Today's encouragement comes from Mark 4:40 & 41a, where we read these words:
"But [Jesus] said to them [the disciples], 'Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?' And they feared exceedingly . . . "Here we see two types of fear: one bad (an atheistic fear of nature); and one good (a fear of God, based on what He can do). Fear of man (or danger, etc.) is always accompanied with a lack of sincere and real faith in Christ. Fear of God is a result of real faith in Christ.
This is not to suggest that genuine churched believers might not be "fearful," or "alarmed," from time-to-time. But once we see Who is in the "boat" with us, our hearts are to be stilled and comforted again.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ did not need subjects, He has legions of angels ministering to Him; but in His love He has honored you to make you His subjects.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]
