What does it mean when we are more afraid of what is outside of us than what is inside? Look at Mark 7. The terrifying catalog of evil that Jesus describes here comes from our own corrupt hearts. The magnitude of God’s love and power to save me is not realized until I see that the first thing He saves me from is myself: “Lord I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:23-25).
Our corrupt human nature is spiritually insomniac, incapable of honesty about dependence on God and so constantly restless and wresting out of us the peace that God’s Word and promises give. My heart is restless, deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. I am my own worst enemy.
The gift of the incarnation of the Son of God is the demonstration that God wills to be with us. God regenerates our souls in the image of Christ and animates them with His Own Spirit. His Word is living water that has the power to flood the flames of restlessness, fear, and anxiety as they continue to flare up. God has given us a new heart, so that we think like Jesus and care about what He cares about (Ezekiel 36:24-27; Philippians 1:27-2:13; Colossians 3:1-17). His Word drowns the noisy restlessness of our corrupt human natures as it regenerates, inspires, and animates our souls in the image of Christ, the One who slept during storms, walked on water, and loved us, i.e., gave Himself for us.