Sometimes the thing we fear is the very way Jesus is coming to help us.

Six glimpses of Jesus from Matthew 14:

Eyes — Jesus sees people.
Heart — Bread is not bait.
Hands — Bring what you have.
Face — Grace comes in the storm.
Arms — Little faith still cries out.
Presence — Reach for the fringe.

Which one speaks most directly to you today?

Watch the full message on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/gwsjWinf3F8 or on Facebook at: https://fb.watch/HWrIKEiYwv/

Full sermon reflection:
https://tomsims.substack.com/p/when-compassion-walks-on-water

The disciples were in the boat.

They were far from land.

The wind was against them.

The waves were battering them.

And they were not in the storm because they had disobeyed Jesus.

They were in the storm because Jesus had sent them ahead.

Obedience does not exempt us from storms.

Then, early in the morning, Jesus came walking toward them on the sea.

But the disciples were terrified.

They said, “It is a ghost!”

Fear distorted their vision.

They had just seen the bread multiplied.

They had just handled the miracle.

They had just distributed what Jesus had blessed.

But now, in the storm, they could not recognize him.

Sometimes storms reveal what we have not yet understood.

Sometimes fear makes grace look threatening.

Sometimes exhaustion makes help look like danger.

But Jesus still came.

Their faith faltered, but his presence did not.

He did not wait on the shore until they got themselves together.

He came to them in the storm.

And he spoke:

“Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

His face was not turned away from them.

His face was turned toward them.

They thought he was a ghost, but he was grace walking toward them.