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What Are You Afraid Of?: Facing Down Your Fears with Faith
For many people, worry, anxiety, and fear are constant fear of death, fear of danger, fear of disease. And too often, these fears are crippling, keeping us from the life God has called us to live.
But it doesn’t have to be that way, says Dr. David Jeremiah. As Christians, we have been given all we need in order to face down even the most frightening, unexpected, and overwhelming obstacles in life.
In his new book, What Are You Afraid Of? Dr. Jeremiah explores the top ten fears that are holding so many of us back from the life God has called us to live and shares the supernatural secrets for facing down these fears with faith.
But it doesn’t have to be that way, says Dr. David Jeremiah. As Christians, we have been given all we need in order to face down even the most frightening, unexpected, and overwhelming obstacles in life.
In his new book, What Are You Afraid Of? Dr. Jeremiah explores the top ten fears that are holding so many of us back from the life God has called us to live and shares the supernatural secrets for facing down these fears with faith.
7 pages, Audio CD
First published October 1, 2013
184 people are currently reading
1039 people want to read
About the author
David Jeremiah
799 books859 followersDr. David Jeremiah, founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, felt God’s calling on his life at a very early age. Born February 13, 1941 in Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Jeremiah was raised in a family deeply committed to ministry. At the age of eleven, Dr. Jeremiah and his family moved to Dayton, Ohio where his father, Dr. James T. Jeremiah, was the Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, and in 1953 became the President of Cedarville College in Cedarville, Ohio.
As Dr. Jeremiah was sensitive to God’s leading in his life, he followed in his father’s footsteps. In 1963, Dr. Jeremiah received a Bachelor of Arts from Cedarville College. In that same year, Dr. Jeremiah married his college sweetheart, Donna Thompson who also was attending Cedarville College as a business major. He went on to earn a Masters degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1967. He completed additional graduate work at Grace University and was granted the Doctor of Divinity degree from Cedarville College in 1981.
In 1969, Dr. Jeremiah began Blackhawk Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and developed a Christian school grades K through 12. In the 12 years he served as pastor, Blackhawk Baptist Church grew from 7 families to 1300 members. He also launched The Bible Hour television program.
Dr. Jeremiah heeded God’s call, and in 1981 he and his family moved to California where he became the senior pastor of Scott Memorial Baptist Church, now Shadow Mountain Community Church.
Shadow Mountain Community Church is one of the largest churches in San Diego County. It is also the home of Southern California Seminary and Christian Unified Schools.
As Dr. Jeremiah began his ministry at Shadow Mountain, he felt God’s calling to continue the broadcast ministry he started in Fort Wayne. In 1982, Turning Point Ministries became a reality.
Today, Turning Point's 30-minute radio program is heard nationally and internationally on over 1800 stations and translator/satellators. In recognition of Dr. Jeremiah’s commitment to teaching the Word of God, he received the Broadcaster of the Year Award in 1999 from the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), in August 2002, received the Award of Merit from the Western Chapter of National Religious Broadcasters for Excellence in Broadcasting and Faithfulness in Service, and in 2006 Turning Point received the Best Radio Teaching Program Award. Dr. Jeremiah has served on the Board of Directors for the NRB since 1996.
Turning Point launched a television program in 1982 in San Diego and went nationwide in 2000. Now seen around the world through cable and satellite technology, as well as on terrestrial stations all across the United States, conservative estimates suggest that close to 200 million homes around the world have access to Dr. Jeremiah's Bible teaching each week. Turning Point Television offers a half-hour Bible study message and a full hour worship service with the same great preaching. Carried on several national and international networks such as TBN, ION, and INSP, Turning Point Television has most recently been added to Middle East TV Network and BET, the Black Entertainment Network.
Dr. Jeremiah is a sought-after conference speaker for organizations around the country. He frequently speaks at Cedarville College, Dallas Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute, Billy Graham Training Center, Phil Waldrep’s Senior Adult Celebrations and numerous NFL, NBA and Baseball chapels.
Along with his speaking schedule around the country, Dr. Jeremiah also finds time to fulfill another passion in his life, writing. His books are always gripping and right to the point. Some of his books include Escape the Coming Night, The Power of Encouragement, What the Bible Says About Angels, Prayer The Great Adventure, which brought him The Gold Medallion Award in 1998, God In You, Gifts from God
As Dr. Jeremiah was sensitive to God’s leading in his life, he followed in his father’s footsteps. In 1963, Dr. Jeremiah received a Bachelor of Arts from Cedarville College. In that same year, Dr. Jeremiah married his college sweetheart, Donna Thompson who also was attending Cedarville College as a business major. He went on to earn a Masters degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1967. He completed additional graduate work at Grace University and was granted the Doctor of Divinity degree from Cedarville College in 1981.
In 1969, Dr. Jeremiah began Blackhawk Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and developed a Christian school grades K through 12. In the 12 years he served as pastor, Blackhawk Baptist Church grew from 7 families to 1300 members. He also launched The Bible Hour television program.
Dr. Jeremiah heeded God’s call, and in 1981 he and his family moved to California where he became the senior pastor of Scott Memorial Baptist Church, now Shadow Mountain Community Church.
Shadow Mountain Community Church is one of the largest churches in San Diego County. It is also the home of Southern California Seminary and Christian Unified Schools.
As Dr. Jeremiah began his ministry at Shadow Mountain, he felt God’s calling to continue the broadcast ministry he started in Fort Wayne. In 1982, Turning Point Ministries became a reality.
Today, Turning Point's 30-minute radio program is heard nationally and internationally on over 1800 stations and translator/satellators. In recognition of Dr. Jeremiah’s commitment to teaching the Word of God, he received the Broadcaster of the Year Award in 1999 from the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), in August 2002, received the Award of Merit from the Western Chapter of National Religious Broadcasters for Excellence in Broadcasting and Faithfulness in Service, and in 2006 Turning Point received the Best Radio Teaching Program Award. Dr. Jeremiah has served on the Board of Directors for the NRB since 1996.
