What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms

by Angie Smith

A woman's faith in God is challenged by the first question Satan asks Eve in the Bible: "Did God really say you can’t eat from any tree in the garden?" That seed of doubt and the story it begins to unfold breed a concept of fear still haunting each of us on some level every day-the idea that our actions could ruin something beautiful, and God might not have control of things. 

In What Women Fear, acclaimed writer and speaker Angie Smith admits, "fear is a major part of my testimony" and talks openly about her treatment for anxiety as a child. Giving a voice to the problem, she says, "I truly believe every single one of us struggles with some type of fear, whether it's fear of flying or fear of being 'found out.' Maybe you don’t worry about dying, but you get sick thinking about the fact that you might fail." 

Rather than suggesting that those who truly love the Lord would never fear, Angie blends her own experiences with those of men and women from throughout Scripture to help us start dealing more effectively with these true, human emotions. Whether it’s a constant "What if?," a nagging fear of abandonment or betrayal, fear of your own or someone else’s death, fear of trusting God's plan, or even the fear that God's existence is a lie, Angie will walk you through stories of others who have simultaneously loved God and struggled with fear. Join Angie and discover how to let Jesus redeem this struggle as only He can, that He will be glorified, and you will be transformed!

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Spirituality, Religion

209 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

This is Angie^^Smith, where ^=space.

About the Author
Smith is an author, blogger, wife (of Todd Smith, lead singer of the hit Christian contemporary group Selah) and speaker. Many people have connected with her through her transparent, warm, witty writing about the life experiences Smith writes about. Her training is in psychology (a Master’s degree from Vanderbilt University in Developmental Psychology), and her blog gives her the opportunity to combine her two greatest passions: helping to heal people’s hearts and writing. Her recent books include "What Women Fear: Walking in Faith That Transforms" (2011) and "I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy" (2010).

Reviews

[Jonathan McPeters · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Written by Michelle)

I generally shy away from books written specifically for women by women. However, I purchased this book at a recent WOF Conference after sitting through several sessions with Angie Smith. This proved to be an amazing read that I would recommend to any lady who is struggling in the area of fear.

I have read a few books on the subject of fear. Each proved to be helpful in the generalization of this area and how to conquer its hold in our lives. I greatly appreciated Angie's more direct approach, as she chose to tackle ten very specific fears. Each chapter focuses on a specific fear and a character study of a man or woman in the Bible who struggled with that specific fear.

She draws her readers to dig deeper in Scripture and take another look at these Biblical accounts through the (as we sometimes forget...) every "real" eyes of various Bible characters, who struggled then, just as we do now. She then encourages us to take a closer look at our own hearts and align it with the promises that we know are in Scripture.

As a fairly new author, I found her book surprisingly rich in content, well organized and engaging. Her own life story is also weaved throughout this book covering her life long struggle with crippling fear to facing one of her greatest fears, that of losing a child. Her insight and confidence in the Lord that she has gleaned from these struggles are very evident in her writing.

After purchasing this book just last week, I have already recommended this book to several women I know who, like me, do face various fears in life. You will walk away challenged to assess your faith in "your" God. You will also walk away with an awakened sense of gratitude and reliance on the God Who will never leave you or forsake you.

[Jen B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed. I cried. I breathed sighs of relief to not be the "only one" with one fear or another. I felt honored. I felt uplifted. I felt humbled, small, and victorious; all at once. Angie's writing is so personable, so real and raw, that it made me cling to every word, knowing they were coming from a woman that I could easily see as a confidant. Of course I had my favorite chapters, but they were tied to the chapters where I related the most, and some of them caught me off guard. This book allowed God to reveal things to me about myself that I needed to realize, but had no idea were lurking in the depths of my heart. It was a very freeing book for me. It is another I should probably come back to and re-read... maybe even annually.... for a while, at least. It was a book filled with grace and wisdom, which provided avenues for forgiveness and strength. I loved it.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was solidly ok. Smith relies a good bit on personal experience, as many authors writing for Christian women do, which I find irritating. She makes some really good points, and her last chapter on the fear of God is wonderful. If you've read her book I Will Carry You, some of this book will be repetitive.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I love about this book is that it is not a "here's how not to fear because fear is bad" kind of book. Each chapter is relatively short, yet so dense with significance that I found I could only process a chapter a day:

-- The Question that Started the Questions
-- Fear of the "What If..."
-- Fear of Rejection, Abandonment, and Betrayal
-- Fear of Being Found Out
-- Fear of Failure
-- Fear of Death
-- Fear of My Past Catching Up With Me
-- Fear of Not Being Significant
-- Fear of God's Plan for My Life
-- Fear the God Isn't Real
-- Fear of God

(Contrary to the title, these fears are not exclusive to women; men would benefit from reading this as well.)

