97 - Leo – “I am constantly tormented with fears about my health and even death.”
“I have this weird symptom in my heart, and I’ve had this ongoing tormenting fear that I’m going to get cancer and die, leaving behind my wife and two small children.”
97 - Leo – “I am constantly tormented with fears about my health and even death.” (10-04-2023)
God's Strange Work: How He Uses Our Weaknesses to Bring Us Strength
Fear. It can grip our hearts, steal our peace, and paralyze us from living fully in God's purpose. What starts as a normal concern, like in Leo’s recording, can quickly escalate into a daily torment, holding us captive in a prison of anxiety.
But what if I remind you that fear which controls us, is a sin? It falls short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and contradicts the very nature of faith. When fear is our master, we become slaves to it, just like any other addiction or stronghold.
God often allows us to experience these bondages, not to punish us, but to draw us closer to Him. He uses our weaknesses to reveal His strength and to teach us to rely on His grace. Just as the Israelites needed to be trapped in Egypt to know God as their deliverer, we often need to face fearful events to experience His power.
The Bible repeatedly tells us, "Do not fear." This command is not a suggestion, but a call to obedience. It's a reminder that fear is not from God, but from the enemy who seeks to distract us and keep us from living in His fullness.
So how do we fight this giant within? We cry out to God for deliverance, acknowledging our weakness and dependence on His grace. We fight against our fears with the promises in Word of God, just as Jesus did when tempted by Satan. We violently choose faith over the fears of our flesh, even when it's hard.
Remember, Christianity is a partnership. "It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Philippians 2:13). But we also have a part to play. We must "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12), actively seeking God's grace and putting our faith into action.
God's ways are often mysterious. He may even increase our fears to bring them to an end, using the very thing we want to be free from to set us free. Trust in His wisdom and His love. He will not leave you in bondage. He will use your struggle to draw you closer to Him and to make you stronger in your faith.
