In the middle of that stormy sea, Jesus shouted, "Hush! Be quiet!" and the wind ceased and there was a great calm. After that night the disciples never again feared a storm on the Sea of Galilee if Jesus was with them. They knew He was sufficient.
Later the disciples learned that Jesus would not always make the storms go away. Sometimes He gave the disciples the grace and grit to sail through the storms. But increasingly they learned that Jesus Christ was always sufficient for their needs.
If I develop confidence that God is with me and is sufficient for my needs, I can laugh at tomorrow, because nothing can confront me that God and I cannot handle together. To believe that is to have the cure for excessive fear.
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One time a young skater was entered in her first competition. Just before she was to go on to the ice, she turned to her coach and said, "I can't do it. I'm too afraid." Her coach said, "No, you're nervous, not afraid. There's a big difference. For example, if a man goes into a restaurant and orders a $100 meal, he may be a bit nervous, but if has the $100 in his pocket, he knows he can handle it. Fear is ordering a $100 meal knowing you have no money." The skater got the coach's message. She concluded that she had the ability and training to perform well, so she went out and finished first in the competition.
Christians have a source far greater than $100 in the pocket or self-confidence. We have the unlimited God of the universe on our side. He has promised us, "I will never fail or forsake you.” “My grace will be sufficient for you." The more we believe in the sufficiency of God, the more immune we will be to excessive fear.
Now, I want to give you a practical strategy for repelling fear attacks:
1. Identify the fear and rebuke it in the name of Jesus. You see, Satan is part of our problem. He wants us to live in fear. But the Bible says that if we confront him in the name of Jesus, he will turn and run. (James 4:7) There is something immensely powerful about the name of Jesus.
2. Discuss your fear with a trusted Christian friend. A fear shared is a fear reduced.
3. If possible, take a walk and tell God about your fear. There is something therapeutic about exercising out of doors. When one combines that with prayer, the comforts are powerful and profound.
4. Read the 23rd Psalm prayerfully. Read each line of that great psalm and then whisper a prayer based on that line. For example, the first line is “The Lord is my shepherd.” Then you can whisper a prayer something like this — “Lord, I know that you are my shepherd right now, as if I were the only sheep in your flock.” This practice is especially effective when you have a panic attack in the middle of the night.