DON’T BE AFRAID / JOHN 6:20

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) John 6:20

But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

Finding Peace in the Midst of the Storm: A Reflection on John 6:20

We have all experienced moments when life completely overwhelms us. Whether it is a sudden financial crisis, a stressful environment at work, or an unexpected personal loss, the “storms” of life have a way of rolling in without warning. In those moments of deep darkness and raging winds, fear is often our first reaction.

The disciples knew this feeling intimately. In John 6:16-21, we find them in a boat, caught in a violent, pitch-black storm on the Sea of Galilee. They were miles from the shore, exhausted from rowing against a fierce wind, and completely terrified.

Then, the unexpected happened. Out of nowhere, Jesus came walking toward them on top of the crashing waves. But instead of instantly feeling relieved, the disciples grew even more frightened—mistaking Him for a ghost.

It was right there, in the peak of their panic, that Jesus uttered the powerful words found in John 6:20:

“But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.'”

The Meaning Behind “It Is I”

When Jesus says, “It is I,” the phrase in the original Greek text is Egō eimi, which literally translates to “I AM.” This isn’t just a casual “Hey, it’s me!” Jesus was using the exact, holy name that God used to reveal Himself to Moses at the burning bush.

By saying I AM, Jesus was reminding His terrified disciples—and reminding us today—of three essential truths:

• He meets us in the chaos: Jesus did not wait on the shore for the storm to pass before checking on the disciples. He walked right out into the middle of the raging waves to reach them. He doesn’t wait for your life to be perfect before showing up; He meets you directly in your mess.
• His presence alters our perspective: The disciples were focused entirely on the wind and the waves. When Jesus revealed Himself, He shifted their focus away from the size of the storm and onto the size of their Savior.
• He has authority over the wind: The moment the disciples willingly welcomed Jesus into the boat, the storm ceased and they immediately reached their destination safely. One word from Him can silence the internal chaos we carry.

Choosing Faith Over Fear

“Do not be afraid” is one of the most frequently repeated commands throughout the entirety of Scripture. God commands this not because our storms aren’t real or painful, but because He is more real and more powerful than anything we will ever face.

When fear knocks on your door today, remember that you do not have to fight the wind alone. Listen closely through the noise of your anxieties for that still, small voice whispering across the water: “Take courage. I AM. Do not be afraid.”

A Closing Prayer for Peace and Courage

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that You do not leave us to navigate the storms of life all by ourselves. Forgive us for the times we allow fear, anxiety, and panic to blind us to Your presence. When the winds howl and the waves crash around us, give us the grace to hear Your voice above the noise.

Lord Jesus, we welcome You into our boats today. We surrender our deepest fears, our stresses, and our uncertainties into Your hands. Fill our hearts with the peace that surpasses all human understanding, and grant us the divine courage to stand firm, knowing that the Great ‘I AM’ is right here with us.

Bring us safely through the storm to the shores of Your perfect will. We trust You, we love You, and we praise Your holy name.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

1. JESUS PRAYS ALONE / JOHN 6:15
2. THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND /JOHN 6:7
3. MIRACLES / JOHN 6:1-2
4. DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT HE WROTE / JOHN 5:47
5. ACCEPT PRAISE FROM ONE ANOTHER / JOHN 5:44
6. YOU DILIGENTLY STUDY / JOHN 5:39-40
7. YOU HAVE SENT JOHN / John 5:33
8. THOSE WHO HAVE DONE GOOD – RISE TO LIVE – THOSE WHO HAVE DONE EVIL / JOHN 5:29
9. HAS GRANTED THE SON TO HAVE LIFE IN HIMSELF / JOHN 5:26
10. HEARS … BELIEVES / JOHN 5:24
11. MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL WITH GOD / JOHN 5:18-24
12. PERSECUTED HIM / JOHN 5:16
13. STOP SINNING / JOHN 5:14
14. THE MAN WAS CURED / JOHN 5:9-10
15. THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS / JOHN 5:5
16. SIGNS AND WONDERS / JOHN 4:48
17. CROP FOR ETERNAL LIFE / JOHN 4:36
18. LOOK AT THE FIELDS / JOHN 4:35
19. SURPRISED TO FIND HIM TALKING WITH A WOMAN / JOHN 4:27
20. TRUTH / JOHN 4:24
21. WORSHIP … IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH / JOHN 4:23-24
22. SAMARITANS WORSHIP WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW / JOHN 4:22
23. WATER … ETERNAL LIFE / JOHN 4:14
24. SAMARITAN WOMAN / JOHN 4:7
25. WHOEVER REJECTS / JOHN 3:36
26. GIVES THE SPIRIT WITHOUT LIMIT / JOHN 3:34
27. LOVED DARKNESS INSTEAD OF LIGHT / JOHN 3:19
28. GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD /JOHN 3:16
29. JUST AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SNAKE / JOHN 3:14-15
30. THE WIND … THE SPIRIT / JOHN 3:8
31. BORN OF WATER / JOHN 3:5
32. BORN AGAIN / JOHN 3:3
33. TEMPLE / JOHN 2:19
34. DROVE ALL FROM THE TEMPLE AREA / JOHN 2:15
35. SIGNS / JOHN 2:11
36. CHOICE WINE – HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK / JOHN 2:10
37. WINE – THEY HAVE NO MORE WINE / JOHN 2:3
38. YOU SHALL SEE HEAVEN OPEN / JOHN 1:51
39. CEPHAS … PETER / JOHN 1:42
40. THE FIRST THING ANDREW DID / JOHN 1:41
41. THE TENTH HOUR /JOHN 1:39
42. WILL BAPTIZE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / JOHN 1:33
43. LAMB OF GOD / JOHN 1:29
44. PHARISEES / JOHN 1:24
45. GRACE AND TRUTH / JOHN 1:17
46. THE WORD BECAME FLESH / JOHN 1:14
47. BORN NOT OF … HUMAN DECISION / JOHN 1:13
48. RECEIVED … BELIEVED / JOHN 1:12
49. THE WORLD DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIM / JOHN 1:10
50. GIVES LIGHT TO EVERY MAN / JOHN 1:9
51. HIS NAME WAS JOHN / JOHN 1:6
52. LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS / JOHN 1:5
53. LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN / JOHN 1:4
54. WITH GOD IN THE BEGINNING / JOHN 1:2
55. THE WORD / JOHN 1:1
56. CREWS N AWAY: ANCHORED IN GRACE

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace