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From Fear to Freedom: Living as Sons and Daughters of God
For all those who live in fear of never quite "measuring up," this honest account of one woman's spiritual crisis provides a new look at the transforming power of God's grace in the midst of weakness. Readers will be encouraged to relinquish the role of spiritual "orphan" and embrace a forgiving heavenly Father.
176 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2000
43 people are currently reading
317 people want to read
About the author
Rose Marie Miller
6 books9 followersRose Marie Miller, Bible teacher; conference speaker; missionary with World Harvest Mission; and author of From Fear to Freedom: Living as Sons and Daughters of God. Rose Marie and her late husband C. John (Jack) Miller worked together to plant the New Life Presbyterian Churches and begin World Harvest Mission. She has five children, twenty-four grandchildren, and twenty great-grandchildren and divides her time between London, England and Jenkintown, PA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
April 30, 2017
I especially recommend this to all the mamas who read my book and deeply related to the painful side of motherhood.
I keep reminding myself that 'Mothers are born persons, too.' This book fleshes out what that means for the Christian woman. We are not orphans; we are daughters of the King. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Take heart and read this book.
I keep reminding myself that 'Mothers are born persons, too.' This book fleshes out what that means for the Christian woman. We are not orphans; we are daughters of the King. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Take heart and read this book.
February 16, 2008
Like sitting down with a woman in an older stage of life, who instead of telling you what to "do" - tells you about all the mistakes she made, how she missed God, the gospel, and how it changed her.
September 16, 2019
This is one of those rare books I have re-read multiple times. I keep coming back to it every few years. I relate deeply with Rose-Marie and need the gospel message she shares of grace and daughter-ship to renew my mind and permeate my heart. It’s a small but mighty treasure!
January 27, 2010
From Fear to Freedom is an account of one woman's realization over many years of how she was living in a way that contradicted what she thought she believed about God and the world. I had a hard time connecting to this book in some ways, but I think it may be a good thing. The message that was so life changing for Rose Marie, her paradigm shift from an orphan to a daughter mentality, is one that I have been taught well for many years, due in part to her family's influence.
I'd recommend this book to someone coming out of a more legalistic tradition, or that struggles to believe that they are loved by God.
I'd recommend this book to someone coming out of a more legalistic tradition, or that struggles to believe that they are loved by God.
December 15, 2020
Great book on true meaning of grace, forgiveness based on what Jesus did for us. True freedom from guilt, victim mentality.
December 13, 2022
A real encouragement and help to see a Christian woman being renewed in the inner man and learning life in Christ day by day.
“And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:18
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Galatians 2:20
Through this book and others by her husband, C. John Miller, God has brought these scriptures alive for me. The most significant change that God is currently working in me is taking Jesus Christ’s righteous record as my own. This is how to have a good conscience before God. Sins that are dying due to this understanding are anger and fear of man. These are some mighty sins in my life, so I am thankful to be in the fight. I feel I am at last taking Christ’s yoke upon me and learning from Him. It is a rest that includes working with Him. Praise the Lord for life in Him!
“And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:18
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Galatians 2:20
Through this book and others by her husband, C. John Miller, God has brought these scriptures alive for me. The most significant change that God is currently working in me is taking Jesus Christ’s righteous record as my own. This is how to have a good conscience before God. Sins that are dying due to this understanding are anger and fear of man. These are some mighty sins in my life, so I am thankful to be in the fight. I feel I am at last taking Christ’s yoke upon me and learning from Him. It is a rest that includes working with Him. Praise the Lord for life in Him!
February 2, 2010
I understand Miller's ultimate goal and I appreciate her honesty in revealing her move from fear to freedom. This account, however, seems to me like she's not really that free. The book is like a sermon on discouragement where instead of actually encouraging, it ends up just yelling at you for being discouraged in the first place.
Yes, I understand that I'm not an orphan. But you don't tell your kid that he's yours by scolding him for not submitting to your love. That's a little twisted.
Miller still falls into the false dichotomy of fear of man vs. fear of God. That's not what the Christian life is. It's not a new kind of fear that we need. It's love. Perfect love casts out fear.
Yes, I understand that I'm not an orphan. But you don't tell your kid that he's yours by scolding him for not submitting to your love. That's a little twisted.
Miller still falls into the false dichotomy of fear of man vs. fear of God. That's not what the Christian life is. It's not a new kind of fear that we need. It's love. Perfect love casts out fear.
