"Take Courage."

This poem is based on Matthew 14:25-33. John the Baptist, the one of whom Jesus said there is no one greater (Lk. 7:28), had just been killed by King Herod. Saddened and grieving, Jesus withdraws by Himself to a solitary place, but the crowds follow. He continues to pour out, choosing their needs over His own. He has compassion on them, heals their sick, and ultimately feeds all five thousand men and their families with five loaves and two fish—with twelve basketfuls to spare.

In Matthew 14, we see both Jesus’ compassion on the crowds and His patience and longsuffering with His own disciples. We see not only His power to sustain but also His power to save. He doesn’t hesitate. He is merciful, and as soon as the disciples cry out, He answers, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” The disciples’ courage was supposed to be dependent not on whether the storm died down but on the Person of Jesus. His very Presence was to be a source of courage, and He continues to be the Savior who rescues us from our fear and doubt as well as from ourselves.

May this poem encourage you in this new year to “take courage” and fix your eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2)!

Fear Not

Through the rain, the wind, the waves,

The confusion of the night,

The roll of thunder in distant caves,

The blinding flash of light—

Weary in the darkness, frightened, nearly drowned,

They stood trembling and fearful—but heard a hopeful sound.

They turned to see him, terrified,

And thought they faced the end,

Not knowing what they feared and eyed

Was Deliverance and Friend.

Weary in the darkness, yet attentive to their cry,

“Take courage,” He called out to them. “Fear not, for it is I.”

“If it is you,” one answered back,

“Bid me come upon the sea.”

“Find in Me the faith you lack,”

He said, “and come to Me.”

Weary in the darkness, the one stepped out to stand

And amid the chaos walked toward his Master’s hand.

But when he saw the stormy tide

And of his plight began to think,

He turned, in fear, preoccupied—

And then began to sink.

Weary in the darkness, falling with each wave,

He cried out through the thunder that his Lord would hear and save!

Terrified amid the gale,

His soul prepared to die,

But looking up, he could not fail

To meet his Master’s eye.

Instantly His hand reached down, through uncertainty and strife,

And saved him from his doubt and fear for resurrection life.

“You of little faith,” He said.

“Fear not what is without.

With Me you had no need to dread.

O why did you doubt?”

Still weary in the darkness, they rose in awe to meet

Him as he stepped into the boat and worshiped at his feet.

They had no need to wonder.

Such a thing could be no fraud.

They had heard Him in the thunder

And knew the Son of God.

Step out of your security. You need not fight to swim.

His power is all-sufficient. Affix your eyes on him.