Anxiety, it has been said, is ubiquitous. We all experience it and in its many manifestations. On a purely psychological level, one can never get to the heart or source of this feeling and its accompanying isolation. Often we find ourselves desperate to free ourselves from its grip. Therefore, we either immerse ourselves in the things of this world and maintain the illusion of security or we become paralyzed by it completely. 
The desert fathers including St. John Climacus, however, remind us that through the incarnation everything about what it is to be a human being has been assumed and embraced by our Lord, including this experience that often plagues our existence. Christ is the source of all healing and in and through our immersion in His life through the sacraments and prayer we begin to enter into the peace of the kingdom. We are commanded in the Scriptures not to have any anxiety at all. However, this is not simply a command but a promise of grace and strength. If we hold on to our faith in the Lord, if we truly hope in his promises, then all anxiety and fear will flee.  To call upon the name of Jesus is to flog our enemies; meaning not only the temptations that come to us from the demons, but the fears that they would insert into our minds and hearts. 
To mourn over one’s sin, to acknowledge the brevity of our life, is the set aside all illusion and false security. It leads us to cling to Christ who is life and love. So often we too like the disciples are foolish and slow of heart to believe. Yet in Christ even the most improbable of things becomes possible - that in the soul dedicated to God fear and cowardice disappears.
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Text of chat during the group:
00:08:02 FrDavid Abernethy: page 163 Step 21
 
00:19:55 LauraLeigh: In #2, is he saying that this "old soul" should know better than to give in to cowardice?
 
00:23:10 Eric Ewanco: Fear is a lack of trust in God
 
00:23:13 Louise: Fear arises when we read a situation as a threat, while boldness arises when we read a situation as a challenge. With Christ, maybe we should see  all situations as challenges which we can face with Him.
 
00:24:09 Cindy Moran: Pray for me I lost my wallet today Yes I am anxious.
 
00:25:22 Rebecca Thérèse: I'll pray for you Cindy
 
00:25:26 LauraLeigh: Reacted to "I'll pray for you Ci..." with ?
 
00:25:36 LauraLeigh: Reacted to "Pray for me I lost m..." with ?
 
00:28:37 Louise: Why are even Catholics so afraid of dying? I do not understand.
 
00:29:42 Cindy Moran: Reacted to "I'll pray for you Ci..." with ?
 
00:31:31 David Swiderski: It is interesting I lived and traveled in very insecure areas with lots of kidnappings, random shootings/killings, widespread stealing where your car often is going in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and I found people of amazing faith. Here were there is comfort and more lonleiness anxiety seems widespread.
 
00:35:45 wayne: Replying to "Pray for me I lost m..."
 
pray to St Anthony always helps, has worked for me
 
00:43:55 TFredman: Reacted to "I'll pray for you Ci..." with ?
 
00:45:36 maureencunningham: How did Moses come to Christ
 
00:49:28 Michael Abele: I am not afraid for my own safety, but sometimes I fear for the
people I care for and protect
 
00:51:23 LauraLeigh: I love that. "Flog your enemies with the Name of Jesus." I'm going to remember that.
 
00:53:08 Lori Hatala: I think God gave me enough sense not to purposely put myself in a harmful situation. ot avoiding all but knowing what to stay away from.
 
00:54:40 Eric Ewanco: ChatGPT summarizes his conversion thusly: Saint Moses the Black, once a violent bandit, sought refuge among desert monks in Egypt. Impressed by their peace and patience, he converted to Christianity, became a monk, and later an abbot, renowned for his deep spirituality and wisdom. He was martyred defending his monastery.
 
00:55:12 LauraLeigh: Reacted to "ChatGPT summarizes h..." with ❤️
 
00:55:37 LauraLeigh: Replying to "ChatGPT summarizes h..."
 
I believe I read that he