I Am Because You Are August 24, 2025 Devotional

JONAH 1:1-4 | ¹Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, ² “Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.” ³ But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. ⁴ But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a mighty storm came upon the sea that the ship threatened to break up.

JOHN 6:16-18 | ¹⁶ When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. ¹⁸ The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.

Several times I have been in a boat in a sudden and violent storm. With waves surging over the sides, blinding rain, and howling winds. I’ve prayed for rescue and worried over the possibility of capsizing. At those moments I welcomed a certain fear. There is a good fear related to self-preservation. Life is precious and when danger comes, fear is natural and healthy. Our limbic systems activate, our hearts pump, our pupils dilate, adrenaline flows, and we are ready to act in the emergency. Fear can be the trigger that prepares us for fight or battle or for herculean physical responses. When this is the case, or when fear helps us anticipate danger, it is a divine blessing.

When have you been blessed by fear?

Gracious God,

Thank You that You’ve made us to respond to dangers and crises. Help us to be clear and calm in those harrowing moments.

Amen.