Gottes Arznei gegen Ängste

Who wouldn't feel fear and dread reading today's Gospel? Jesus speaks of persecution and even torture at the hands of people. Yet in all suffering, he gives us courage. He does not leave us alone! He gives us the Holy Spirit, who has dwelled within us since baptism, as our helper, comforter, and teacher. He says: "It will not be you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you." (Matthew 10:20) Henry Wright speaks of 4,000 different types of fear that can torment and ill people! The root cause lies in our brain. It is the central control center called the hypothalamus. It keeps vital bodily functions in balance. However, under persistent anxiety and stressful situations, it sends false signals to the body and can thus trigger illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome, heart attacks, asthma, panic attacks, gastrointestinal problems, etc. To prevent this and stay healthy, the crucial question is: Whom do I believe? Jesus, who gives me courage, or the thoughts of fear? Of course, the feeling of fear is necessary to recognize dangers in time and to become creative. But persistent, cherished fears and stress can even lead to serious illnesses over time. The key is to recognize cherished fear as a sin against faith in God, to ask God for forgiveness, and to decisively renounce this evil spirit of fear. We gain the power of Jesus to overcome fear when we internalize one of the many Scriptures and thereby gain courage and confidence. I have summarized my personal experiences with this in the booklet "God's Remedy for Anxiety." Jesus, I give you all my fears! Take care of me!