I struggled greatly with fear and unbelief in preaching. God has used so many means to deal with this sin as it relates to preaching. One story that was particularly helpful was a story of how Corrie ten Boom’s father helped her trust God in fearful situations (as told in Overcoming Fear, Worry and Anxiety by Elyse Fitzpatrick).
Father sat down on the edge of the narrow bed. “Corrie,” he began gently, “when you go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?”
I sniffed a few times, considering this.
“Why, just before we get on the train.”
Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we’re going to need things, too. Don’t run ahead of Him, Corrie.”
God used that story to help me see the foolishness of worry leading up to the preaching event afraid that somehow God will desert me in the pulpit. Now, almost every Sunday during worship, I look at the pulpit and thank God that, not now, but when I stand in the pulpit, He will anoint me to preach His word. He has been so faithful to do this.
via Sovereign Grace Ministries Blog – C.J. Mahaney’s View from the Cheap Seats & Other Stuff.