There’s something powerful tucked inside this moment with Jesus and the disciples.
It was late.
They were in the middle of the sea.
The wind was against them.
And they were struggling.
Not just physically—but emotionally too.
Scripture tells us in Gospel of Mark 6:47–52 that Jesus saw them straining at the oars. He saw the fight. He saw the effort. He saw the resistance.
But what’s interesting is this: Jesus didn’t immediately go to them because they were struggling.
The Bible says He intended to pass by them.
Pause there.
That means their struggle alone wasn’t the trigger.
But when He came near and they saw Him and were terrified, thinking He was a ghost—that’s when everything shifted.
Fear Changed the Moment
Their struggle didn’t move Him.
Their fear did.
That makes you think…
Was it that they were strong enough to handle the storm—but not the fear that came with it?
Because sometimes it’s not the storm that takes us out…
it’s the fear in the middle of it.
How Many “Ghosts” Are We Seeing?
The disciples saw Jesus…
but misinterpreted Him.
They thought He was something harmful when He was actually help.
And if we’re honest, we do the same thing.
- We see a delay and think it’s denial
- We face resistance and think it’s failure
- We encounter discomfort and think we’re off track
But what if what you’re afraid of…
is actually God showing up?
Fear Is Loud—but It Isn’t Always True
We’ve heard it said:
Fear = False Evidence Appearing Real
And that’s exactly what happened here.
Jesus looked like a ghost.
He moved in a way they didn’t understand.
But what they saw wasn’t reality.
And how many times have we let something look real in our minds…
that God never confirmed in our spirit?
God Told You to Go—So You Can Make It
Before they ever got into that boat, Jesus told them to go to the other side.
Which means:
If God gave the instruction…
He already accounted for the storm.
He already factored in the wind.
He already knew the resistance.
So the issue was never their ability.
It was their perception.
You’re Strong Enough—But Don’t Let Fear Talk You Out of It
This is why “do not fear” shows up so often in scripture.
Not because we’re weak…but because fear can make strong people quit.
Fear can distort what God is doing.
Fear can make you misidentify help as harm.
Fear can cause you to stop rowing when you’re closer than you think.
Jesus Speaks to What You Feel
When they cried out in fear, Jesus immediately responded:
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Notice—He didn’t rebuke their effort.
He addressed their fear.
Because He knew something:
If they could calm their fear…they would make it through the storm.
Final Encouragement
Be honest—how many things have you labeled as “ghosts” in your life?
Situations that look unfamiliar…
feel uncomfortable…
don’t make sense…
But could it be Jesus walking toward you?
God told you to get to the other side.
Which means you already have what it takes to get there.
Now the question is:
Will you let fear talk you out of what God already said you could do?
If this spoke to you, take a moment to sit with Gospel of Mark 6:47–52 for yourself. Read it slowly. Let God reveal where fear may be distorting your view—and allow Him to replace it with truth.
And most importantly…keep rowing. You’re closer than you think.
