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kcsmith's review
5.0
I did not realize how much I needed this book until I started reading it. When my friend offered to buy it for me, I was appreciative of the offer and thought "why not? Can't hurt to read it". I knew I was a worrier. But I did not really see the depths of fear and worry in my life, and its implications on my relationship with the Lord, until God started peeling back the layers of my heart as I read. Below are some takeaways for me.
One thought on the length of the book. There are definitely sections that I skimmed through, especially the first couple of chapters when he describes kinds of fears.
Back to the content...
When I worry, I am thinking about the future and making predictions. Worry is a result of fear. I worry because I fear that I won't get what I feel like I need. That fear is driven by my knowledge that I am not in control of what I think I need. What I need is very valuable to me and controls me. What I worry about reveals what I am trusting in. So when I worry, I need to take a hard look at myself and what I am trusting in. I also need to face the fact that I am not in control but need to seek the God who is.
The antidote to fear and worry is not logical reminders that they are not rational, or likely things will be ok. Even biblical reminders to cast our cares on Him and do not worry are more rational level reminders with limited power to drive away fear and worry unless they are driven by relationship with God Himself. Those calls to cast our cares on Him, do not fear or worry are responses to our personal knowledge of our loving Father who loves us with a love beyond our understanding.
The Lord tests us to reveal what is in our hearts, to show us those idols that we find more valuable than God Himself (Deuteronomy 8:2, 3). But, as with the manna, God will give us what we need today and each day, but not necessarily for tomorrow. This is where we have to trust Him that He will give us the grace for future days. We know that, as His children, no matter what circumstances we will face, we will have the fruit of the Spirit available to us (joy ,peace, patience, love, etc.). And, even more importantly, we have His promise that He will always be with us.
The discussion of the "don't worry" passage in Matthew 6 was especially to cutting to my heart. Matthew 6:25 begins with "therefore", which means it is a follow up from what came right before it. The passage immediately before verse 25 is that command from Jesus to lay up treasures in heaven and that you cannot serve 2 masters. You will love one and hate the other. Jesus applied this to money and then immediately says, "therefore…do not be anxious about your life".
The lesson out of this is that we are anxious, or worry, because we are trying to serve 2 masters. We know we want to serve Jesus, but we are still holding onto other things we think we need (money, people, etc.). This causes anxiety because we know we don't have control over those things. So what does Jesus say is the solution? Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I need to confess my sin of trusting in other things rather than the Lord and turn wholly to Him, trusting that He will give me all that I truly need and that man does not live by bread alone but by every word of from the mouth of the Lord. Our physical needs are important to God, but His spiritual presence in our lives is more important.
Bottom line for me is that my anxiousness shows me my sin of trusting in other things and my need for control. I need to confess that and diligently pursue a closer relationship with my Lord, who loves me. Through this relationship, I will be comforted as I cast all my cares on my Father.
One thought on the length of the book. There are definitely sections that I skimmed through, especially the first couple of chapters when he describes kinds of fears.
Back to the content...
When I worry, I am thinking about the future and making predictions. Worry is a result of fear. I worry because I fear that I won't get what I feel like I need. That fear is driven by my knowledge that I am not in control of what I think I need. What I need is very valuable to me and controls me. What I worry about reveals what I am trusting in. So when I worry, I need to take a hard look at myself and what I am trusting in. I also need to face the fact that I am not in control but need to seek the God who is.
The antidote to fear and worry is not logical reminders that they are not rational, or likely things will be ok. Even biblical reminders to cast our cares on Him and do not worry are more rational level reminders with limited power to drive away fear and worry unless they are driven by relationship with God Himself. Those calls to cast our cares on Him, do not fear or worry are responses to our personal knowledge of our loving Father who loves us with a love beyond our understanding.
The Lord tests us to reveal what is in our hearts, to show us those idols that we find more valuable than God Himself (Deuteronomy 8:2, 3). But, as with the manna, God will give us what we need today and each day, but not necessarily for tomorrow. This is where we have to trust Him that He will give us the grace for future days. We know that, as His children, no matter what circumstances we will face, we will have the fruit of the Spirit available to us (joy ,peace, patience, love, etc.). And, even more importantly, we have His promise that He will always be with us.
The discussion of the "don't worry" passage in Matthew 6 was especially to cutting to my heart. Matthew 6:25 begins with "therefore", which means it is a follow up from what came right before it. The passage immediately before verse 25 is that command from Jesus to lay up treasures in heaven and that you cannot serve 2 masters. You will love one and hate the other. Jesus applied this to money and then immediately says, "therefore…do not be anxious about your life".
