"When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. 'It's a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear" (Matthew 14:26).

Have you ever had some unexpected event happen in your life that caused great fear? Sudden calamities can result in great fear unless we know Who is behind the event. Such was the case for the disciples when they were out in their boat at night. All of a sudden, they see this figure walking on the water. Their first response was that it was a ghost. They feared for their very life. But, as the figure got closer and closer, they could see that it was Jesus. Their fear turned to joy because now they knew what they were confronting. This seemingly life-threatening event turned to one of the great miracles of the Bible. Peter was invited to walk on the water -- and he did just that.

Many times we have events in our lives that appear to be ghosts. For me, it was a period in my life when I lost my marriage, my finances, and 80% of my business all in a matter of a few months. These were the "ghosts" that instilled fear and great turmoil in my life. But, after approximately two years into this desert experience, God revealed His true purposes for these events. He turned them from being a place of fear, to a place of miracles. He led me to a totally new calling in my life, and He demonstrated to me that He was behind the storm that led to these new discoveries. The events were real. The emotions I went through were real. I had to hold fast to the reality that nothing can touch us without passing through God's sifter. He allows only that which is necessary to touch us. And if it does, it has a purpose. But we may not know it for a while.

Are there some "ghosts" in your midst? Look beyond the appearance and let God turn your ghosts into a miracle.