Turning Point launched a television program in 1982 in San Diego and went nationwide in 2000. Now seen around the world through cable and satellite technology, as well as on terrestrial stations all across the United States, conservative estimates suggest that close to 200 million homes around the world have access to Dr. Jeremiah's Bible teaching each week. Turning Point Television offers a half-hour Bible study message and a full hour worship service with the same great preaching. Carried on several national and international networks such as TBN, ION, and INSP, Turning Point Television has most recently been added to Middle East TV Network and BET, the Black Entertainment Network.
Dr. Jeremiah is a sought-after conference speaker for organizations around the country. He frequently speaks at Cedarville College, Dallas Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute, Billy Graham Training Center, Phil Waldrep’s Senior Adult Celebrations and numerous NFL, NBA and Baseball chapels.
Along with his speaking schedule around the country, Dr. Jeremiah also finds time to fulfill another passion in his life, writing. His books are always gripping and right to the point. Some of his books include Escape the Coming Night, The Power of Encouragement, What the Bible Says About Angels, Prayer The Great Adventure, which brought him The Gold Medallion Award in 1998, God In You, Gifts from God
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
July 10, 2019
I remember this book really helping me through a time when some fears were getting to me. Even though I'm at a much more peaceful place in my life, it's still nice to reread this book. Dr. David Jeremiah does a great job of covering some of the major things that cause fear from a biblical standpoint. This isn't a quick-fix book, this is a book with truths that, if you allow the to sink in, will help provide lasting peace.
August 6, 2014
I gave this book 3 stars, instead of 4, because I really loved some parts but was bored in others.
The chapters focus on fears of: Natural Calamity, Serious Illness, Debt, Failure, Being Alone, Rejection, Sudden Trouble, Depression, Death, and God.
What I liked:
Fear is almost always based on the future . . .
We're afraid of what might happen.
Those who define God solely by the evil He allows overlook the flip side of their complaint. Yes, there is evil in the world, but there is also an enormous amount of good . . . Is it fair to judge Him for the evil and not credit Him for the good?
In a world that contains tragedies, we must realize they're vastly outnumbered by blessings.
According to Paul, and from the perspective of our eternal God, the sufferings of this present world are less than a paper cut in relation to the glory yet to be revealed to us.
Fear in the midst of a storm is instinctive and beneficial. Fear of a storm that COULD happen is not. It's an intrusive emotion that leads us to a greatly diminished life. The imagined fear becomes so vivid that we no longer distinguish it from reality.
God knows we need Him, and He knows we forget how much we do. Sometimes he allows the storms to rage so they will send us scurrying to Him.
. . . the opposite of faith is not unbelief; the opposite of faith is fear.
If Jesus had to suffer, why would we think ourselves exempt?
The chapters focus on fears of: Natural Calamity, Serious Illness, Debt, Failure, Being Alone, Rejection, Sudden Trouble, Depression, Death, and God.
What I liked:
Fear is almost always based on the future . . .
We're afraid of what might happen.
Those who define God solely by the evil He allows overlook the flip side of their complaint. Yes, there is evil in the world, but there is also an enormous amount of good . . . Is it fair to judge Him for the evil and not credit Him for the good?
In a world that contains tragedies, we must realize they're vastly outnumbered by blessings.
According to Paul, and from the perspective of our eternal God, the sufferings of this present world are less than a paper cut in relation to the glory yet to be revealed to us.
Fear in the midst of a storm is instinctive and beneficial. Fear of a storm that COULD happen is not. It's an intrusive emotion that leads us to a greatly diminished life. The imagined fear becomes so vivid that we no longer distinguish it from reality.
God knows we need Him, and He knows we forget how much we do. Sometimes he allows the storms to rage so they will send us scurrying to Him.
. . . the opposite of faith is not unbelief; the opposite of faith is fear.
If Jesus had to suffer, why would we think ourselves exempt?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2021
"We have a choice: we can follow the gods of this world and live with fear that we'll be caught in the outcomes that inevitably fall on all disobedience, or we can follow God and His Word exclusively and live without fear." (David Jeremiah, What Are You Afraid Of?)
This book covers different fears we can have: The fear of natural calamity, the fear of serious illness, the fear of financial collapse, the fear of failure, the fear of being alone, the fear of rejection, the fear of sudden trouble, the fear of mental breakdown, the fear of dying and the fear of God. As you can see many fears are addressed.
I think the greatest lesson I learned in this book is that those who put their trust in God have no need to fear. He says, "To understand why God is the answer to all our fears, we must understand what the Bible says about fear. And it says alot. It tells us more than three hundred times not to fear. "Fear not" is its most frequently repeated command. The word afraid occurs more than two hundred times, and fear more than four hundred. And lest you think our Bible hereos were fearless, more than two hundred individuals in Scripture are said to have been afraid. And not all these were the "bad guys"; many were the main characters-David, Paul, Timothy, and others."
The cure for fear is the Word of God because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (See Romans 10:17). The opposite of fear is faith. Faith will destroy every fear in your life. We weild the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and cut down every fear in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Let's decree and declare: For God has not given you [insert your name here] a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self control (See 2 Timothy 1:7).
This book covers different fears we can have: The fear of natural calamity, the fear of serious illness, the fear of financial collapse, the fear of failure, the fear of being alone, the fear of rejection, the fear of sudden trouble, the fear of mental breakdown, the fear of dying and the fear of God. As you can see many fears are addressed.
