What do you think?
Rate this book
Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest
Edward T. Welch reveals God's plan for encouraging those in the grips of fear. One of the haunting dilemmas of the human condition is that fear is "an inescapable feature of earthly life." Every person who has lived on this earth has encountered fear. Tragically, for this reason our race for the good life finds us all too often "running scared."
In his new release, Running Scared, Edward T. Welch investigates the roots of fear in the human soul and the ramifications of living in the grips of anxiety, worry, and dread. Welch encourages readers to discover for themselves that the Bible is full of beautiful words of comfort for fearful people (and that every single person is afraid of something). Within the framework of thirty topical meditations, Welch offers sound biblical theology and moment-by-moment, thoughtful encouragement for life-saving rescue in the midst of the heart and mind battlefield of rampant panic-stricken responses.
This comprehensive primer on the topic of fear, worry, and the rest of God will have readers retreating to scripture for invariable constancy, stalwart care, and robust comfort, instead of as Welch terms it, "hitting the default switch" by responding with characteristic human independence, control, and self-protectiveness. Running Scared affirms that, through Scripture, God speaks directly to our fears:
On money and possessions
On people and their judgments
On death, pain, and punishment
Welch's lively text provides convincing evidences that humanity's struggle against active and dormant fears are countless. The good news is that God provides both the remedy and the cure for this malady in the person of Jesus Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, and through powerful, life-altering promises in Scripture. Far more than merely another psychology "self-help" guide, Running Scared serves as a biblical roadmap to a life of serenity and security.
In his new release, Running Scared, Edward T. Welch investigates the roots of fear in the human soul and the ramifications of living in the grips of anxiety, worry, and dread. Welch encourages readers to discover for themselves that the Bible is full of beautiful words of comfort for fearful people (and that every single person is afraid of something). Within the framework of thirty topical meditations, Welch offers sound biblical theology and moment-by-moment, thoughtful encouragement for life-saving rescue in the midst of the heart and mind battlefield of rampant panic-stricken responses.
This comprehensive primer on the topic of fear, worry, and the rest of God will have readers retreating to scripture for invariable constancy, stalwart care, and robust comfort, instead of as Welch terms it, "hitting the default switch" by responding with characteristic human independence, control, and self-protectiveness. Running Scared affirms that, through Scripture, God speaks directly to our fears:
On money and possessions
On people and their judgments
On death, pain, and punishment
Welch's lively text provides convincing evidences that humanity's struggle against active and dormant fears are countless. The good news is that God provides both the remedy and the cure for this malady in the person of Jesus Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, and through powerful, life-altering promises in Scripture. Far more than merely another psychology "self-help" guide, Running Scared serves as a biblical roadmap to a life of serenity and security.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2007
514 people are currently reading
2818 people want to read
About the author
Edward T. Welch
91 books455 followersEdward T. Welch, M.Div., Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He has counseled for thirty years and is the best-selling author of many books including When People Are Big and God Is Small; Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave; Blame It on the Brain?; Depression: A Stubborn Darkness; Crossroads: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Addiction; Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest; and When I Am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety. He and his wife Sheri have two daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
March 8, 2019
Of course every book we read changes us a little bit, but every once in a while, I read something that leaves me feeling profoundly changed.
I did not really think of myself as a fearful person until my pastor gave me this book, and I mostly moved it up on my to-read list so I could tell him I was reading it in case he asked. 😜🙈
I also had heard Welch was “boring” when I was in high school, so had avoided reading anything he had written.
But wow, was I wrong! This book completely shone a light on all the fear in my life I had been denying/asleep to, and directed me toward rest in God’s love and sovereignty. This book preached the Gospel directly to me. I have rarely read anything so transformative, and I highly recommend it!
Looking forward to reading all the other Welch books I didn’t think I needed to read! 😉
I did not really think of myself as a fearful person until my pastor gave me this book, and I mostly moved it up on my to-read list so I could tell him I was reading it in case he asked. 😜🙈
I also had heard Welch was “boring” when I was in high school, so had avoided reading anything he had written.
But wow, was I wrong! This book completely shone a light on all the fear in my life I had been denying/asleep to, and directed me toward rest in God’s love and sovereignty. This book preached the Gospel directly to me. I have rarely read anything so transformative, and I highly recommend it!
