Overcoming Fear
Description
Immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” - Mark 6:50
To learn courage you have to know fear. Isaac Stern, the great violinist, observing a nine-year-old playing the violin amazingly well, once said, “You can’t really tell how an artist will be until the teen years, for that is when fear comes in. Then and only then can you see if the person has courage. You can’t learn courage until you know fear.” Fear can paralyze us. Finding the courage to overcome it is a real key to successful living.
One day, Jesus’ disciples were caught at sea in a storm. They were afraid they wouldn’t make it. Jesus walked out to them and said, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.”
That’s the key to finding courage in the face of fear. It comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Fear and faith do not mix—they’re like oil and water. You see, when faith kicks in, fear moves out; and when faith disappears, fear moves in like a tidal wave. The key to finding the courage to overcome fear is faith in Jesus.