I think the greatest lesson I learned in this book is that those who put their trust in God have no need to fear. He says, "To understand why God is the answer to all our fears, we must understand what the Bible says about fear. And it says alot. It tells us more than three hundred times not to fear. "Fear not" is its most frequently repeated command. The word afraid occurs more than two hundred times, and fear more than four hundred. And lest you think our Bible hereos were fearless, more than two hundred individuals in Scripture are said to have been afraid. And not all these were the "bad guys"; many were the main characters-David, Paul, Timothy, and others."
The cure for fear is the Word of God because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (See Romans 10:17). The opposite of fear is faith. Faith will destroy every fear in your life. We weild the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and cut down every fear in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Let's decree and declare: For God has not given you [insert your name here] a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self control (See 2 Timothy 1:7).
October 22, 2013
In the busy-ness of life it is often easy to forget the One who is in control and succumb to the pressure and pulls of life. We are constantly anxious, intimidated and fearful which prevents many Christians from living the life God called them to live.
Everyone is afraid of something: failure, success, loneliness, crowds, death, and life; the list is endless. And no one is immune to fear. Fear haunts the weak and the powerful, the young and the old, the rich and the poor. It is the great equalizer.
Well, fear not! There is hope. In What Are You Afraid Of? Dr. David Jeremiah identifies and explains what is at the heart of nine of our greatest fears and lays out a biblical plan for overcoming each one of them. He also examines one particular fear that should be part of our daily lives: the fear of God.
Dr Jeremiah’s book is targeted toward young and old adults who are dealing or have dealt with fear and want to overcome its strong grip on their lives. With most fears in teenagers being terrorist attacks, spiders, death/being killed, not succeeding in life/failing, war, heights, crime/violence, being alone, the future, and nuclear war, Jeremiah stresses fear is usually future-based and that we should focus on God instead of our fears.
Dr Jeremiah breaks fear into ten sections: In a unique arrangement of thought, all the "fears" begin with the letter "D":
Disaster: the Fear of Natural Calamity
Disease: the Fear of Serious Illness
Debt: the Fear of Financial Collapse
Defeat: the Fear of Failure
Disconnection: the Fear of Being Alone
Disapproval: the Fear of Rejection
Danger: the Fear of Sudden Trouble
Depression: the Fear of Mental Breakdown
Death: the Fear of Dying
Deity: the Fear of God
I recommend this book it is easy to read and informative and would be a great study.
Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my review.
August 22, 2022
Ayuda demasiado ❤️✨Mis mejores lecturas del 2022
December 3, 2024
Another solid Jeremiah book! (I just wish I could memorize it).
Fears addressed include:
Disaster: the Fear of Natural Calamity
Disease: the Fear of Serious Illness
Debt: the Fear of Financial Collapse
Defeat: the Fear of Failure
Disconnection: the Fear of Being Alone
Disapproval: the Fear of Rejection
Danger: the Fear of Sudden Trouble
Depression: the Fear of Mental Breakdown
Death: the Fear of Dying
Deity: the Fear of God
Fears addressed include:
Disaster: the Fear of Natural Calamity
Disease: the Fear of Serious Illness
Debt: the Fear of Financial Collapse
Defeat: the Fear of Failure
Disconnection: the Fear of Being Alone
Disapproval: the Fear of Rejection
Danger: the Fear of Sudden Trouble
Depression: the Fear of Mental Breakdown
Death: the Fear of Dying
Deity: the Fear of God
July 7, 2014
I have to admit it--often when I read a nonfiction book I am hoping for fresh insights and fresh perspectives. I want to learn something new, or at least hear something in a new way that strikes me. As I began reading David Jeremiah's What Are You Afraid Of?: Facing Down Your Fears with Faith, this was my desire. While I found fresh material throughout--especially three of his chapters--the rest sounded like what I've heard before. Don't get me wrong. There was little I disagreed with. It's just that most of the book wasn't exceptional. It was standard fare--things I have heard numerous times from numerous speakers. This isn't all bad, for there is a place for reminders (cf. 2 Peter 1:12). I just prefer my reminders stated in fresh ways, I guess.
For a sampling of which fears Jeremiah addresses, go ahead and peruse the table of contents:
Disaster: The Fear of Natural Calamity
Disease: The Fear of Serious Illness
Debt: The Fear of Financial Collapse
Defeat: The Fear of Failure
Disconnection: The Fear of Being Alone
Disapproval: The Fear of Rejection
Danger: The Fear of Sudden Trouble
Depression: The Fear of Mental Breakdown
Death: The Fear of Dying
Deity: The Fear of God
As can be seen, Jeremiah addresses a wide range of fears. I think it's fairly safe to say that all of us have feared at least something on this list, so for that reason alone, this book would be worth looking at. Honestly, while much of the book is ordinary as I mentioned above, the one chapter worth reading is the very first. In fact, it alone is worth the price of the book in my opinion. It is a great summary of the fear of natural calamities stated in ways that are fresh and engaging. Here's an example:
"Those who define God solely by the evil He allows overlook the flip side of their complaint. Yes, there is evil in the world, but there is also an enormous amount of good. If God is not good, as they claim, how do they account for all the good we experience? Is it fair to judge Him for the evil and not credit Him with the good? [...] In a world that contains tragedies, we must realize that they're vastly outnumbered by blessings" (16).
Here's another familiar reminder that's worth hearing again:
"The one way to walk boldly and confidently into an unknown future is to stake everything on the power and goodness and faithfulness of God" (xiii-xiv).
Maybe I'm being too hard and unfair on Jeremiah in calling most of his book "familiar" and "standard fare." I just don't find his writing all that more engaging than most. Therefore, I give this book 4 stars because of solid content, yet not 5 because of its average delivery.
