Breaking Bondages: The Power and Influence of Being Christian Strong in the Midst of Fear, Anxiety, Panic, and Depression
Jerry and I are currently working on our lifetime legacy project called The Power and Influence of Christian Strong. There are exciting developments in ministry on the horizon, and more will be announced soon. Until then, we’ve been releasing some of Jerry’s sermons on our Christian Strong Teaching website and YouTube channel.
So much has been happening in our world lately, and the levels of fear and anxiety seem to be at an all-time high. That’s why we decided now was the right time to present Breaking Bondages—a six-part sermon series addressing many of the mental and emotional health challenges so many face today: depression, anxiety, panic disorder, fear, discouragement, and unforgiveness.
In this series, Jerry is very transparent, sharing the in-depth challenges that both he and I have faced through the years. If you ever wonder whether our world is truly broken, just consider these sobering numbers: over 21 million U.S. adults have had a major depressive episode in the past year; 6.8 million adults live with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 6 million with Panic Disorder, 15 million with Social Anxiety Disorder, and 19.3 million with Specific Phobias. In 2024, 16.8% of people aged 12 or older—about 48.4 million—had a past-year Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
My Story
At one time, I was included in one of those statistics. Jerry shares my story in more detail in message 2, God’s Help for Addictions. I lived with a debilitating anxiety disorder that seemed to come out of nowhere and had a paralyzing effect on my life.
I understand the hard-fought battle of breaking bondages. I was thirty-six years old, happily married, with three children—two in high school and one in elementary school—when I woke up to a reality I never expected. For four long years, I battled relentless panic attacks that struck day and night, sometimes as many as twenty-five a day. They weren’t occasional—they consumed me continually. The symptoms included chest pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, and overwhelming feelings of depression and uncertainty.
There came a time when the weight of fear and some undetected trauma overtook me so completely that I became catatonic. I could no longer express myself or care for my own needs. It was one of the darkest valleys of my life, yet even there, God was near—holding me when I could not hold myself together.
I was medicated, yet still an insomniac. I prayed. I read my Bible. I listened to worship music. And still, the panic raged. Jerry was wrapping up his itinerant preaching ministry, and we were in the pre-launch days of a new church plant. Some of those lonely and uncertain nights during Jerry’s absence were difficult, to say the least.
In desperation, in the middle of the night, I called my father-in-law to come over. Then I slipped into my oldest daughter’s bedroom, waking her as I crawled into bed beside her. She held me tight while I wept. The reversal of our roles as mother and daughter still brings me sorrow—thinking I should have been strong for her, yet it was her comforting presence that gave me the will to hold on. Episodes like that became the norm. Relief was promised but didn’t come as quickly as I had hoped.
At one point, my mother flew into town to take care of me and the children. I became agoraphobic and isolated, unable to face the world outside. All of this was happening while Jerry and I were planting a church, raising three children, and trying to maintain a household. I know what it feels like to walk through panic, depression, and fear—not in theory, but in the most personal, painful way.
Bondages
I know—the world feels heavy right now. So many headlines and social media posts seem to bring another reason to be anxious and uncertain: wars erupting, natural disasters multiplying, economies wavering, persecution rising, and cultural tensions deepening. But sometimes the triggers aren’t distant; they’re right in our own hearts and homes, creating a recipe for bondage in our lives.
Is it possible that you’re facing any of the following?
• A difficult season in marriage that leaves you feeling unloved, uncertain, or ready to give up.
• A health diagnosis that changes everything overnight.
• A child you’re estranged from, or one who’s walked away from faith.
• A relationship torn apart by betrayal.
• The quiet fear of not being able to pay next month’s bills or secure a stable future.
And for younger people, fear often comes through different doorways—pressure to fit in, anxiety about the future, fear of rejection or being canceled, or the silent weight of mental health struggles. Whether you’re a parent lying awake at night or a teenager scrolling through social media, the battle is the same. How do we break free from the bondages that hold us captive?
