FIGHTING FEAR WITH FAITH
Weathering the storms with God’s promises
By Denise George. Christian Focus. 220 pages. £7.99
ISBN 978 1 845 507 169
Denise George says we fear what we cannot control and that the opposite of fear is not courage, but faith.
She suggests we need to be like the elm tree, securely joined to the Lord with roots growing deep into God’s Word and standing strong on his promises.
The book is divided into sections and the chapters are short. The author distinguishes between healthy and unhealthy fear. The reader is encouraged to face his/her fears and conquer them with Christ’s example. Then testimonies are given of fears conquered by believers.
The book ends with sections of questions for personal reflection and group discussion and prayers for facing particular situations.
An easy read, the writing is firmly Bible-based and full of illustrative stories (some a bit harrowing). I think it could be helpful for a Christian with mild fears who just needs a bit of encouragement to walk more closely with God. The author is careful to say that anyone with debilitating fear should seek professional help.
The Bible is central to Denise’s antidote to fear; however her handling of Ezekiel 28 and the raising of Lazarus in John 11 (the latter being fanciful) is questionable. Some of the personal reflection suggestions were puzzling. For instance, how reading that people accused Jesus of being Beelzebub would help a woman conquer her fear of evil; or that knowing we are all destined to die and face judgment would give hope to someone fearing the process of dying. Better passages could have been chosen.
I think the group questions and the prayers are well presented.
Therefore, this book is commended, but with limitations.
Heather Tinker,
working with women in her church family in Hull and in counselling