For a sampling of which fears Jeremiah addresses, go ahead and peruse the table of contents:
Disaster: The Fear of Natural Calamity
Disease: The Fear of Serious Illness
Debt: The Fear of Financial Collapse
Defeat: The Fear of Failure
Disconnection: The Fear of Being Alone
Disapproval: The Fear of Rejection
Danger: The Fear of Sudden Trouble
Depression: The Fear of Mental Breakdown
Death: The Fear of Dying
Deity: The Fear of God
As can be seen, Jeremiah addresses a wide range of fears. I think it's fairly safe to say that all of us have feared at least something on this list, so for that reason alone, this book would be worth looking at. Honestly, while much of the book is ordinary as I mentioned above, the one chapter worth reading is the very first. In fact, it alone is worth the price of the book in my opinion. It is a great summary of the fear of natural calamities stated in ways that are fresh and engaging. Here's an example:
"Those who define God solely by the evil He allows overlook the flip side of their complaint. Yes, there is evil in the world, but there is also an enormous amount of good. If God is not good, as they claim, how do they account for all the good we experience? Is it fair to judge Him for the evil and not credit Him with the good? [...] In a world that contains tragedies, we must realize that they're vastly outnumbered by blessings" (16).
Here's another familiar reminder that's worth hearing again:
"The one way to walk boldly and confidently into an unknown future is to stake everything on the power and goodness and faithfulness of God" (xiii-xiv).
Maybe I'm being too hard and unfair on Jeremiah in calling most of his book "familiar" and "standard fare." I just don't find his writing all that more engaging than most. Therefore, I give this book 4 stars because of solid content, yet not 5 because of its average delivery.
October 17, 2013
As an engineer I have seen time and money invested in stop-gap solutions that never addressed root cause of the problem. Unfortunately the same “quick-fix” process is often applied in the Christian walk. Dr. David Jeremiah’s book, What Are You Afraid Of?, identifies various sources of fear, a common malady among Christians.
We call fear by various names - “fear, worry, anxiety, intimidation, unsettledness, dread, unease, alarm, distress, apprehensiveness” - but Dr. Jeremiah asks penetrating questions to help us remove the labels and get to the root of our problem. “What is stealing your joy and destroying your hope? What is robbing you of sleep, night after night? What keeps you from living by faith and being a risk taker? What keeps you from giving your life wholly to a loving God who wants nothing but the best for you?” (Page xi)
Once we have identified the areas in our life where fear is master, we are ready for solutions and Dr. Jeremiah has done a masterful job addressing 10 specific fears. He provides good examples coupled with Scriptural answers for combating the particular fear. His writing style is easy to follow, and I found the layout of the book to be logical. With the titles he has chosen for the chapters, this will become a ready reference source.
Church librarians and those who provide Christian counseling services may find the book worthy of adding to the collection. Fearful believers in a need of a practical word of encouragement will also want to consider this book.
Note - Tyndale House Publishers provided a complimentary copy of the book to facilitate this review.
We call fear by various names - “fear, worry, anxiety, intimidation, unsettledness, dread, unease, alarm, distress, apprehensiveness” - but Dr. Jeremiah asks penetrating questions to help us remove the labels and get to the root of our problem. “What is stealing your joy and destroying your hope? What is robbing you of sleep, night after night? What keeps you from living by faith and being a risk taker? What keeps you from giving your life wholly to a loving God who wants nothing but the best for you?” (Page xi)
Once we have identified the areas in our life where fear is master, we are ready for solutions and Dr. Jeremiah has done a masterful job addressing 10 specific fears. He provides good examples coupled with Scriptural answers for combating the particular fear. His writing style is easy to follow, and I found the layout of the book to be logical. With the titles he has chosen for the chapters, this will become a ready reference source.
Church librarians and those who provide Christian counseling services may find the book worthy of adding to the collection. Fearful believers in a need of a practical word of encouragement will also want to consider this book.
Note - Tyndale House Publishers provided a complimentary copy of the book to facilitate this review.
February 6, 2017
This book is so well written, and hits the mark on facing our personal fears. A dear friend of mine is a huge David Jeremiah fan. We belong to a Cancer Support group, and I don't think there has been a meeting when she hasn't spoken of him and how he has influenced her. With that preface, when I saw this book, thought I best took at it so I know more about her love and affections for this wonderful man. One of the main keys is that Faith is an important part of the equation. His writing is wonderful. I've gleaned much by listening to this book. Our fears can really drive us in hard ways and wonderful ways. I'm really impressed and drawn to his words. Will probably look into more. Highly recommend.
April 17, 2021
Excellent, explanation of fear
September 14, 2016
I finished What Are You Afraid Of: Facing Down Your Fears With Faith by David Jeremiah a few days ago, and in order to try not to lose the good points I read there, I started outlining the book. Now I have so much of it I would like to share that it’s hard to know where to start.
His introduction is obviously the best place, where he discusses the universality of fear, the different forms it can take, and the Bible’s many references to it. Believers know that God is good, loving, all-powerful, wise, and omnipotent, yet we still wrestle with fear. So how do we deal with it?
Dr. Jeremiah takes a different chapter to discuss in detail nine common fears: disaster, disease, debt, defeat (failure), disconnection (being alone), disapproval/rejection, danger, depression, and death. His tenth chapter is an in-depth look at the fear of God.
Each chapter follows a fairly similar arc. The particular fear is explored, Biblical truths are brought to bear to change our thinking about it, a more in-depth study of one person in the Bible is discussed with truth being brought out about that person’s situation, those truths are also brought out or applied to people in more recent times, and tips are shared to help deal with the situation. For instance, the chapter on debt, or financial collapse, primarily studies Psalm 37, with other Scriptures discussed as well. Then the author shares details about the life of Anna Warner, whose family lost everything in the Panic of 1837. The only thing Anna and her sister knew to do to help was to write, and they ended up writing over a hundred books. In one of them, Anna included a poem she has written: “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know,”which has blessed an untold number of people in the years since.
The chapter on disease mentions several people in the Bible who faced illness, but focuses mainly on Hezekiah, his prayer, God’s answer, his praise – and then his fall as his “heart is lifted up with pride” afterward. “His miraculous recovery caused him to lose his near-death humility.” There are things worse than illness. Here the author includes Practical Encouragements When Facing Disease, greatly informed by his own bout with cancer.
