are probably dealing with unresolved sin for which there is a remedy. Share "Steps to Peace with God," page 11. Emphasize that:
1. God can cleanse our conscience: "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" (Hebrews 9:14, NIV).
2. God delivers from fears of future punishment: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:1–2, NIV). Share "Assurance," page 15. For the Christian:
If the inquirer is a Christian whose greatest fear is personal inadequacy— failing, or not measuring up—share the following:
1. God doesn't ask you to be successful, only to please Him! "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4).
2. Learn to accept yourself as you are, not making excessive personal demands. Paul said, "By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Corinthians 15:10). The Lord told Paul that "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
3. Don't compare yourself with others. Just be you: "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise" (2 Corinthians 10:12, NIV).
4. God has given you all you need to be confident: "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power [sufficiency] and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).
5. Learn to trust God implicitly for what you want to be and do: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5–6).
6. Make your fears a definite matter for prayer: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6–7, NIV).
If the inquirer is a Christian with a sense of uneasiness or anxiety about the