March 20, 2021
I just re-read this book and am so glad. I continue to struggle with living like I am an orphan instead of living as the child of God that I am. This book reminded me of those truths.
March 31, 2020
I have mixed feelings about this one. There were themes that I really liked, such as the view that God sees us as sons and daughters. This should cause us to know we're loved and reduce the performance-based relationship to God and others. Miller emphasizes God's love, grace, and the strength God offers to help us grow.
On the other hand, the book seems like a product of its time and didn't age well in my opinion. The experiences Miller lumps together in the category of sins or attitudes that lead to sin range from actual bad attitudes, to normal human emotions, to the processing of her own childhood trauma (her mother had a psychotic break). These seemed to be dealt with on par with each other as areas where she needed to turn away from old ways and turn to God's ways (a generalization but not far from how these are all dealt with). Some of the emotions involved anger at being called up to a stage to give a talk without any forewarning or preparation. Her husband then later addressed her anger as a lack of faith. Maybe you had to be there, but I think that level of inconsideration calls for anger and has little to nothing to do with her faith in God.
Anyway, there were good parts, but I'd say some parts need to be taken with a grain of salt.
On the other hand, the book seems like a product of its time and didn't age well in my opinion. The experiences Miller lumps together in the category of sins or attitudes that lead to sin range from actual bad attitudes, to normal human emotions, to the processing of her own childhood trauma (her mother had a psychotic break). These seemed to be dealt with on par with each other as areas where she needed to turn away from old ways and turn to God's ways (a generalization but not far from how these are all dealt with). Some of the emotions involved anger at being called up to a stage to give a talk without any forewarning or preparation. Her husband then later addressed her anger as a lack of faith. Maybe you had to be there, but I think that level of inconsideration calls for anger and has little to nothing to do with her faith in God.
Anyway, there were good parts, but I'd say some parts need to be taken with a grain of salt.
February 16, 2018
If you grew up with legalistic tendencies, and are a Christian who sometimes feels disconnected or "past" the gospel, this book is for you. If you have been a Christian for years and you're wondering why your relationship with God feels shallow and your prayers lack power-- this book is for you.
Rose Marie Miler's story of grace was life-changing for me: for the first time I understood how much I *always* need God's grace, how I have resisted my need for it, and how-- in that resistance-- I have rejected the fullness of the relationship God offers His sons and daughters. I resonated with the author's initial misunderstanding of grace and her self-righteous attitude (and blindness to it). I found so much hope, however, in learning the story of how God matured her faith and taught her about grace. I basically underlined half of the book. I have never heard the message of grace from this perspective before, in any more modern, popular, or classic book.
The book isn't classic literature, so don't expect to be amazed by the book's structure or the author's skill and prowess. That's not the point. But the message conveyed is well worth the 3-4 hours it may take to read.
Rose Marie Miler's story of grace was life-changing for me: for the first time I understood how much I *always* need God's grace, how I have resisted my need for it, and how-- in that resistance-- I have rejected the fullness of the relationship God offers His sons and daughters. I resonated with the author's initial misunderstanding of grace and her self-righteous attitude (and blindness to it). I found so much hope, however, in learning the story of how God matured her faith and taught her about grace. I basically underlined half of the book. I have never heard the message of grace from this perspective before, in any more modern, popular, or classic book.
The book isn't classic literature, so don't expect to be amazed by the book's structure or the author's skill and prowess. That's not the point. But the message conveyed is well worth the 3-4 hours it may take to read.
September 29, 2017
We should never stop sharing about God's grace working in the life of a believer. That's what Miller does in this book - she forsakes her vulnerability and shares the deep, selfish workings in her heart that kept her from truly understanding and living with freedom in God's love. She tells the story of how God worked in her life to bring her to her knees and finally accept His grace. Miller's story is our story - we all, like Job, must be brought to a place of humility so that we can let go of our self-centered ideas about God, and our self-righteous attempts at earning His merit, and finally begin to build our lives on what Jesus did on the cross. It's not a one time thing; it's an ongoing journey. It's all such a beautiful paradox - we fight for control to be free from others, when what we really need is freedom from ourselves. Freedom can only come when we let go of ourselves and allow God to carry us along.
January 8, 2024
Cannot rate this book highly enough for its transparent look at author Rose Marie Miller's journey, and its usefulness in taking us as her reader by the hand along with her. Miller began as many (most) of us do—controlling, fearful, guilt-ridden, legalistic, competitive and bitter. And she shares how God tore all of that down and brought her to understand the gospel.