Though each chapter focuses on one type of fear, there are truths that apply to them all. Christians are not immune to any of these troubles. But God loves us, despite what the circumstances seem to indicate. He is all-knowing and all-powerful. He can take care of whatever the situation is. He is with His children in everything they do. He has a reason for allowing various trials and will somehow work it for good. He wants us to trust Him, and He wants us to focus on eternal values. This world is just a temporary dwelling place, and we get way too caught up in it and less mindful than we should be about our eternal home. Paul said he learned to be content in whatever state he was in, whether full or hungry, whether having plenty or suffering need. That should be true of us with any of these needs, not just physical provision. For instance, God made us to need and interact with people, but sometimes He allows loneliness and wants to draw us closer to Himself. It’s not wrong to have material things, but sometimes He allows them to be taken away, and that reminds us to hold onto things in this life loosely (I’m not saying that’s the main reason why God allows loss, but loss does remind us that “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7).
Here are a few of the many quotes that stood out to me:
The last chapter on fearing God was especially good. Here are just a couple of quotes from it:
This book is an invaluable resource, one I will turn to time and again.
His introduction is obviously the best place, where he discusses the universality of fear, the different forms it can take, and the Bible’s many references to it. Believers know that God is good, loving, all-powerful, wise, and omnipotent, yet we still wrestle with fear. So how do we deal with it?
Biblical heroes were regular people who had to learn the same things you and I have to learn–to drive out fear by increasing their knowledge of God, to shift their focus from their present fear to the eternal God, to replace what they didn’t know about the future with what they did know about Him.
Dr. Jeremiah takes a different chapter to discuss in detail nine common fears: disaster, disease, debt, defeat (failure), disconnection (being alone), disapproval/rejection, danger, depression, and death. His tenth chapter is an in-depth look at the fear of God.
Each chapter follows a fairly similar arc. The particular fear is explored, Biblical truths are brought to bear to change our thinking about it, a more in-depth study of one person in the Bible is discussed with truth being brought out about that person’s situation, those truths are also brought out or applied to people in more recent times, and tips are shared to help deal with the situation. For instance, the chapter on debt, or financial collapse, primarily studies Psalm 37, with other Scriptures discussed as well. Then the author shares details about the life of Anna Warner, whose family lost everything in the Panic of 1837. The only thing Anna and her sister knew to do to help was to write, and they ended up writing over a hundred books. In one of them, Anna included a poem she has written: “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know,”which has blessed an untold number of people in the years since.
The chapter on disease mentions several people in the Bible who faced illness, but focuses mainly on Hezekiah, his prayer, God’s answer, his praise – and then his fall as his “heart is lifted up with pride” afterward. “His miraculous recovery caused him to lose his near-death humility.” There are things worse than illness. Here the author includes Practical Encouragements When Facing Disease, greatly informed by his own bout with cancer.
Though each chapter focuses on one type of fear, there are truths that apply to them all. Christians are not immune to any of these troubles. But God loves us, despite what the circumstances seem to indicate. He is all-knowing and all-powerful. He can take care of whatever the situation is. He is with His children in everything they do. He has a reason for allowing various trials and will somehow work it for good. He wants us to trust Him, and He wants us to focus on eternal values. This world is just a temporary dwelling place, and we get way too caught up in it and less mindful than we should be about our eternal home. Paul said he learned to be content in whatever state he was in, whether full or hungry, whether having plenty or suffering need. That should be true of us with any of these needs, not just physical provision. For instance, God made us to need and interact with people, but sometimes He allows loneliness and wants to draw us closer to Himself. It’s not wrong to have material things, but sometimes He allows them to be taken away, and that reminds us to hold onto things in this life loosely (I’m not saying that’s the main reason why God allows loss, but loss does remind us that “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7).
“In a very real sense, we’re all nomads — pilgrims bound for an eternal world who are just passing through this physical one. This world is not our home, and when we leave it, any possessions that outlast us will be owned by someone else. The impermanence of this world and all that is in it is actually good news for those of us who have faith in God. It means we’re moving on to better things.” “When we allow the tangible but transient to block our perception of the invisible but imperishable, we’ve lost our perspective on true value.”
“The one great loss we need is the loss of the illusion that we’re in any way self-sufficient. We need the Rock that is higher than we are, higher than this world…at the end of our vain hope lies the beginning of the knowledge of God and His grace.”
“We need to understand that faith in God does not immunize us from financial failure. As long as we live in this fallen world, there will be no such thing as complete financial security. There is no ultimate security in anything but the grace of God. To be human means that loss, including heartbreaking loss, is always possible. As tough as times are, they can and may become much worse. But faith in God assures us that He holds our lives in His powerful, loving hands, which means no collapses, no losses, no fears can truly harm us. As the Lord of this universe, He is, indeed, too big to fail.”
Here are a few of the many quotes that stood out to me:
“Set a clear focus in your life, and fear will be crowded out. The more you fix your eyes on God’s purpose for you, the more you will overcome your fear.”
“Sometimes the majority gets it wrong. The wisdom of God is often found on the narrow path that few travel rather than in the easy and popular choice. Leadership is a great deal more that gauging which way the wind is blowing. It often requires standing firm as the current tries to bend you in another direction.”
“Faith is the act of hanging on to that truth [Heb. 13:5] even when we don’t feel His presence.”
“Fear drains us, while love empowers us. We cannot fear people and love people at the same time. We cannot sacrificially and unconditionally love others if all our energy is directed toward protecting ourselves. When we love others (including those who can harm us), life is no longer about us, and fear of disapproval is driven away.”
“It is possible to be humanly afraid without succumbing to fear. It is possible to feel fear and faith at the same time without fear getting the upper hand.”