Fear, Shame, and Unforgiveness Are Bondages
Scripture describes fear as something that enslaves (Romans 8:15). Unforgiveness, too, is a prison cell. Jesus taught plainly:
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” — Matthew 6:14
Fear cripples decision-making. Panic attacks paralyze us with dread. Shame convinces us we are defined by our failures. Unforgiveness poisons our souls. Depression whispers that life will never change.
But the Christian Strong life declares: Christ’s truth is greater than my trauma, His forgiveness deeper than my wounds, and His power stronger than my fears.
Breaking Free
My personal Bible reading recently brought me to the Gospels, and I found myself drawn to Jesus’ words and miracles. In Luke 13:10–16, we see a short but powerful account: Jesus healed a woman who had been suffering for eighteen years. She had all but resigned herself to a life of bondage. Jesus told the hypocritical Pharisees that “she has been held in bondage by Satan” all those years—and then He called her “a daughter of Abraham.”
Those two details are deeply meaningful.
First, Jesus shows us that bondage comes from the enemy, Satan. Many people live trapped in his paralyzing prison for years. The Bible records countless moments where people suffered under bondage for a lifetime before Christ’s healing power broke through. Jesus never left anyone in bondage. He always responded to those who asked with faith: “Lord, if You are willing…”
Second, when Jesus calls her “a daughter of Abraham,” He reminds us that we belong to Him—we are rightful heirs of His promises for complete healing and freedom. He was honoring her, restoring her dignity, and affirming her worth. Though she had been suffering for years, she still belonged to God’s covenant family. Jesus showed that God valued her, wanted her healed, and desired to restore her to the abundant life she was created to live.
Could it be that you are the daughter—or son—in this story? Has something held you captive for years, keeping you from living abundantly?
Jerry and I have spent our lives in ministry helping God’s people understand His truth and experience freedom. The Power and Influence of Being Christian Strong is essential for every believer. Being “Christian Strong” doesn’t mean life is free of fear, trauma, or depression. It means learning to trust and stand firm in Christ even when anxiety, fear, or uncertainty threaten to undo you.
That’s why we’re releasing the Breaking Bondages series—so you can hear God’s truth, apply it to your life, and experience His power to release you from the enemy’s clutches. Remember the words of the Apostle Paul and take heart:
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.” — 2 Corinthians 4:8
Practical Steps Toward Breaking Bondages
• Name the fear or panic. Christian Strong begins with honesty—admitting the battle you face.
• Expose shame. Replace lies with truth: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1
• Forgive those who hurt you. Release them into God’s hands and walk in freedom.
• Acknowledge past wounds. Healing begins by bringing hidden trauma into God’s light.
• Fill your mind with God’s promises. Christian Strong faith is fed by Scripture, not fear.
• Stay connected. Being Christian Strong means we don’t fight battles alone.
• Seek help if needed. God often uses counselors, medicine, and community as instruments of His healing.
Remember Christ’s Freedom Through Forgiveness
The good news is that Christ not only sets us free from fear and shame—He gives us the power to forgive, which becomes a healing agent in our lives. The power and influence lie within the heart of the forgiver.
• Forgiveness heals by releasing us from bitterness.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32
• Forgiveness heals by imitating Christ.
On the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” — Luke 23:34
• Forgiveness heals by opening the door to peace.
When we release someone who wronged us into God’s hands, the power of that wound begins to lose its grip.
Forgiveness doesn’t erase the past—but it unlocks healing in the present. For me, forgiveness was a vital part of learning to live Christian Strong because it broke the chains that fear and trauma had tightened around my life.
A Final Word
I know what it’s like to live chained by fear, panic, trauma, shame, and unforgiveness. But I also know the freedom that comes when Christ meets us in our weakness. The bondages that once held me captive were broken—not by my own strength, but by the Spirit of God within me.
Forgiveness became one of the greatest healing agents in my journey. Panic, shame, and despair lost their grip as Christ taught me how to forgive and walk free.
This is the heart of The Power and Influence of Being Christian Strong: that no matter the weight of anxiety, fear, or depression, believers can stand strong in Christ’s power—anchored in His Word and shining as witnesses of His love.
