Faith Heals Your Fear

Everybody has been in this situation: you or your loved one is diagnosed with a serious condition-cancer, stroke, heart disease. Fear creeps into your soul. You are afraid of death, of disability, of painful treatment, of being dependent on others, of lack of money. You know that this diagnosis has changed your life, and not for the better.

And now Jesus asks you not to fear, but to believe. How is that supposed to work? How can you face a difficult situation like a life-threatening sickness with confidence and hope? What is there not to fear? What is there to believe in?

Trust in Jesus, and the power of fear will diminish. The treatment will be just as painful. Money will be just as lacking. And death will come at its time. But faith is the best remedy against fear I know of.

I am oftentimes full of admiration for the old folks I visit in the hospital as their pastor. Many of my parishioners have lived a long life of prayer and worship and service to Christ. And it shows. Their lifelong practice of faith makes their fears shrivel away. They await whatever their future will bring in confidence and trust in Christ.

Jesus, strengthen my faith, my confidence and my trust in you. Help me overcome my fears. Amen. — KLB