“We can find ourselves in the middle of God’s perfect will and in the middle of a storm at the same time.”
“Many people believe faith is some kind of insurance against high blood pressure and heartache. Trust God and you’ll have no worries. But a great paradox of Christianity is that trusting Christ doesn’t keep the storms away. In fact, sometimes it pushes us into deep and turbulent waters.”
“Storms are not punishment for lack of obedience; oftentimes they are the result of obedience!”
“The good news is that we need not understand the darkness to recover the light. Job never got the answers he asked for. The extent of the explanation he received was that God is God and Job was not. The mystery endured. Scripture isn’t concerned with solving mysteries but with aligning paths to lead to God.”
“Job wanted answers, Paul wanted relief. But God had the grace to give them what they truly needed – more of Himself.”
The last chapter on fearing God was especially good. Here are just a couple of quotes from it:
“We fear God by honoring, reverencing, and cherishing Him. His greatness and majesty reduce us to an overpowering sense of awe that is not focused only on His wrath and judgment but also on His transcendent glory, which is like nothing else we can confront in this world. It leaves us all but speechless.”
“When we truly fear God, our fear of other things and other people begins to wane. Big fears make little fears go away.”
“It is when other fears take precedence over God that we get into trouble.”
This book is an invaluable resource, one I will turn to time and again.
December 29, 2020
I’m not really sure how to rate this because not only am I not the intended audience (I acquired this as a trade when loaning a Buddhist book of mine out and had promised to give it a fair shake) but I also read most of it several months ago and forgot to finish it. When I realized tonight I hadn’t I decided to do so. While I did find a few passages I liked, I mostly I had to push myself through it. If I were to rate it on the last 60 pages or so, I’d probably give it 2 stars. I don’t remember a lot of what I read previously but do remember enjoying more of the beginning of the book than I expected to and finding many passages I could apply to my life, so I think that’s worth at least another star.
February 12, 2022
This book is timeless. It has changed my perspective and definitely helped me to replace my fear with faith. It's like I've read ten different books because each chapter left a lasting impact on me.
Dr. David's writing style is also very easy to follow. He opens up a chapter with real experiences of real people, defines a certain fear in a worldly perspective and later explains it in a biblical way, provides practical ways (that is rooted in the Word) to face each fears, and encourages the reader in the end with God's love and promises.
A book I highly recommend for everyone especially during these times. I suggest to read only one chapter a day so you could have time for a healthy reflection as the message slowly penetrates your heart.
Dr. David's writing style is also very easy to follow. He opens up a chapter with real experiences of real people, defines a certain fear in a worldly perspective and later explains it in a biblical way, provides practical ways (that is rooted in the Word) to face each fears, and encourages the reader in the end with God's love and promises.
A book I highly recommend for everyone especially during these times. I suggest to read only one chapter a day so you could have time for a healthy reflection as the message slowly penetrates your heart.
November 2, 2019
According to the bible, we are not given a spirit of fear. However, some fear is good: the fear of God (not just awe but reverential fear of the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator of the universe) being foremost. But other fears - death, financial ruin, etc - are emotional responses to events that haven't happened. Could they? Certainly. But to live in fear is to miss the joy in life.
If you are someone who lives in fear, or if you know someone who is, this is a great resource for looking at life from a different perspective.
If you are someone who lives in fear, or if you know someone who is, this is a great resource for looking at life from a different perspective.
December 3, 2023
I found this book in my mom’s bookshelf and started reading it out of boredom. I wasn’t expecting it to be this good. It might sound cliché but this came to me right when I needed it.
Although is a religious book, as you read to it you’ll see that it puts so much into perspective that it doesn’t feel like a boring sermon. A must read if you feel at a loss against many different fears in your life.
Although is a religious book, as you read to it you’ll see that it puts so much into perspective that it doesn’t feel like a boring sermon. A must read if you feel at a loss against many different fears in your life.
January 11, 2018
Fear is real, but God has an answer
I know that my fears and anxieties have gotten the best of me more often than I care to admit. However, the Lord is bigger than those things lurking in my mind and this book is a good reminder if that. I am so glad that I serve a Lord that puts a book like this in my hands to remind me of how much He loves me.
I know that my fears and anxieties have gotten the best of me more often than I care to admit. However, the Lord is bigger than those things lurking in my mind and this book is a good reminder if that. I am so glad that I serve a Lord that puts a book like this in my hands to remind me of how much He loves me.
November 4, 2019
Not only this a book that teaches about Jesus, God and the Bible, it also teaches the reader more about themselves. I learned there are times when I fit into one or more of the topics David Jeremiah covered. As with any book by him, I feel this is a must read for all Christians.
July 2, 2021
This is an excellent book that gives a biblical basis for why Christians should not be afraid. I especially enjoyed the illustrations from other authors and the author's life situations. He gave great biblical basis for each fear and chapter.
July 26, 2024
I have read many of Dr. Jeremiah's books, and this has been my favorite. The funny thing is going into it, I thought this book isn't really for me. There were so many wonderful points weaved throughout each section that spoke to me, even when I would have said I do not struggle with that fear.
September 11, 2017
The chapter on depression was especially helpful.
February 11, 2019
Jeremiah addresses common fears clearly and succinctly, with a strong Biblical basis for each.
September 24, 2019
I Iiiiūh. Linn hmmmm
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2020
Great Book
Great book really enjoy reading Dr David Jeremiah books, he makes the bible easy to understand, love his books. Hope buy more.
Great book really enjoy reading Dr David Jeremiah books, he makes the bible easy to understand, love his books. Hope buy more.
September 28, 2020
This timely book helped me get through some of the darkest periods of my life. I still refer back to it from time to time.
January 28, 2022
Fearing God is extremely important for our current generation to understand in America.