Angie Smith is honest, relatable, and gently instructive as she parallels stories from her own life as well as life stories of both men and women from the Bible-- Jonah, Gideon, Peter, the bleeding woman, Mary Magdalene, Hagar-- to illustrate that while it is true that there are many instances in His Word where He tells us not to be afraid and not to be fearful, God does not disdain us for harboring fear. It's not like He tut-tuts each time I express anxiety or worry or uncertainty; if anything, the recurring pattern through each chapter was less about the fear itself (and its various manifestations) than it was about how God prevailed and over and through each fear.

Reading this book will not change your life overnight; it makes no promise to help you wake up without fear-- in fact, the author argues that that is not the point. It will, however, reshape how you consider the role of fear in your life, and hopefully Angie's encouragement and her own courage will help to point you back to God, fears and doubts hand in hand with joy and confidence.

[Lenore Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What Women Fear" from Angie Smith. This one hits home because I live in fear most of the time. The self doubting of myself. I do not know if this is just from my mental illness that I am always worried about what I do and how others perceive my actions. Or just my messed up, oh my goodness what am I going to do fears. But I do bet that most of us do just this at one time or the other. Angie Smith does hit the nail on the head for me here though. So many have said to just hand it over to God and all fears will go away. But I do like that Angie knows it is not just that easy. That there is work to be done on our part to let go of fears. And she is willing to give ideas of how to do it. Whether it’s a constant “What if?,” or a nagging fear of abandonment or betrayal, Angie will walk you through every step and reveal how these strongholds can be broken and you can truly be transformed.

[abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I genuinely don’t know where to start. I’ve been thinking and thinking about how I should write this review to convey how much this book meant to me. But gosh I still really don’t even know what to say!!

I started this book a little hesitant since, well… it’s my mom’s book. I was worried that I wouldn’t like it, so I decided before reading a single page that “if I don’t like it I don’t like it, and that’s okay! I am going to read this book with as little thought about who wrote it cause I want to make an accurate assessment of the book. Also, Angie NEVER even needs to know I ever read it!!”. And that’s what I did! Not perfectly of course, but I can honestly say I read this with the least amount of bias I could have:)

With all that said, I absolutely loved this book! Throughout reading it I felt seen, understood, and as though I wasn’t alone in my fears. As someone who has also struggled with fear throughout her life, this book was exactly what I didn’t know I needed! I also loved that this book felt like something that anyone could pick up and understand- though she tackles some big things, they are somehow written in a way that’s easy to understand.

However, I will say that if you’re looking for a book to solve all your fears (with all the love in the world!!) this is probably not the book for you!! As I closed this book I was aware that all my fears are still present.
I still have fear, but that fear looks different now. It’s no longer something I need to be paralyzed by, which is so freeing. The last chapter of this book gave such a good reminder of why fear is necessary and why it is beautiful!

Ok, I’m cringing myself out writing this so I’m gonna stop now. I absolutely loved this book and already want to read it again!!!

[Anne (In Search of Wonder) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was frankly a little surprised by the depth in this book. The author struggles with anxiety herself which makes the book very real also. I especially appreciated her obvious love for the Lord and His Word.

I think this book is a helpful Bible-based discussion of fear for the average woman, like me, who fights various types of fear, as well as the woman who struggles with full-fledged anxiety on a deeper level.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always important to remember that a Christian living book like this reflects the life, experiences, and faith of the writer. Sometimes that means intense relating and others it means a feeling of disconnect because their life is so different from mine. This was a mix for me. Some really good thoughts and encouragement, and some things I just let fall by the wayside because it didn't apply to/help me.

[Lisa Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book stars! I didn’t think I really had any issues with fear but know this is a good author so I participated in a group study. I found this book really ministered to me, whether or not I struggle with fear. There were some great chapters to share with hurting friends. I loved how each chapter used one or more Bible stories to demonstrate how God works in the midst of our fears. I highly recommend this book to all women. Read it from cover to cover!!

[Cheryl Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have actually read this book twice now. I recommend any of her books. All of them are so insightful

[Kymberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this author and I have loved everything I have read of hers.

[Erika Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has some scriptural flaws, but a good enough book. The author is very transparent.

