Category: . . . Fear & Anxiety
When I Am Afraid…in the Airport
I enjoy following along on social media as different pastors and church groups travel to various countries for ministry. Pictures, updates, videos—never have we had such colorful, immediate knowledge about the efforts of other believers. I especially like to look at the faces of the people...
Upheld in the Depths
Things are different at the lowest point on earth: swimming is floating, water brings death and salty mud becomes a cosmetic phenomenon. This is what it is like in the Dead Sea basin at about 1,400 feet below sea level. It looks beautiful, but it is—as...
The Sufficiency of Daily Grace
Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)Most of my trouble is tomorrow. I don’t have enough money tomorrow. I have to have a tough conversation tomorrow. I’ve got too much...
The Garage Method
A former professor of mine, now a successful author of Christian fiction, used to dismiss his anxieties by repeating this mantra: “Oh well. It doesn’t eternally matter.” For him six words conquered all ills. He slew his worries with a phrase, with a mere wag of...
Surviving Unbridled Wickedness
Not a single godly person could be found. At least, that’s how the psalmist felt. Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. (Ps 12:1) He used exaggerated language to make a point: rampant,...
What Cockroaches Taught Me About Trust
We found them everywhere. Cockroaches, that is. Cowering in kitchen cabinets, scurrying down the hall, climbing up bedroom walls, and searching through our freshly packed boxes. Gross—I don’t even like looking at a picture of one! My wife and I had just gathered up our belongings...
At Your Wits’ End
At one point in Pilgrims Progress, Christian and Hopeful seemed to have reached the bitter end. Giant Despair had thrown them into the dark dungeon of Doubting Castle. The two travelers had gotten off the true Way for a while and had been captured by the...
Anxiety: Its Cause and Its Cure
Anxiety is the natural human response to trouble. For some people anxious thoughts are short-lived and mild, even during severe difficulty. But for others, anxiety leads to sleeplessness, depression, and even physical illness. Jesus was frank in calling anxiety sin. While telling His followers not to...