January 7, 2023
3.5 I like Jeremiah’s writing style. Good exposition of scripture as a defense against the many fears we all face in our lives.
June 23, 2023
My bible study group completed this in the spring of 2023. It is very applicable to life in our troubled world.
July 19, 2016
A year or so ago, I got What Are You Afraid Of?: Facing Down Your Fears with Faith by David Jeremiah when it was free for Kindle. It sat there, as many Kindle freebies do, but then I read a compelling review of it, and bumped it up. I’m glad I did, because I found it really worthwhile, and a book I want to keep around as a reference for times when I do feel afraid. I don’t think of myself as a fearful person in general, but there have been a few times in my life where a fear came out of the blew and hit me with that awful, dread-in-the-pit-of-your stomach punch. It’s a terrible feeling, and usually what I do is try to pray and read the Bible, but I still feel so anxious and then added to that, I feel guilty because worrying is a sin and … it gets to be a bad vicious circle.
How can this book help? David Jeremiah divides the book into ten chapters, each focusing on a common fear: Disease. Death. Disaster. Depression. Etc. (yes, they all start with “d”).
I was blessed to grow up going to church. Every Sunday morning, every Sunday night, every Wednesday night, and then if there was a revival, other weeknights too. Sunday school. VBS. All this to say that I have a great grounding in the Scriptures, and I’m so grateful for that. However, the downside (if you could call it that), is that, many times when I read the Bible or a Christian book, I’ll see just a word or two of scripture and immediately go into BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH/Charlie Brown teacher voice. It’s just so familiar that it can be difficult for me to see something in a new way. So, when I read a book like this, that does off so new ways of thinking, it is really a treasure to me.
I think this book would be a great resource for any Christian, because let’s face it: we’ll all be afraid of something. If not now, at some point in life. As Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.”
Here are some excerpts from the book that I found helpful or interesting:
* ” … on days when free-floating anxiety is getting the best of me. That last phrase captures it for me: ‘free-floating anxiety.’ That’s the worst one — the foreboding fear that something is wrong, but you don’t know what. It envelops you like a cloud.”
* On fearing natural disasters: “We must remember that every one of the people who died in the Haiti earthquake would eventually have died anyway. The fact that they died simultaneously is really no more tragic than if their deaths had been spread out over the next several decades. It’s just that the sudden and unexpected simultaneous deaths shock us more.”
* “I would say nothing to trivialize disease; I know the misery of it firsthand. But according to Paul, and from the perspective of our eternal God, the sufferings of this present world are less than a paper cut in relation to the glory yet to be revealed to us.”
* “The true opposite of fear is faith. Either we look at the future in fear of what might happen, or we look at the future with faith directed toward our sovereign Father-God, who holds all things in His hands. We have no other options. And the best way to build faith is through the Word of God.
* On the fear of being alone/”deserted”: “In a very real sense, there is no ‘alone.’ There is no place we can ever be that is outside the presence of our Lord … Mothers and fathers know they must someday let go; they can’t be with us forever Not so with God. Once we come to know Him, we need never be separated.”
* A couple wondered why God hadn’t stopped them from making a bad investment: “Have you considered the possibility that I (God) wanted you in that neighborhood to minister rather than to bolster your financial equity? That insight caused them to rethink their questions about God’s guidance. … He says to take up our crosses. Comfort is not a factor. But He does promise that the way to grow into the image of Christ is by trusting and obeying in all circumstances.”
* “You will follow Jesus into a storm someday. And you will learn that, although it may be overwhelming, it’s the safest of all harbors.”
How can this book help? David Jeremiah divides the book into ten chapters, each focusing on a common fear: Disease. Death. Disaster. Depression. Etc. (yes, they all start with “d”).
I was blessed to grow up going to church. Every Sunday morning, every Sunday night, every Wednesday night, and then if there was a revival, other weeknights too. Sunday school. VBS. All this to say that I have a great grounding in the Scriptures, and I’m so grateful for that. However, the downside (if you could call it that), is that, many times when I read the Bible or a Christian book, I’ll see just a word or two of scripture and immediately go into BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH/Charlie Brown teacher voice. It’s just so familiar that it can be difficult for me to see something in a new way. So, when I read a book like this, that does off so new ways of thinking, it is really a treasure to me.
I think this book would be a great resource for any Christian, because let’s face it: we’ll all be afraid of something. If not now, at some point in life. As Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.”
Here are some excerpts from the book that I found helpful or interesting:
* ” … on days when free-floating anxiety is getting the best of me. That last phrase captures it for me: ‘free-floating anxiety.’ That’s the worst one — the foreboding fear that something is wrong, but you don’t know what. It envelops you like a cloud.”
* On fearing natural disasters: “We must remember that every one of the people who died in the Haiti earthquake would eventually have died anyway. The fact that they died simultaneously is really no more tragic than if their deaths had been spread out over the next several decades. It’s just that the sudden and unexpected simultaneous deaths shock us more.”
* “I would say nothing to trivialize disease; I know the misery of it firsthand. But according to Paul, and from the perspective of our eternal God, the sufferings of this present world are less than a paper cut in relation to the glory yet to be revealed to us.”
* “The true opposite of fear is faith. Either we look at the future in fear of what might happen, or we look at the future with faith directed toward our sovereign Father-God, who holds all things in His hands. We have no other options. And the best way to build faith is through the Word of God.
* On the fear of being alone/”deserted”: “In a very real sense, there is no ‘alone.’ There is no place we can ever be that is outside the presence of our Lord … Mothers and fathers know they must someday let go; they can’t be with us forever Not so with God. Once we come to know Him, we need never be separated.”
* A couple wondered why God hadn’t stopped them from making a bad investment: “Have you considered the possibility that I (God) wanted you in that neighborhood to minister rather than to bolster your financial equity? That insight caused them to rethink their questions about God’s guidance. … He says to take up our crosses. Comfort is not a factor. But He does promise that the way to grow into the image of Christ is by trusting and obeying in all circumstances.”