The lesson out of this is that we are anxious, or worry, because we are trying to serve 2 masters. We know we want to serve Jesus, but we are still holding onto other things we think we need (money, people, etc.). This causes anxiety because we know we don't have control over those things. So what does Jesus say is the solution? Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I need to confess my sin of trusting in other things rather than the Lord and turn wholly to Him, trusting that He will give me all that I truly need and that man does not live by bread alone but by every word of from the mouth of the Lord. Our physical needs are important to God, but His spiritual presence in our lives is more important.
Bottom line for me is that my anxiousness shows me my sin of trusting in other things and my need for control. I need to confess that and diligently pursue a closer relationship with my Lord, who loves me. Through this relationship, I will be comforted as I cast all my cares on my Father.
frances_chan's review
5.0
Absolutely fantastic; a must-read for every Christian (because everyone struggles with anxiety at some point). A gospel-centred look at battling the roots of fear.
tim_michiemo's review against another edition
4.0
4.0 Stars
Edward Welch's "Running Scared" is a devotion-style book directed towards addressing a Christian's struggle with fear and anxiety. Welch's book is divided into 30 short sections that deal with a specific aspect of fear, worry, or anxiety and then highlights the peace and rest that we find in God.
The strength of this book is its content. Welch is an experience Biblical counselor, and he quickly gets to the root of our fears and anxieties, lack of faith in God. As an expert psychologist, Welch shows the reader what is driving our fears and how God in Christ gives us hope amid these fears. The briefness of each chapter makes this book extremely readable - you can quickly read one chapter a day with your devotions and complete this book in a month.
The weakness of this book is Welch's writing style and its structure. There are some great Biblical principles that I gleaned from this book (i.e., Manna Principle, Kingdom Allegiances) that I will use in my battle against fear, but I felt that the book could have been structured much better. The 30 short devotions make the book easy to read but make its theological content less organized and harder to grasp at a main idea from the book. As well, I am not a particular fan of Welch's writing style which is more conversational than pedagogical and methodical.
But in sum, this is a great book for worriers, neurotics, scaredy-cats, nervous-wrecks, and obsessive personalities - which is pretty much all of us. Part of the fall is that we just doubt God, which brings anxiety and fear into our lives. Welch's book is a fresh breath of air reminding us of our merciful, good, and gracious God that carries our burdens and guards us with his peace. If you are struggling with anxiety and looking for a devotional book to read, pick this up.
Edward Welch's "Running Scared" is a devotion-style book directed towards addressing a Christian's struggle with fear and anxiety. Welch's book is divided into 30 short sections that deal with a specific aspect of fear, worry, or anxiety and then highlights the peace and rest that we find in God.
The strength of this book is its content. Welch is an experience Biblical counselor, and he quickly gets to the root of our fears and anxieties, lack of faith in God. As an expert psychologist, Welch shows the reader what is driving our fears and how God in Christ gives us hope amid these fears. The briefness of each chapter makes this book extremely readable - you can quickly read one chapter a day with your devotions and complete this book in a month.
The weakness of this book is Welch's writing style and its structure. There are some great Biblical principles that I gleaned from this book (i.e., Manna Principle, Kingdom Allegiances) that I will use in my battle against fear, but I felt that the book could have been structured much better. The 30 short devotions make the book easy to read but make its theological content less organized and harder to grasp at a main idea from the book. As well, I am not a particular fan of Welch's writing style which is more conversational than pedagogical and methodical.
But in sum, this is a great book for worriers, neurotics, scaredy-cats, nervous-wrecks, and obsessive personalities - which is pretty much all of us. Part of the fall is that we just doubt God, which brings anxiety and fear into our lives. Welch's book is a fresh breath of air reminding us of our merciful, good, and gracious God that carries our burdens and guards us with his peace. If you are struggling with anxiety and looking for a devotional book to read, pick this up.
sarah_wells's review
5.0
I wish I could somehow eat this book, absorb it into my bloodstream, and install it in my head forever and ever. The best reading on Christians and worry/anxiety that I've ever encountered. It's more than just superficial "memorize Scripture" platitudes... it gets to the root of the problem.
grim_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This book was FABULOUS . If you have any anxiety or fears I highly recommend this book. I have many and I think this book opened my eyes alot.