When I first became a Christian, the panic attacks continued. I couldn’t understand why. I prayed and begged and cried out to God for freedom. Yet, they continued. I kept asking God to take away the fear–to take away the bondage of panic. But, they continued.
Then one day, I was thinking about the people from the Old Testament and their situations. I learned something quite intriguing. God does not simply take away our problems–he gives us the strength to overcome them. We do not walk away from our problems–we walk through them. Let me explain:
A great flood poured down upon the earth. God did not save Noah from the flood. He saved Noah through the flood. He gave Noah the resources to survive.
Daniel’s friends would not bow down to the king, so they were thrown into the furnace. God did not save them from the fire. He saved them through the fire. In fact, one “like the son of God” walked through the fire with them.
As Moses and the children of Israel were fleeing the Egyptians, they encountered the Red Sea. It seemed as if they were trapped. God did not save them from the sea. He saved them through the sea.
When God steps in and provides a miraculous deliverance, he gets all the glory. No man can take credit for the deliverance. There have been many times that I have prayed for God to free me from panic disorder. Now, I understand that he walks with me through the panic disorder. Peace comes as the flood and fire of fear have no effect on me.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2).
When you walk with God, you can walk through any obstacle that comes into your path. Whether it be fear, panic, pain, confusion or danger, God will protect you when you walk side-by-side with him.
Prayer: Father, I know that you have the power to heal, and yet I also understand that sometimes you choose not to heal your children but to give them the sustaining grace to walk through their difficult circumstances. I pray that as I walk beside you, you will protect me from the fire and flood of fear.