* “You will follow Jesus into a storm someday. And you will learn that, although it may be overwhelming, it’s the safest of all harbors.”
June 24, 2014
Age Appropriate For: All Ages
Best for Ages: 15 and up for reading level
It is hard to admit for any Christian that we get scared at times. After all, shouldn’t our faith be able to calm all our fears? Shouldn’t we be fearless all the time? Dr. David Jeremiah wrote this book for people like me who are embarrassed sometimes with how afraid we can be. I am so grateful he did.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book is that Jeremiah didn’t present this book as the cure for everything. He clearly states that we are human, and there will be times that we are afraid. However, we don’t have to allow that fear to cripple us. My parents and other wise people had told me this before, but it was an encouragement to hear it again.
Each of the chapters in this book was on a different, common fear. Among the topics covered are death, being alone, and natural disasters, just to name a few. Each chapter offered both biblical and practical advice on overcoming/dealing with your fears.
My one complaint about this book actually was to be found in the chapter on being alone. He spent a lot of time on bad-mouthing social media and seemed to say that any and all internet friendships were not real. I understand the point he was trying to make, but disagree with him on his conclusion. Yes, social media should not be where all our friends exist, but to say you cannot have a real friendship via social media is wrong. I have had some very godly friendships through Facebook and blogs that have caused me to grow as a person and in my faith.
Other than this one point, I think that the rest of the book was really good and sound. He uses many Bible verses, in their correct context, to prove his points. His insights into Job were really mind-blowing and good.
I highly recommend this book for those who are afraid, need encouragement, and need some sound, biblical advice.
Best for Ages: 15 and up for reading level
It is hard to admit for any Christian that we get scared at times. After all, shouldn’t our faith be able to calm all our fears? Shouldn’t we be fearless all the time? Dr. David Jeremiah wrote this book for people like me who are embarrassed sometimes with how afraid we can be. I am so grateful he did.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book is that Jeremiah didn’t present this book as the cure for everything. He clearly states that we are human, and there will be times that we are afraid. However, we don’t have to allow that fear to cripple us. My parents and other wise people had told me this before, but it was an encouragement to hear it again.
Each of the chapters in this book was on a different, common fear. Among the topics covered are death, being alone, and natural disasters, just to name a few. Each chapter offered both biblical and practical advice on overcoming/dealing with your fears.
My one complaint about this book actually was to be found in the chapter on being alone. He spent a lot of time on bad-mouthing social media and seemed to say that any and all internet friendships were not real. I understand the point he was trying to make, but disagree with him on his conclusion. Yes, social media should not be where all our friends exist, but to say you cannot have a real friendship via social media is wrong. I have had some very godly friendships through Facebook and blogs that have caused me to grow as a person and in my faith.
Other than this one point, I think that the rest of the book was really good and sound. He uses many Bible verses, in their correct context, to prove his points. His insights into Job were really mind-blowing and good.
I highly recommend this book for those who are afraid, need encouragement, and need some sound, biblical advice.
May 15, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review @ theindigoquill.blogspot.com .
Most of us struggle with fear of some type, whether it be spiders, heights, insecurity, disease, or even death. Dr. David Jeremiah gives us a comprehensive look at identifying the top ten fears that Christians seem to encounter the most:
Disaster: the Fear of Natural Calamity
Disease: the Fear of Serious Illness
Debt: the Fear of Financial Collapse
Defeat: the Fear of Failure
Disconnection: the Fear of Being Alone
Disapproval: the Fear of Rejection
Danger: the Fear of Sudden Trouble
Depression: the Fear of Mental Breakdown
Death: the Fear of Dying
Deity: the Fear of God
Through each chapter, Dr. Jeremiah tackles how one might be able to redirect their focus from being afraid to something greater and more productive to overcome whatever it is they may be dreading. The pages are filled with legitimate real-life stories of people who have justified reasons of being afraid of these things, but even in the worst-case scenarios they don't have to be jaded for life.
I thought this book was well organized and easy to read other than the lengthy chapters. However, I think it could be used more as a reference rather than a complete read-through. The kind of people I see reading this book are those who are struggling to overcome their fears and may simply open to the chapter(s) that apply to them at the time. I can even use it for myself.
It seems to be well researched and you can tell that Dr. Jeremiah has a great deal of experience to show as well. Facts and experience always make a good pair.
Great book! Definitely one that I will be keeping on my shelf for future reference.
Most of us struggle with fear of some type, whether it be spiders, heights, insecurity, disease, or even death. Dr. David Jeremiah gives us a comprehensive look at identifying the top ten fears that Christians seem to encounter the most:
Disaster: the Fear of Natural Calamity
Disease: the Fear of Serious Illness
Debt: the Fear of Financial Collapse
Defeat: the Fear of Failure
Disconnection: the Fear of Being Alone
Disapproval: the Fear of Rejection
Danger: the Fear of Sudden Trouble
Depression: the Fear of Mental Breakdown
Death: the Fear of Dying
Deity: the Fear of God
Through each chapter, Dr. Jeremiah tackles how one might be able to redirect their focus from being afraid to something greater and more productive to overcome whatever it is they may be dreading. The pages are filled with legitimate real-life stories of people who have justified reasons of being afraid of these things, but even in the worst-case scenarios they don't have to be jaded for life.
I thought this book was well organized and easy to read other than the lengthy chapters. However, I think it could be used more as a reference rather than a complete read-through. The kind of people I see reading this book are those who are struggling to overcome their fears and may simply open to the chapter(s) that apply to them at the time. I can even use it for myself.
It seems to be well researched and you can tell that Dr. Jeremiah has a great deal of experience to show as well. Facts and experience always make a good pair.
Great book! Definitely one that I will be keeping on my shelf for future reference.
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