I know one of our children is scared at night when I hear the quick pounding of footsteps down the stairs, or “MOM, DAD!” from the landing. As a teenager, I recall hearing my sister’s bare feet slapping the parquet floor in the hallway as she ran into our parents’ room. When I was scared as a child I wouldn’t get out of bed at all for fear of something getting me between my bed and my parents’ room. I would lie in my bed as still as I could be, trying not even to breathe. As I got older, my nighttime fears faded away but were replaced by new ones. I was afraid of being laughed at, or not being liked. As I grew closer to the day I would be out on my own I experienced a whole new set of fears. Signing a lease agreement with an apartment complex was frightening for me. What happens if I lose my job? Buying my first house was terrifying as the volume of documents to sign is 2 inches thick! Getting married was frightening. What if, after I get married, she doesn’t like who I really am?

Fear affects you, no matter how old you are. It affects the choices you make and the priorities that guide you. So what scares you?

Jesus says simply, “It is I; Do not be afraid.” What does Jesus mean?

We’re going to break this statement down a bit and examine the storms that give it context and shape its meaning. First, we’ll look at Jesus statement, “don’t be afraid.” Then we’ll consider what he means by “it is I.” Finally, we’ll consider the two phrases together, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Each of these statements has to do with a different kind of storm.

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