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

Lord, save us for we are tossed upon stormy seas.

As the earth quakes from the rumbling of tanks and the blasts of bombs,
many of our Christians brethren are fearful of their lives
before the onslaught of those who would rather see them dead.
Lord, reach out to those going through persecutions for their faith in Iraq
and let them hear your comforting words,
“Take courage and do not be afraid.”

As the night sky is lighted up by the exchange and explosion of rockets,
innocents are huddled in fear
with many of them ending up as heart-rending casualties in a senseless war of attrition.
Lord, calm the storms of war over Gaza
and bind and heal the wounds of your people there.
Let them hear your comforting words,
“Take courage and do not be afraid.”

As dark clouds of fear, hatred and anger form over the land,
children are kidnapped in Nigeria
or they are detained in borders of the Unites States.
Lord, dissipate these clouds that becloud the good in us
and instead may we stretch out a hand of love and caring
to these innocent children
that they may hear your comforting words,
“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Lord, your people have great sorrow and constant anguish in our hearts.
We are buffeted by the strong and heavy winds of war in many places.
There seems to be an earthquake as tanks and war machines rumble across the land.
Many places are burning with the fire of anger, hatred, greed and selfishness.
Where are you Lord?

Lord, You are in the whispered prayer of those being persecuted.
You are in the mournful sighs of the innocents dying.
You are in the bated cry of children separated from their families.
Let us see Your kindness so that we can reach out in love and compassion
to Your suffering people everywhere.
Grant us Your salvation so that we can truly hear your comforting words,
“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Psalm 85

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:26–33