Fear Not, Canada—Jesus Is in the Boat.

Election Prayer Strategy 2025 https://www.nhop.ca/2025/04/15/fear-not-canada-jesus-is-in-the-boat/ As we approach what may be the most pivotal election of our lives, I want to talk about fear—something that seems to rise and fall in Canada with the daily headlines. But rather than focus on the news, let’s look at what Jesus says about fear in Matthew 14. It’s the familiar story of Peter...

Transcript

Hey everyone, I'm Marilyn Brooks from Elim Fellowship Canada and from the National House of Prayer and we are getting so close to what I believe is the most crucial election of our lifetime. And so I want to talk today about fear because we're watching it sort of vacasillate in Canada among Canadians according to the daily news. So I wanted to look at it from the word of God. Um Jesus had a lot to say about fear. But this is a story that we're very familiar with. It's from Matthew chapter 14. And it's a story where Peter and Jesus walked on the water. And if you remember, Jesus had sent the disciples ahead of him to go in the boat across the Sea of Galilee to

the other side. But about 3:00 in the morning, there was a horrendous storm. So that even the disciples that were uh seasoned fishermen were frightened. And then they got even more terrified because they all of a sudden saw someone walking on the water towards them. So I'm just going to pick it up at verse 26. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. And in their fear, they cried out, "It's a ghost." But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. Take courage. I am here. Now, in some translations, it says, "Do not be afraid. I am." And I believe that's the word for Canada today and for you. Do not be afraid. Jesus said, "I am."

Wow. Then Peter, we love Peter. Peter called to him, "Lord, if it really is you, tell me to come to you walking on the water." Jesus said, "Yes, come." You know, it doesn't matter what storm you're in. Uh, national, provincial, political, personal, spiritual, there's only one place to go. Straight to Jesus. Straight to Jesus. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. Amazing. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted. And Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. Peter gets a lot of flack uh for looking at the waves and getting fearful. I remember when I was much

younger, there was a lot of teaching on if you really have faith, you will not see the storm. So it's like people were were walking around in all kinds of storms saying there is no storm. Jesus says, "Do not be afraid. You are in a storm." But hey, I'm walking on the storm and I am going to calm the storm so that everything will be back in its place just where it should be. So do not be afraid. You can come up close and personal to the storm. You can look it right in the face. National House of Prayer actually is going to make available to us in both English and French the platforms of each uh of the parties of each of the parties. And so I encourage you to study

that. Get acquainted with the storm. Study that. Share it with your church, with your friends, with your family. Study it in the presence of Jesus. That's where you are. You're in the storm in the presence of Jesus. and he will guide you and you will know what to say, what to do, and how to vote when the time comes. And by the way, Peter's prayer was perfect. Jesus, Lord, save us. Save us. The end of the story um comes in verse uh 32, I believe it is. Then they climbed back into the boat. The wind stopped. and the disciples worshiped. I want to leave you with a picture in your mind today if I can. It's a picture of Jesus and the disciples in the boat. Now, the disciples are drenched. They're

still tacocardic. They're still hyperventilating. And Jesus is in the boat with them. And it doesn't even say that he said anything. I I kind of like to picture him reaching out his hand to the elements and immediately immediately. It was quiet. No waves, no wind. Quiet. But here's the part I love. The same time that he was reaching out his hand to the elements, he never let go with his arm of a shaking, shivering Peter. Here's what God wants you to know today. His hand is on Canada. He's got Canada. We have a part in that. But he's also at the same time he's got you. And his words to you are, "You are in a storm, but do not be afraid because I still am." I'm Marilyn Brooks from Elm

Fellowship Canada and the National House of Prayer. Bless you all. Bye. [Music]