How do we deal with fear? By taking charge of our situation. By doing something instead of nothing. The two servants who invested the money the Master entrusted to them were probably afraid too, but they did something anyway. (See yesterday’s Catch.) If they had any fear at all, it was covered up by their activity. The third servant, however, was overcome with fear and did nothing. He sat on it, and God could do nothing with him because of his inactivity.

Fear rules where inactivity festers. Fear dissipates where activity flourishes.

Remember when the disciples were fearing for their lives on a stormy Sea of Galilee, and Jesus came to them walking on the water? Now they were even more afraid thinking they were seeing a ghost. But as soon as Peter saw that it was Jesus he asked if he could walk out to meet him. Jesus bade him come and for a while Peter too walked on water until he took his focus off of Christ and onto the storm and started sinking, requiring Jesus to reach out and rescue him.

Now compare Peter’s experience with that of the other eleven disciples on the boat. They are sitting there with nothing to do but shake with fear. Peter didn’t have time to worry; he was too busy acting on his faith. He had an idea. He was having an adventure because he chose to get out of the boat and do something. He took charge of the situation and turned it into a story we’re still talking about and learning from today. And even when he did get afraid out there on the water, when he took his eyes off of Jesus and started noticing the waves and the storm, Jesus was right there to rescue him.

Initiation dissipates fear. The “doing” is the best weapon against being afraid, because once we step out of the boat, the adventure begins. The choice is always ours – do nothing and be afraid, or do something and believe.