Take Courage! It Is I — sacred illustration
✶ Our Bible Moments No. 277 / 280

Anxiety & Fear

Take Courage! It Is I

Mark 6:48-50

Mark 6:48-50 is the night Jesus walks on the sea to His disciples. He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. When they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

Lord Jesus, the wind was against Your disciples, and they were straining to row. Then You came to them on the sea and said, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” The wind is against me too. Come to me tonight. Amen.

Mark 6:48-50 is the night Jesus walks on the sea to His disciples. He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. When they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

The Scripture

“He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them, but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost— for they all saw Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.””

— Mark 6:48-50

Prayer points from Mark 6:48-50

  1. Tell Him honestly where the wind is against you.
  2. Thank Him that He sees you, even when you are far out on the water.
  3. Ask Him to come to you in the place you are struggling.
  4. Ask Him to quiet your fear with His voice.
  5. Pray for someone who is rowing hard tonight and feels alone.
  6. Rest in His words: it is He, and you do not need to be afraid.

About this verse

Right after feeding the five thousand, Jesus sends His disciples ahead by boat to Bethsaida while He dismisses the crowd. Then He goes up on the mountain alone to pray. By evening the boat is in the middle of the sea, and Jesus is alone on land. From there He can see them straining at the oars, because the wind is against them. Somewhere around the fourth watch of the night, between three and six in the morning, He goes out to them, walking on the sea. When they see Him, they cry out in terror, thinking He is a ghost. He speaks to them at once, calls them to take courage, tells them it is Him, and tells them not to be afraid. Then He climbs into the boat, and the wind dies down. It is a prayer for anyone rowing hard against something in the dark, who needs Him to come near.

When to pray this prayer

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