I read this at a time when I was in much the same place in my life, and her testimony was transformative in my own walk with Christ. One of my favorite metaphors that will always stick with me is the pit/pedestal imagery she shares partway through the book. What a great, tangible way to explain that when we are not secure in Christ, we will look at EVERYone around us as either below (pit) or above us (pedestal). We are robbed of the freedom of truly being able to love them.
~Jen
I read this at a time when I was in much the same place in my life, and her testimony was transformative in my own walk with Christ. One of my favorite metaphors that will always stick with me is the pit/pedestal imagery she shares partway through the book. What a great, tangible way to explain that when we are not secure in Christ, we will look at EVERYone around us as either below (pit) or above us (pedestal). We are robbed of the freedom of truly being able to love them.
~Jen
April 1, 2025
A recommendation from my pastor. Absolutely the book I needed in more ways than one. The main topics are living as a son/daughter of God instead of as an orphan, and accepting fully God's grace and forgiveness. The part of Miller's story that dealt with generational sins and how they can be inherited (even in different ways) was particularly helpful, as were her very human comments about grief, forgiveness, control, and appearances.
February 10, 2024
Really enjoyed. Read like a novel at times as she shares personal stories throughout. The orphan way is so natural to us we don’t often recognize that we’re living that way. There is another way. “The orphan will take a difficult, hopeless path; the daughter will walk the way of grace, freedom, and hope.” Convicting, comforting, encouraging.
June 12, 2025
what an excellent book for any Christian but ESPECIALLY for wives/mothers who want to love and serve God well. Miller really gets at the heart attitude behind a victim/orphan mentality vs living as sons/daughters ❤️ Convicting and Impactful and really a very interesting read (think more like a story than a devotional book)
March 20, 2023
"(The Spirit) reveals God's love to the soul; that love breaks the power of self-righteousness and the pervasive egoism that yearns for a successful life that others might be drawn to us rather than to Christ."
Read
May 24, 2023A good guide to learning to depend on God and his grace for us.
December 10, 2024
I really loved this book. 🤍
October 18, 2025
Quite possibly the most profound book on living by faith I have ever read! I'm buying multiple copies to give to family/friends. Highly recommend!
August 31, 2013
A small, but packed book. If one comes from a legalistic, righteousness based performance background, this book will resonate and free you. This is the author's personal story of finding freedom in the concept of God as her loving Father and she His daughter.
She talks of "wall-building" that many of us do without realizing it. "I had been nurtured in a religious outlook that confused moral will power with faith and substituted outer conformity for the inner righteousness. Ignorant of the healing power of grace, the members of our family clung tenaciously to life with their moral strength until relationships became unendurable. The pattern was typically one of fight followed by flight into isolation. This was wall-building I had practiced all my life"(86).
She also discusses how fear paralyzes us in our relationship with God. "Don't underestimate the power of fear to blind and confuse a life. Fear is deceptive. It will lead you to fight false battles to protect you from facing the real ones." (97)Fear keeps us from recognizing and looking at our sin for what it is.
"When you have fought the real enemy and have rested in God's sovereign control, then you are free to reach out in love."(118) This is the message of the book. For the Christian to embrace the love of Christ and live as His child. Quit living as an orphan!
She talks of "wall-building" that many of us do without realizing it. "I had been nurtured in a religious outlook that confused moral will power with faith and substituted outer conformity for the inner righteousness. Ignorant of the healing power of grace, the members of our family clung tenaciously to life with their moral strength until relationships became unendurable. The pattern was typically one of fight followed by flight into isolation. This was wall-building I had practiced all my life"(86).
She also discusses how fear paralyzes us in our relationship with God. "Don't underestimate the power of fear to blind and confuse a life. Fear is deceptive. It will lead you to fight false battles to protect you from facing the real ones." (97)Fear keeps us from recognizing and looking at our sin for what it is.
"When you have fought the real enemy and have rested in God's sovereign control, then you are free to reach out in love."(118) This is the message of the book. For the Christian to embrace the love of Christ and live as His child. Quit living as an orphan!
July 16, 2012
I'm grateful to Miller for introducing me to Luther's image of the caterpillar in a ring of fire. She talks about the discussion between Luther and Erasmus regarding the nature of salvation and our need for grace. Erasmus described grace as similar to the assistance given a toddler learning to walk, while Luther described grace as the the hand that reaches down to rescue a caterpillar surrounded by a ring of fire.
