main idea of the lesson I recently taught was "Keep your eyes on Jesus".  We studied this story:

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home.  After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.  Night fell while he was there alone.

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.  About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.  When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

“Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,”Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.  Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

What stood out to me in this story was how Peter's faith quickly turned to fear when he looked at his present circumstances (i.e. the strong wind and waves).  Peter's FAITH pushed him forward off the boat and onto the water but his FEAR paralyzed him and he started to sink.                                                                                                                                                              

How often does this happen to us in life?  We start out so motivated and determined to accomplish something but when a few obstacles come our way we begin to doubt and fear that what we were hoping for would not come to pass.  So when I read this story it confirmed to me that we can have fear but we can't let it overtake us or paralyze us to the point that we start to sink.                                                                                                                                                                        

FAITH and FEAR are not friends, people!  So they should not be hanging out together! Kick FEAR to the curb.  Give it the .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

PEACE!

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