How Close Is God

Isaiah 41:10
   So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you
and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I sometimes ponder about the closeness of God to ourselves especially in the midst of troubling times. It is easy to take our focus off God and look at the raging waters surrounding us. Peter experienced that in his life even as an apostle of Jesus. Peter and the rest of the apostles were caught in a torrential storm in the early  morning hours in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. I can only imagine their terror. After all they were experienced sailors.  
But suddenly he saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat.  Jesus, realizing his friends fears, spoke to them and said, “It’s alright. I am here! Don’t be afraid.” When Peter heard Jesus’s comforting words he immediately stepped out in faith onto the water  toward his Master. It must have been a surreal moment for him.  But as he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked around at the raging sea, he began to sink. Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and lifted him out of the stormy sea.
What was prophesied by Isaiah thousands of years ago rang true that morning on the Sea of
Galilee. And it rings true today. Jesus is speaking to each of us,  “It’s alright. I am here! Don’t be
afraid.” The hope we have is in Jesus! We don’t have to wonder if God is with us or if He is close
to us; He is! He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. What He spoke thru Isaiah and
what he did for Peter, He will surely do for us. Focus on Jesus during these anxious times and
here His still small voice say,  “ I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand.”

Dave Carey