Miller describes the way this new understanding of grace changed her life, and the life of her family. In some ways the autobiographical material is too personal: names, dates, details that the reader doesn't really need. In other ways, it's not personal enough: she talks a great deal about her relationship with her husband, Jack, but in many cases, the way they interact raises questions that remain unanswered, sometimes troubling, and so the personal application of grace in some ways remains unclear.
Miller describes the way this new understanding of grace changed her life, and the life of her family. In some ways the autobiographical material is too personal: names, dates, details that the reader doesn't really need. In other ways, it's not personal enough: she talks a great deal about her relationship with her husband, Jack, but in many cases, the way they interact raises questions that remain unanswered, sometimes troubling, and so the personal application of grace in some ways remains unclear.
August 19, 2010
This book is the personal testimony of Rose Marie Miller, her journey from having the orphan mentality to living boldly in freedom.
Rose Marie Miller made distinctions in the Christian mindset I didn't know existed - which probably means I've been under the same illusions she was. I especially benefited from her description of grace. She used to think it was God's strength supplementing her own work whenever she needed it, instead of it ALL being God's strength. I also took encouragement from her realization that ministry is not just within your own home and church, where you feel at least somewhat comfortable.
Rose Marie Miller made distinctions in the Christian mindset I didn't know existed - which probably means I've been under the same illusions she was. I especially benefited from her description of grace. She used to think it was God's strength supplementing her own work whenever she needed it, instead of it ALL being God's strength. I also took encouragement from her realization that ministry is not just within your own home and church, where you feel at least somewhat comfortable.
March 6, 2013
After reading the first few chapters of this book, I was sure I was going to be inspired and want to recommend it to everyone I know. A few chapters in, however, the book fell flat. What I thought would be a though-provoking, convicting, shared life lesson turned out to be nothing more than a humble-brag in disguise. I'm sure there are people who will enjoy it and find inspiration in these pages. If so, I'm glad for you. I simply didn't find anything new within it. Is there a star rating for "Meh."?
April 9, 2014
I first read this book about 10 years ago, and liked it but couldn't relate to it nearly as well as I can today, having gone through some similar experiences in my walk with God that the author has. Rose Marie Miller has a straightforward way of writing and presents her transformation in an easy-to-understand way. This is helpful reading for the recovering legalist, the self-righteous woman who longs to focus on god more and herself less, the person who has experienced God's freedom, and the religious person who doesn't quite yet know what she's missing.
March 13, 2015
This book was given to me by a friend who knew I was dealing with anxiety issues. It was a long time ago and feel its about time to reread it. It helped my confidence and reminded me of my security in Christ. Knowing other women (stronger than I, by far) struggle with fear and anxiety and hearing their journey in faith helps a good deal in and of itself. Rose Marie Miller is strong in her vulnerability and gracious in her struggles. I appreciate her willingness to reach out and share what God has given her with others. I'll update this once I get to reread it!
November 10, 2015
I thoroughly loved reading this book. I quickly devoured it. It will be a book I read over and over. It was about one Christian woman's journey to deeper understanding of her Heavenly Father. Basically from living in fear and worry and doing her own will to living a life of freedom and mercy following God's Will. What I personally liked is her honesty. I could relate to her struggles, because I have had them. And continue to. So I was able to learn from her experiences. I also learned a lot about prayer, and the power of prayer when we truly believe in it's power. Highly recommend!
October 3, 2008
This book helped me to see how fear produces an "orphan mindset" in many Christians. We think, believe and behanve as if we are fatherless orphans dependent on ourselves and others for care. Our freedom comes in believing and walking in the truth of our adoption by God's grace through faith in Christ. Very insightful reading.
October 6, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. I started reading it in the beginning of my quiet times and it really encouraged me to be meditating more on the gospel. It also helped me see some things in my life I use to "justify" myself instead of resting in Jesus. She candidly discusses her idols of control, organization, family, etc. It was a good, easy read.
June 29, 2012
This book was recommended to me by a dear pastor. It was a gem. I came away from this book with a greater view of my place in the Kingdom of God. I would recommend this book to Christians whether they are new in the Kingdom or have been Christians for decades. This book can give you a view of the Lord that in the daily grind is lost or put aside. It has blessed my walk with Christ greatly.
September 25, 2012
This memoir didn't really grab me, but I have a feeling that may be as much about where I am in life as it is about the quality of the book. I could see it having a huge impact on someone who's just at a different point in their spiritual journey than me. For whatever reason, where I am right now, it just didn't particularly connect with me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews