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A Non-Anxious Life: Experiencing the Peace of God's Presence
Do you, like so many of us, see anxiety as an incentive to perform? Or a proof of how much you care? Or is anxiety simply an unwelcome shadow over your days, bringing with it clenched teeth and an upset stomach? Anxiety leads us to succumb to fear and fight peace. Anxious living is a distortion of good motives, blocking the clarity of stillness and rest. Alan Fadling has also felt mastered by worry, but he brings counsel on how to learn a better way and who to look to for Jesus, "the ultimate non-anxious presence." He constructs a posture from which we can rest more deeply, live more fully, and lead better. Fixing our minds on grace and eternity, we can begin to see the benefit of loosening our grip and operating from a sure foundation. Join Alan in releasing anxiety and taking up authentic love in A Non-Anxious Life .
224 pages, Hardcover
Published February 6, 2024
15 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Alan Fadling
20 books39 followersAlan Fadling (M. Div., Fuller Theological Seminary) is President and Founder of Unhurried Living, Inc. in Mission Viejo, CA, inspiring people to rest deeper, live fuller and lead better. He speaks and consults internationally, as well as nationally with organizations such as Saddleback Church, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Cru, Halftime Institute, Apprentice Institute and Open Doors International. He is the award-winning author of An Unhurried Life (IVP 2013), honored with a Christianity Today Award of Merit in spirituality, and of An Unhurried Leader (IVP 2017). He is a trained spiritual director. He lives in Mission Viejo, California with his wife, Gem, and their three sons.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 10, 2024
I was drawn into “A Non-Anxious Life: Experiencing the Peace of God’s Presence” even from the first chapter, titled “Becoming a Master of Anxiety.” This phrase resonated with me as the author shares his struggles with anxiety and our need to be discipled by Jesus, our Prince of Peace.
His book is not a far removed help for others devoid of having experienced anxiety himself; instead this text pours out from his own life as a fellow student in the depths of this struggle. He writes,
“The way of peace that Jesus leads us into is a way that begins from within us in relationship with him. It does not require peaceful circumstances to survive.”
Throughout, the book contrasts God’s character and Word, as well as the effects of His grace and the fruit of the Spirit with anxiety’s characteristics, counsel, and effects. I have never quite seen a book approach this topic in this way, and it was immensely helpful as I highlighted many things related to what I want to grow in regarding anxiety.
Highlights:
“My worry is a sort of meditation in the negative.”
“When I remember I'm never alone in my responsibilities, or my cares, peace has a way of soaking more deeply into my soul and quieting my anxiety.”
“God is a loving Father, ever-present to treat us with care and generosity. As I grow to trust this as my reality, my anxieties and worries have a way of burning off like a morning mist.”
“Some who I wish would show me love may be unavailable. Some are oppressively available. But in all my ups and downs, my emotional highs and lows, God has been steadily and generously present.”
“God's grace does not come in wisps or trickles. It is a roaring river of generous presence.”
“My anxiety has little awareness of the presence of God-with-me, who that God is, and how that God relates to me.”
“Jesus is not terrified by the things that terrify us. He knows the reality of the kingdom in ways we do not yet know them. He gives us peace by giving us himself. The peace of God is a Person.”
Readability: 4
Impact: 4
Content: 4
Enjoyability: 4
Total: 4 stars
Thank you to IVP for gifting me a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
His book is not a far removed help for others devoid of having experienced anxiety himself; instead this text pours out from his own life as a fellow student in the depths of this struggle. He writes,
“The way of peace that Jesus leads us into is a way that begins from within us in relationship with him. It does not require peaceful circumstances to survive.”
Throughout, the book contrasts God’s character and Word, as well as the effects of His grace and the fruit of the Spirit with anxiety’s characteristics, counsel, and effects. I have never quite seen a book approach this topic in this way, and it was immensely helpful as I highlighted many things related to what I want to grow in regarding anxiety.
Highlights:
“My worry is a sort of meditation in the negative.”
“When I remember I'm never alone in my responsibilities, or my cares, peace has a way of soaking more deeply into my soul and quieting my anxiety.”
“God is a loving Father, ever-present to treat us with care and generosity. As I grow to trust this as my reality, my anxieties and worries have a way of burning off like a morning mist.”
“Some who I wish would show me love may be unavailable. Some are oppressively available. But in all my ups and downs, my emotional highs and lows, God has been steadily and generously present.”
“God's grace does not come in wisps or trickles. It is a roaring river of generous presence.”
“My anxiety has little awareness of the presence of God-with-me, who that God is, and how that God relates to me.”
“Jesus is not terrified by the things that terrify us. He knows the reality of the kingdom in ways we do not yet know them. He gives us peace by giving us himself. The peace of God is a Person.”
Readability: 4
Impact: 4
Content: 4
Enjoyability: 4
Total: 4 stars
Thank you to IVP for gifting me a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
January 12, 2024
Summary: Proposes, as an alternative to an anxiety-driven life of hurry, restlessness, worry, and performance, a life under the non-anxious presence of Jesus of stillness, rest, peace, and fruitful love.
“For most of my adult life, I’ve been a master of anxiety…” With these words, Alan Fadling begins this book about his own journey toward a non-anxious life. Anxiety had been his basic way of approaching situations and people. But it came at a cost of tunnel-vision, the draining of his energies, and knee-jerk assumptions about life. He discovered that the presence of the Prince of Peace in his life and his ongoing shepherding has led to a less hurried, worried, and restless life. He’s honest about the truth that this doesn’t mean an anxiety-free life but rather learning how to relinquish anxieties to One who cares.
He reminds us of Jesus lesson about the birds, reinforced by watching the birds about his home. Jesus says that as much as he cares for the birds and flowers, even more does he care for his friends. His care for us today means we don’t need to import tomorrow’s worries into today. He’s learned to practice the four movements of Philippians 4:6-7 of prayer, petition, thanksgiving, and requests. Prayer isn’t rehearsing our worries but leaving them with God, exchanging them for peace. He notes the presence of grace and peace at the beginning and end of Paul’s letters, suggesting a rhythm of breathing in and breathing out God’s grace and peace, becoming grace- and peace-filled people.
We enter into peace as we exchange the presence of anxiety for the presence of God. He describes an exercise of experiencing God’s presence in our whole bodies, noticing those places where we are particularly tense. He sees wisdom in the example of Saint Francis, who urged his followers to “live Jesus” in the virtues of humility, patience, simplicity, kindness, and gentleness, virtues that displace worldly ways that engender anxiety. He invites us into the dependence and surrender that says:
Don't try so hard with God.
Receive what God is giving.
Enter into what God is doing.
Offer a simple expression of your love to God.
Be as gentle with yourself as God is.
Don't come to God only to feel better.
Welcome however God wishes to be present.
This is the way of peace (pp. 84-85).
He observes the deep and abiding joy of God and the amazing truth that God takes joy in us! Living into that knowledge replaces burdens with buoyancy, joy and hope. He invites us to consider the Goliaths that constrict our lives including the Goliath of our smartphones, filling a page with all the functions they have taken over in our lives (p. 116). He describes being kept awake with worry and the promise of Isaiah 26:3-4 that helped him of God keeping him in perfect peace as he trusts in him.
He offers a chapter on rhythms of peace useful for retreats and practices and precepts to help us to be non-anxious in our work. He concludes with inviting us to exchange being masters of anxieties and to embark on the path of becoming masters of peace. In addition to sharing practices for exchanging anxiety for peace in each chapter, he offers “Non-Anxious Reflection” at the conclusion of each chapter. The book includes a beautiful “non-anxious prayer” in one appendix that we might use regularly and a guide for groups in a second appendix.
Fadling alludes at points to seeing a counselor and to using anti-anxiety prescribed medications. It might have been helpful, without giving medical advice, to discuss when one ought to explore these options in addition to the spiritual practices he has found helpful and why counseling and medication needn’t be opposed to spiritual practice.
That said, Fadling’s example of personal transparency and combination of precept and practice throughout this book invites readers into a life of trust and rest instead of anxiety and hurry. Imagine that the Prince of Peace wants us to share in his peace. Imagine that the God of joy would have us share in that joy and find it our strength. Alan Fadling helps us to not only imagine these things but invites us to join him on the journey toward a non-anxious life.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
“For most of my adult life, I’ve been a master of anxiety…” With these words, Alan Fadling begins this book about his own journey toward a non-anxious life. Anxiety had been his basic way of approaching situations and people. But it came at a cost of tunnel-vision, the draining of his energies, and knee-jerk assumptions about life. He discovered that the presence of the Prince of Peace in his life and his ongoing shepherding has led to a less hurried, worried, and restless life. He’s honest about the truth that this doesn’t mean an anxiety-free life but rather learning how to relinquish anxieties to One who cares.
He reminds us of Jesus lesson about the birds, reinforced by watching the birds about his home. Jesus says that as much as he cares for the birds and flowers, even more does he care for his friends. His care for us today means we don’t need to import tomorrow’s worries into today. He’s learned to practice the four movements of Philippians 4:6-7 of prayer, petition, thanksgiving, and requests. Prayer isn’t rehearsing our worries but leaving them with God, exchanging them for peace. He notes the presence of grace and peace at the beginning and end of Paul’s letters, suggesting a rhythm of breathing in and breathing out God’s grace and peace, becoming grace- and peace-filled people.
We enter into peace as we exchange the presence of anxiety for the presence of God. He describes an exercise of experiencing God’s presence in our whole bodies, noticing those places where we are particularly tense. He sees wisdom in the example of Saint Francis, who urged his followers to “live Jesus” in the virtues of humility, patience, simplicity, kindness, and gentleness, virtues that displace worldly ways that engender anxiety. He invites us into the dependence and surrender that says:
Don't try so hard with God.
Receive what God is giving.
Enter into what God is doing.
Offer a simple expression of your love to God.
Be as gentle with yourself as God is.
Don't come to God only to feel better.
Welcome however God wishes to be present.
This is the way of peace (pp. 84-85).
He observes the deep and abiding joy of God and the amazing truth that God takes joy in us! Living into that knowledge replaces burdens with buoyancy, joy and hope. He invites us to consider the Goliaths that constrict our lives including the Goliath of our smartphones, filling a page with all the functions they have taken over in our lives (p. 116). He describes being kept awake with worry and the promise of Isaiah 26:3-4 that helped him of God keeping him in perfect peace as he trusts in him.
He offers a chapter on rhythms of peace useful for retreats and practices and precepts to help us to be non-anxious in our work. He concludes with inviting us to exchange being masters of anxieties and to embark on the path of becoming masters of peace. In addition to sharing practices for exchanging anxiety for peace in each chapter, he offers “Non-Anxious Reflection” at the conclusion of each chapter. The book includes a beautiful “non-anxious prayer” in one appendix that we might use regularly and a guide for groups in a second appendix.
Fadling alludes at points to seeing a counselor and to using anti-anxiety prescribed medications. It might have been helpful, without giving medical advice, to discuss when one ought to explore these options in addition to the spiritual practices he has found helpful and why counseling and medication needn’t be opposed to spiritual practice.
That said, Fadling’s example of personal transparency and combination of precept and practice throughout this book invites readers into a life of trust and rest instead of anxiety and hurry. Imagine that the Prince of Peace wants us to share in his peace. Imagine that the God of joy would have us share in that joy and find it our strength. Alan Fadling helps us to not only imagine these things but invites us to join him on the journey toward a non-anxious life.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
March 21, 2025
This book felt like a hug! It is full of practical, simple, beautiful truth. I really loved it. Pairs well with John Mark Comer’s work but they have very different styles of writing. Some of this book starts to feel repetitive but honestly I wonder if that’s the point (a lot of it is about countering anxious self-talk, so to form that into a habit you would have to practice that over and over). I bought the audiobook after reading because I feel like it’s something I’d like to just turn on and listen to when I need to remind myself that God is in charge and my anxiety is not.
January 30, 2024
Very well written; Thoughtful and detailed throughout. The truths are not “earth shattering”, but they are presented in a compassionate and applicable manner. It’s beneficial cover to cover.
November 9, 2025
Reviewed in 2025-2026 TCBS seminary journal.
December 29, 2025
Highly recommended. Grounded in Biblical truth and personal experience, this approachable book offers encouragement and insights and practical application questions.
This book is a helpful resource for anyone who's dealing with anxiety or "soul-hurry." The sort of book that belongs in every believer's library to be re-read as needed.
This book is a helpful resource for anyone who's dealing with anxiety or "soul-hurry." The sort of book that belongs in every believer's library to be re-read as needed.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews