--FEAR~~
--[Matthew 14:22-33] (Please read)

--Faith is often the child of fear.
Fear propelled Peter out of the boat. He'd ridden these waves before. He knew what these storms could do. He knew the storm could kill.

But out of this fear would be born an act of faith, for faith is often the child of fear. If Peter had seen Jesus walking on the water during a calm, peaceful day, do you think that he would have walked out to Him?
-Nor do I.

But give a man a choice between sure death and a crazy chance, and he'll take the chance...every time.

Great acts of faith are seldom born out of calm calculation.
It wasn't logic that caused Moses to raise his staff on the bank of the Red Sea.
It wasn't common sense that caused Paul to abandon the Law and embrace grace.

And it wasn't a confident committee that prayed in a small room in Jerusalem for Peter's release from prison. It was a fearful, desperate, band of backed-into-a-corner believers. It was a church with no options. A congregation of have-nots pleading for help.

AND NEVER WERE THEY STRONGER!
AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY ACT OF FAITH, THERE IS OFTER A SEED OF FEAR.
--From: The Lucado Life's Lessons Study Bible/ML