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READ: MATTHEW 1:23; 28:20; MARK 6:45-54; EPHESIANS 4:2\n\n\n\nAs I stood at the lake\u2019s edge, I was observing a genuine SOS moment. A young family member\u2014I\u2019ll call him Ford\u2014had just received a kayak for his tenth birthday. He loved to be on the water, so a kayak seemed a fitting gift for him. Since our party took place near a small lake, the family gathered to watch Ford test out his new watercraft.\n\n\n\nAs we admired Ford\u2019s skills, he glided toward the bank, laid his paddle in the kayak, and leaped from the boat to the grass. His forward motion sent the kayak backwards, moving out of reach while he stood watching it drift away.\n\n\n\nWe ran to Ford to find out what had happened. He\u2019d gotten scared, overwhelmed at being on the water alone, and decided to abandon ship. But Ford had failed to recognize this act would leave his birthday present on the lake with no one controlling it. We watched his bright blue kayak float farther and farther away. Then two fishermen approached offering to help. After a few expert casts, one of them hooked Ford\u2019s kayak and pulled it to shore.\n\n\n\nFear had led Ford to make a drastic decision. And, though we may not all kayak, we have all been struck with fear and made choices we\u2019ve later regretted. That day at the lake, Ford had gazed at the vastness of water all around him and felt overpowered. He believed he faced the challenge of managing the kayak all on his own. Yet, he didn\u2019t paddle alone that day. Ford had trusted in Christ to forgive his sins and bring him into a relationship with God, so Jesus was present with Ford. And when we trust in Jesus\u2014believing that His death and resurrection has provided payment for our sins to make us pure in God\u2019s sight\u2014He is with us too. Whenever we feel like we\u2019re in over our heads, we don\u2019t even need to ask Jesus to climb into the boat with us; He\u2019s already there\u2014every time, on every lake, no matter how far from shore we drift. \u2022 Allison Wilson Lee\n\n\n\n\u2022 Can you think of a time you made a bad decision out of fear? We all have moments when we feel overwhelmed by our circumstances, but Jesus doesn\u2019t expect us to handle life alone. How could remembering that Jesus is \u201cin the boat\u201d with us help us when we feel overwhelmed?\n\n\n\n\u2022 Even when we do make bad decisions, Jesus has so much compassion on us. He is eager to help us, and oftentimes the way God helps His people, is through His people\u2014like those fishermen helped retrieve Ford\u2019s kayak. Has someone ever helped you when you messed up? How?\n\n\n\nImmediately he [Jesus] spoke to them and said, \u201cTake courage! It is I. Don\u2019t be afraid.\u201d Mark 6:50 (NIV)