Sunday Sermon Summary – Aug 09 2026
Fear not, I am with you
Matthew 14: 22-33 ; Genesis 37: 12-28
The two readings blend so well for today’s Meditation. It encourages God’s people to trust in Him and forge through every situation we encounter.
Fear of loneliness
Matthew 14: 22
As soon as Jesus fed the five thousand with just five loaves and two fish, He hurried the disciples to leave to the other side of the lake. Jesus went alone to a mountain to pray. The boat was in the middle of the lake, it was late at night and the boat was blown with rough winds. The disciples began to panic. This is an ideal situation where we find ourselves quite often. We are in an unexpected situation, and we don’t even feel God’s presence with us. This would cause us to feel lonely. Our Lord addresses this situation and comforts us that though we do not feel Him close to us yet He is mindful of us. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. When we feel lonely we need to just trust our Lord’s ever abiding holy presence. Joseph was suddenly snatched away from his home; specially from his loving and caring father. But the Bible says that God was with Joseph. Genesis 39: 2
Fear of Imaginations
Matthew 14: 26
In the midnight Jesus came to the disciples walking on the water. The disciples could not recognize Jesus in the dark and thought it was a ghost. They screamed in fear. When Jacob saw his son’s coat soaked in blood, he thought that Joseph had died. Sometimes when we go through rough times, we begin to exaggerate our situation. We see our challenges as something that is going to destroy us. Such reactions will inflict us with fear and will make us weak. 2 Timothy 1:7 teaches us that God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us the spirit of love, power, and a sound mind. If anyone tries to put fear in us, we must reject it and constantly remind ourselves that God is in the middle of all our crises.
Fear of Real Situations
Matthew 14: 30
When Peter realized that it was Jesus who is walking on the water; he was so excited and asked Jesus if he too could walk on the water. Jesus accepted his request and asked him to walk on the water. Peter obeyed and jumped out of the boat and walked on the water; but when he saw the raging waves, he feared and began to drown. Peter was in a real tough situation. It was the same with Joseph as well. He was a faithful slave in the house of Pothiphar his master. He refused to be unfaithful and rejected his wife. He refused to commit adultery. He was falsely accused and was put in the prison. We can face real challenges where we could face dire consequences. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a similar situation. They were compelled to bow before the image made by the king. Nevertheless, they remained faithful and God exonerated them. If God be for us who can be against us!
In Genesis chapter 39 we read four times that God was with Joseph. Today God is strengthening us to be strong even through tough times knowing that Jesus will never leave us alone. Amen!
