One day Charles Spurgeon, the great 19th-century preacher, stood on a London street corner, afraid to cross the road. The street was a bustle of horses, carts, and carriages, with drivers urging their steeds onward at breakneck speeds and no rules of the road to control them. Only when a blind man asked Spurgeon for help did the two cross together in safety.

Fear is a powerful, paralyzing emotion. It can make grown men seem like frightened children. God not only understands this, but He is also very patient with us as He develops in us the faith that overcomes fear.

In Matthew 14, Jesus calmed the disciples' terror with the words "Be of good cheer! It is I" (v.27). But He also rebuked them, saying, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (v.31). He wanted their "little faith" to yield to larger faith.

The Lord can use our fears to develop our faith. We may, like Spurgeon on that street corner, defeat fear by helping others. Or, like the disciples, we may sense the Lord's rebuke. But His chastening cannot come without the knowledge that He is there. To the child of God learning to trust in His care and goodness, our fears will bring renewed assurance that He is always there (Heb. 13:5).  — Dennis J. De Haan