Looking forward to reading all the other Welch books I didn’t think I needed to read! 😉
July 14, 2013
As someone who struggles with worry and anxiety, I'm the ideal audience for a book like this and I found it to be very helpful. After laying the groundwork in the first few chapters, Welch spends the latter two-thirds of the book providing loosely connected meditations on various biblical texts and concepts which can be used to battle our anxiety. One idea that I found particularly helpful is that we don't have a guarantee of what tomorrow holds but we can be assured that God will provide grace for tomorrow. Worriers always fret about the bad thing that *might* happen tomorrow and we can't imagine how we could ever survive the bad thing, but we always fail to realize that *if* the bad thing comes (and often the things we worry about never come) then the Lord will give us the grace we need to face it. Lotta good stuff here.
Recommended. (If you're a worrier then HIGHLY recommended.)
Recommended. (If you're a worrier then HIGHLY recommended.)
October 30, 2023
I started this book thinking “this will be good to read for those in my life who are anxious.” I finished the first chapter and thought, “Well, dang, I’m an anxious person!” 😅😆 What am incredible help this book was. My affections were so stirred for the Lord. I was moved to think of my fears head on and try to see the underlying desires/unbelief’s and feelings like I’m leaving as a different person since starting this book and I don’t think that’s an exaggeration. I don’t think. 🫣
February 12, 2024
I would definitely recommend this book. This is a very good book on fear and how to deal with it in various contexts. Given my past readings with Ed Welch, 4-stars is pretty low, and maybe I’m being too harsh but I did expect a little more from this. But that may lend to his credit than detriment.
March 15, 2023
Absolutely fantastic. Your experience may vary based on how much worry is a central aspect of your life, but to me this was the kind of essential reading I wish I'd found years ago. Maybe I wasn't ready for it then. Thankful that it came across my radar now.
March 1, 2022
I did not realize how much I needed this book until I started reading it. When my friend offered to buy it for me, I was appreciative of the offer and thought "why not? Can't hurt to read it". I knew I was a worrier. But I did not really see the depths of fear and worry in my life, and its implications on my relationship with the Lord, until God started peeling back the layers of my heart as I read. Below are some takeaways for me.
One thought on the length of the book. There are definitely sections that I skimmed through, especially the first couple of chapters when he describes kinds of fears.
Back to the content...
When I worry, I am thinking about the future and making predictions. Worry is a result of fear. I worry because I fear that I won't get what I feel like I need. That fear is driven by my knowledge that I am not in control of what I think I need. What I need is very valuable to me and controls me. What I worry about reveals what I am trusting in. So when I worry, I need to take a hard look at myself and what I am trusting in. I also need to face the fact that I am not in control but need to seek the God who is.
The antidote to fear and worry is not logical reminders that they are not rational, or likely things will be ok. Even biblical reminders to cast our cares on Him and do not worry are more rational level reminders with limited power to drive away fear and worry unless they are driven by relationship with God Himself. Those calls to cast our cares on Him, do not fear or worry are responses to our personal knowledge of our loving Father who loves us with a love beyond our understanding.
The Lord tests us to reveal what is in our hearts, to show us those idols that we find more valuable than God Himself (Deuteronomy 8:2, 3). But, as with the manna, God will give us what we need today and each day, but not necessarily for tomorrow. This is where we have to trust Him that He will give us the grace for future days. We know that, as His children, no matter what circumstances we will face, we will have the fruit of the Spirit available to us (joy ,peace, patience, love, etc.). And, even more importantly, we have His promise that He will always be with us.
The discussion of the "don't worry" passage in Matthew 6 was especially to cutting to my heart. Matthew 6:25 begins with "therefore", which means it is a follow up from what came right before it. The passage immediately before verse 25 is that command from Jesus to lay up treasures in heaven and that you cannot serve 2 masters. You will love one and hate the other. Jesus applied this to money and then immediately says, "therefore…do not be anxious about your life".
