There are moments in life when fear is no longer distant—it’s close, real, and deeply personal.

And for many people right now, it’s not just one thing—it’s a steady accumulation, like a snowfall that keeps coming, quietly building before you realize how much is there.

We are living in a time marked by deep uncertainty. A divisive political climate leaves many weary and unsettled. Ongoing conflict in the Middle East reminds us how fragile peace can be. Closer to home, rising consumer prices and the strain of everyday expenses continue to concern our families. Even something as routine as filling up the car—around four dollars a gallon in our area as of this writing—can be a reminder of how much has changed. 

Across generations, people are asking real and pressing questions. Will I be able to afford a home—or even stay in the one I have? What will healthcare cost in the years ahead? Is my job secure? Will I be able to find meaningful work? And will my children and grandchildren have the same opportunities I once had?

These are real and deeply personal concerns, and they often create a quiet, persistent anxiety that is not always easy to put into words. Fear takes different forms, but the experience is familiar to us all.

Years ago, one of my preaching professors, Dr. Chuck Bugg, reflected on a moment in the Gospels when the disciples found themselves in a storm at sea. In the darkness and chaos, they looked up and saw Jesus walking toward them on the water—and they were afraid. Dr. Bugg writes that “[The disciples] were in a mess. They needed some answer, some strength for the storm around them and within them.”

And what did Jesus say? “It is I; don’t be afraid.”

Dr. Bugg makes a simple but profound observation: when we are overwhelmed, we do not need a lecture about our circumstances. We need presence. We need assurance. We need to know that we are not alone.

Jesus did not offer the disciples a sermon about the storm. He gave them Himself.

That same truth carries us beyond Easter.

Beginning Sunday, April 12, we will enter a new three-week message series titled A Faith to Meet Our Fears—a title I’ve adapted from a book by Dr. Bugg. Together, we will explore how the risen Christ meets us right where we are—not after we have everything figured out, but in the middle of our uncertainty, our disappointment, and even our doubt.

• On April 12, we will walk alongside the disciples on the road to Emmaus and consider what it means when hope feels lost. This is a word for anyone who has wrestled with unmet expectations and wondered where God is in the middle of it.

• On April 19, we will step into a locked room with the disciples and Thomas and reflect on what happens when fear takes over. There we will see that Jesus does not wait for courage—He enters into our fear and speaks peace.

• And on April 26, we will listen for the voice we follow. In a noisy and often confusing world, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, still calls His people by name and leads us into life—together.

Across these three weeks, a simple truth will guide us: Jesus meets us in our disappointment, enters our fear, and leads us forward with His voice.

That is not just a message for the disciples long ago. It is a word for us now.

If you find yourself carrying questions, feeling the weight of uncertainty, or simply longing for a deeper sense of peace, I hope you will join us. And I encourage you to invite someone who might need this reminder as well.

Because the good news of Easter is not only that Christ is risen—It is that He is present.

And even now, He still says to His people: “It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Peace be with you,