Everyone has known fear. Particular fears vary, but at root they're all the same—fear of pain, suffering, death, loneliness. Ed Welch admits he's as afraid as the rest of us, but asserts that Scripture comforts us and provides guidance for those looking to be free of the numbing effects of fear and dread.
Looking at fear in childhood, the teen years, and adulthood, Welch examines the things we're afraid of, and the (usually bad) ways we deal with them. He identifies our preoccupations with horror films, serial killers, even the evening news as subconscious expressions of dread. He also reveals the theological nature of fear and its damaging effects.
But he doesn't end bleakly. Scripture is full of commands not to be afraid or worry, and tells us how to escape fear's mastery. Welch presents the Bible as a source of comfort, rather than an austere book cut off from the realities of human life. He discusses the many examples of individuals among God's people who struggled with fear and how they evaded its grasp.
Written in a warm conversational style divided into 30 short chapters, Running Scared is more than a handbook for avoiding fear—it's a guide to living in the perfect freedom Christ offers and not in the prison of worry we construct for ourselves when we focus on the world's evil and not on Christ. While fear can't be eradicated in this life, Welch will help you find rest in the God of mercy.
Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews
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