[Tricia Culp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a very accessible, thoughtful, helpful take on the different fears we face and how to combat them/ease them with faith and a deeper understanding of God. Smith has struggled with crippling fears since childhood, and its clear that her take on things comes from personal struggle and weakness, so it never feels preachy or trite. She addresses 9 common fears, like fear of failure (and success), fear of loss, and doubt (fear the God isn't real). For anyone who is dealing with fear or wants to help people who do.

[Jackie Hewitt sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing

This book is was a book that blessed me in so many ways. There was humor that had me laughing out loud, transparency that I have never before encountered in a writer, and a whole lot of epiphanies that have changed some of my perspectives forever.
I will read this again and again- I believe there are so many more morsels to be unwrapped and savored.
May God bless Angie for sharing he story.

[MaryAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very readable and made lots of good points. But I thought she dealt too much in vague generalities and used a lot of "Christian-eeze" language to explain herself. She's only in her 30s and although she's been through a lot and has considerable wisdom for her age, her youth still shows. I debated between 3 or 4 stars -- I really would recommend it, but with some caveats.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first chapter was gripping and got me very excited. Even though the theology is different than my own I thought it would be a good jumping off point for study. I especially liked the chapter on Hagaar and Sarah. Unfortunately, the magic wore off. It seemed like the book turned into the author having every tragedy or malady under the sun and I just quit relating with her "Poor me's"

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book spoke to my heart on so many levels. I love how she shares personal experiences along with Biblical stories to illustrate her points. Learning to let go of fear is something we all struggle with at some point...and this book is a perfect tool to help you along the way.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

love Angie Smith. This was great for me to read. To break down our fears in to pieces.

[Demi Giz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had some ups and downs with this book. The author had some good points but she also brought in some juvenile examples which made me wonder if she was targeting women in this book instead of girls. It could have also been because I did the audio book and the narrator had too much of a childish voice to her. Would have been better if she narrated a children’s book. I might have to read this book again one day. I plan to give the author another chance but won’t be doing any more audiobooks by her with Pam as the narrator.

[Britt · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book had good insights and Bible verses, and I commend Angie Smith for sharing her fears, I had a very difficult time getting through this book, and may not have if not for the Bible class I was reading it for. I found her fears too extreme to be relatable, and some too extreme to be considered fears, but very extreme anxiety about the world. Yes, I fear something might happen to my husband or children, but in the same way that anyone fears losing a loved one, I don’t have an anxiety attack every time he gets into a car.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually like this book. I was very encouraged and felt that it was personal. I like how she engages the reader in ways that is comforting and assuring. After reading the book, I understand that my fears shouldn't define the way I perceive as a woman. But rather is something that brings me to greater trust and awe in God whom deserves our fear. I didnt see it in this way until now.

[Carrie Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVED this book and have since read it 3 more times and loaned it out a few times as well! I love Angie’s writing style - she’s humorous, sentimental, emotional and full of biblical truth in every chapter...as someone who has struggled with fear my entire life this book opened my eyes to the roots of my fears and how God tells us how to handle them.

[Jami Bay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angie Smith shares different fears that we as women experience in our lives using humor and examples from people we have learned about over the years from the Bible. So applicable and hits home. Covers a variety of fears such as: The What ifs, failure, not being significant, rejection, God’s plan for your life, and more. A great comfort!

[Morgan Brabender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! I loved Angie Smith’s authenticity and courage to share the depths of her fears. This book opened up a dialogue about many of the fears that I keep suppressed and hidden and in turn, provided encouragement and had me looking back to the Lord.

[Dr Ariel Rainey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This came highly recommended, and I did enjoy it. I'm not sure that I struggle with all these fears, but in every chapter there were good points that I highlighted. I felt like this was a true representation of the most common fears, for sure. It's good writing, and sound doctrine.

[Jennifer S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a lot of good morsels of wisdom in this book, and I was encouraged by how Angie's transparency and testimony were woven throughout.
3 (3.5) stars simply because I personally prefer her blogging and speaking communication to her books.

[Steph]

Absolutely amazing book. I highly recommend reading this along with a small group of ladies. Angie has a way with words. I love how she delves into stories from the Bible that I have heard my whole life. She puts things into perspective. Really makes you think.

[Denise Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how she talked about common fears of women throughout book and ended with fearing God. Relatable stories.she gave more insight to biblical stories I read, for example Hagar eyes were open sometimes anxiety clouds our vision, I liked how she got to the root of her fears

[Beth Lorow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smith writes with sincerity and humor and certainly dropped a few good nuggets of truth and wisdom. But I found her writing style too casual for my taste and her discussion of serious fear issues lacking depth.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve picked it up and put it down but always learned something from it. It’s easy to read and uses Scripture appropriately.