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Original Song

Why Are You So Afraid

Why Are You So Afraid carries Jesus’ question into song — asked of His disciples in the storm on the Sea of Galilee. “Why are you so afraid?” It moves from the raging storm within to the peace of His presence in the boat.

Topic: Fear & FaithKey of G

Lyrics, scripture, and biblical reverie — Bill Perkins’ own lyrics.

If You’re with me in the waters,

then I’m safe within Your hold—

for no storm can break this vessel

when Your presence guards my soul.

But the storm within is raging,

and my boat’s about to tear—

The storm within is raging,

and I’m drowning in my fear—

Lord, don’t You see me?

Lord, don’t You care?

Then You ask me in the darkness:

‘Why are you afraid?’

Your voice cuts through the chaos

and calls my fear by name.

Then Your presence meets my chaos,

every fear begins to fold.

You hush what howls within me,

and You calm the storm I hold.

You speak and winds fall silent,

and the waves refuse to rise—

but my heart still shakes with fear,

’cause the storm inside is near.

If the wind obeys Your order,

and the waves obey Your word,

why does fear still rise within me,

when I know that You are near.

If You’re with me in the waters,

then I’m safe within Your hold—

for no storm can break this vessel

when Your presence guards my soul.

If You’re with me in the waters,

then I’m safe within Your hold—

for no storm can break this vessel

when Your presence guards my soul.

for no storm can break this vessel

when Your presence guards my soul.

for no storm can break this vessel

when Your presence guards my soul.

When Your presence guards my soul.

Listen to the song

Why Are You So Afraid

“Why are you so afraid?”Mark 4:40

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Lyrics: Bill PerkinsVocals & Music: AIbillperkins.com

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Chord charts — guitar, piano & Nashville numbers

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Chord Charts

Press play above and follow along — guitar, piano, or Nashville numbers for the whole band.

GuitarKey of G · 78–84 bpm · steady, mid-tempo pulse

GUITAR VERSION  (Key of G)
Tempo: 78–84 bpm
Feel: steady, mid-tempo, pulsing
Instrumentation: acoustic guitar, piano, strings

VERSE 1
G     D/F#     Em
If You're with me in the waters,
C        G/B        Am     D
then I'm safe within Your hold—
G        D/F#      Em
for no storm can break this vessel
C        G/B        Am     D
when Your presence guards my soul.

G        D/F#      Em
But the storm within is raging,
C        G/B        Am     D
and my boat's about to tear—

G        D/F#      Em
The storm within is raging,
C        G/B        Am     D
and I'm drowning in my fear—

PRE-CHORUS
Em       D        C
Lord, don't You see me?
Em       D        C
Lord, don't You care?
Am        G/B        C
Then You ask me in the darkness:
Am     G/B     D
"Why are you afraid?"

CHORUS
G        D/F#      Em
Your voice cuts through the chaos
C        G/B        Am     D
and calls my fear by name.

G        D/F#      Em
Then Your presence meets my chaos,
C        G/B        Am     D
every fear begins to fold.

G        D/F#      Em
You hush what howls within me,
C        G/B        Am     D
and You calm the storm I hold.

VERSE 2
G        D/F#      Em
You speak and winds fall silent,
C        G/B        Am     D
and the waves refuse to rise—

G        D/F#      Em
but my heart still shakes with fear,
C        G/B        Am     D
'cause the storm inside is near.

G        D/F#      Em
If the wind obeys Your order,
C        G/B        Am     D
and the waves obey Your word,

G        D/F#      Em
why does fear still rise within me,
C        G/B        Am     D
when I know that You are near.

FINAL CHORUS (double)
G        D/F#      Em
If You're with me in the waters,
C        G/B        Am     D
then I'm safe within Your hold—

G        D/F#      Em
for no storm can break this vessel
C        G/B        Am     D
when Your presence guards my soul.

REPEAT

TAG
G        D/F#      Em
for no storm can break this vessel
C        G/B        Am     D
when Your presence guards my soul.

