Greetings!
Lately I am dwelling on the Gospel account in Luke 5:1-11. It’s about Jesus and Peter—and fishing. Peter was fishing all night and came up empty. Then Jesus tells him to go out to the deep water and let down the nets again. Nothing much changes in what they’re doing this time around… except that Jesus spoke to them and they do what he says. The word that Jesus spoke makes a difference. The results? It took extra hands and an extra boat to garner the huge catch.
I am amazed by the response of Jesus who says to Peter, “Do not be afraid.” Jesus offers us a sense of calm, comfort and encouragement.
These same words— “do not be afraid”—appear about 120 times throughout the Bible as a command and a promise.
These days I need to hear those words a lot – as a promise and a command as we lean into uncertainty. Many of the decisions we make—both as individuals and as leaders within our organizations, churches, and communities—are not easy and don’t have easy options. Sometimes we have to choose between multiple bad options. With that comes complex emotions.
Last week I walked the cold, muddy streets of Mayfield, KY where the devastating tornado touched down in mid-December, wreaking havoc for many homeowners. They shared their own stories of fear having huddled in their homes, afraid for their lives and the lives of their children amid the violent storm.
There, against the backdrop of the noise of the chainsaws and heavy equipment, and as the MDS volunteers were cleaning up the debris, I felt a calm assurance. Hope was being restored. Kevin, do not be afraid.