ENDING
G        D/F#      Em
When Your presence guards my soul.
C        G/B        Am     G

PianoRight-hand triads over broken left-hand octaves

PIANO PERFORMANCE SHEET  (Key of G)
Style: steady, pulsing, cinematic
Approach: right-hand triads + broken left-hand octaves

VERSE 1
G     D/F#     Em
If You're with me in the waters,
C        G/B        Am     D
then I'm safe within Your hold—
G        D/F#      Em
for no storm can break this vessel
C        G/B        Am     D
when Your presence guards my soul.

G        D/F#      Em
But the storm within is raging,
C        G/B        Am     D
and my boat's about to tear—

G        D/F#      Em
The storm within is raging,
C        G/B        Am     D
and I'm drowning in my fear—

PRE-CHORUS
Em       D        C
Lord, don't You see me?
Em       D        C
Lord, don't You care?
Am        G/B        C
Then You ask me in the darkness:
Am     G/B     D
"Why are you afraid?"

CHORUS
G        D/F#      Em
Your voice cuts through the chaos
C        G/B        Am     D
and calls my fear by name.

G        D/F#      Em
Then Your presence meets my chaos,
C        G/B        Am     D
every fear begins to fold.

G        D/F#      Em
You hush what howls within me,
C        G/B        Am     D
and You calm the storm I hold.

VERSE 2
G        D/F#      Em
You speak and winds fall silent,
C        G/B        Am     D
and the waves refuse to rise—

G        D/F#      Em
but my heart still shakes with fear,
C        G/B        Am     D
'cause the storm inside is near.

G        D/F#      Em
If the wind obeys Your order,
C        G/B        Am     D
and the waves obey Your word,

G        D/F#      Em
why does fear still rise within me,
C        G/B        Am     D
when I know that You are near.

FINAL CHORUS (double)
G        D/F#      Em
If You're with me in the waters,
C        G/B        Am     D
then I'm safe within Your hold—

G        D/F#      Em
for no storm can break this vessel
C        G/B        Am     D
when Your presence guards my soul.

REPEAT

TAG
G        D/F#      Em
for no storm can break this vessel
C        G/B        Am     D
when Your presence guards my soul.

ENDING
G        D/F#      Em
When Your presence guards my soul.
C        G/B        Am     G

Nashville NumbersBand-ready chart for any key

NASHVILLE NUMBER CHART  (Key of G)
Style: steady, pulsing, cinematic
Band-ready version with lyrics paired.

VERSE 1
1     5/7     6m
If You're with me in the waters,
4     1/3     2m     5
then I'm safe within Your hold—
1     5/7     6m
for no storm can break this vessel
4     1/3     2m     5
when Your presence guards my soul.

1     5/7     6m
But the storm within is raging,
4     1/3     2m     5
and my boat's about to tear—

1     5/7     6m
The storm within is raging,
4     1/3     2m     5
and I'm drowning in my fear—

PRE-CHORUS
6m     5     4
Lord, don't You see me?
6m     5     4
Lord, don't You care?
2m     1/3     4
Then You ask me in the darkness:
2m     1/3     5
"Why are you afraid?"

CHORUS
1     5/7     6m
Your voice cuts through the chaos
4     1/3     2m     5
and calls my fear by name.

1     5/7     6m
Then Your presence meets my chaos,
4     1/3     2m     5
every fear begins to fold.

1     5/7     6m
You hush what howls within me,
4     1/3     2m     5
and You calm the storm I hold.

VERSE 2
1     5/7     6m
You speak and winds fall silent,
4     1/3     2m     5
and the waves refuse to rise—

1     5/7     6m
but my heart still shakes with fear,
4     1/3     2m     5
'cause the storm inside is near.

1     5/7     6m
If the wind obeys Your order,
4     1/3     2m     5
and the waves obey Your word,

1     5/7     6m
why does fear still rise within me,
4     1/3     2m     5
when I know that You are near.

FINAL CHORUS (double)
1     5/7     6m
If You're with me in the waters,
4     1/3     2m     5
then I'm safe within Your hold—

1     5/7     6m
for no storm can break this vessel
4     1/3     2m     5
when Your presence guards my soul.

REPEAT

TAG
1     5/7     6m
for no storm can break this vessel
4     1/3     2m     5
when Your presence guards my soul.

ENDING
1     5/7     6m
When Your presence guards my soul.
4     1/3     2m     1