The lesson out of this is that we are anxious, or worry, because we are trying to serve 2 masters. We know we want to serve Jesus, but we are still holding onto other things we think we need (money, people, etc.). This causes anxiety because we know we don't have control over those things. So what does Jesus say is the solution? Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I need to confess my sin of trusting in other things rather than the Lord and turn wholly to Him, trusting that He will give me all that I truly need and that man does not live by bread alone but by every word of from the mouth of the Lord. Our physical needs are important to God, but His spiritual presence in our lives is more important.
Bottom line for me is that my anxiousness shows me my sin of trusting in other things and my need for control. I need to confess that and diligently pursue a closer relationship with my Lord, who loves me. Through this relationship, I will be comforted as I cast all my cares on my Father.
One thought on the length of the book. There are definitely sections that I skimmed through, especially the first couple of chapters when he describes kinds of fears.
Back to the content...
When I worry, I am thinking about the future and making predictions. Worry is a result of fear. I worry because I fear that I won't get what I feel like I need. That fear is driven by my knowledge that I am not in control of what I think I need. What I need is very valuable to me and controls me. What I worry about reveals what I am trusting in. So when I worry, I need to take a hard look at myself and what I am trusting in. I also need to face the fact that I am not in control but need to seek the God who is.
The antidote to fear and worry is not logical reminders that they are not rational, or likely things will be ok. Even biblical reminders to cast our cares on Him and do not worry are more rational level reminders with limited power to drive away fear and worry unless they are driven by relationship with God Himself. Those calls to cast our cares on Him, do not fear or worry are responses to our personal knowledge of our loving Father who loves us with a love beyond our understanding.
The Lord tests us to reveal what is in our hearts, to show us those idols that we find more valuable than God Himself (Deuteronomy 8:2, 3). But, as with the manna, God will give us what we need today and each day, but not necessarily for tomorrow. This is where we have to trust Him that He will give us the grace for future days. We know that, as His children, no matter what circumstances we will face, we will have the fruit of the Spirit available to us (joy ,peace, patience, love, etc.). And, even more importantly, we have His promise that He will always be with us.
The discussion of the "don't worry" passage in Matthew 6 was especially to cutting to my heart. Matthew 6:25 begins with "therefore", which means it is a follow up from what came right before it. The passage immediately before verse 25 is that command from Jesus to lay up treasures in heaven and that you cannot serve 2 masters. You will love one and hate the other. Jesus applied this to money and then immediately says, "therefore…do not be anxious about your life".
The lesson out of this is that we are anxious, or worry, because we are trying to serve 2 masters. We know we want to serve Jesus, but we are still holding onto other things we think we need (money, people, etc.). This causes anxiety because we know we don't have control over those things. So what does Jesus say is the solution? Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I need to confess my sin of trusting in other things rather than the Lord and turn wholly to Him, trusting that He will give me all that I truly need and that man does not live by bread alone but by every word of from the mouth of the Lord. Our physical needs are important to God, but His spiritual presence in our lives is more important.
Bottom line for me is that my anxiousness shows me my sin of trusting in other things and my need for control. I need to confess that and diligently pursue a closer relationship with my Lord, who loves me. Through this relationship, I will be comforted as I cast all my cares on my Father.
March 22, 2012
Like all of Ed Welch's books, Running Scared is a helpful book for ordinary people who struggle with ordinary sins. Scripture-laden and down-to-earth, this expose on fear, worry, and anxiety addresses our souls with the living and active word of the Living God.
Welch writes in an easy, conversational style, weaving Scripture, personal stories, and thoughtful heart-oriented application into the tapestry of his book. The thirty chapters are short enough to read several in one sitting. The last two thirds of the book helpfully divides into four sections addressing three categories of fear: (1) money and possessions; (2) people and their judgments; (3) death, pain and punishment; then finally, peace with God. This last section may be my favorite, as Welch helpfully unfolds several biblical themes (such as covenant, shalom, and peacemaking) with a view to helping us deal with our fears.
Running Scared will be helpful for several groups of people: (1) those with anxiety disorders or pathological fears; (2) people struggling with everyday, garden-variety worry; (3) psychologistis, pastors, and both professional and lay counselors who are trying to help people work through their fears. I found the book helpful in both personal and pastoral ways and highly recommend it to others.
Welch writes in an easy, conversational style, weaving Scripture, personal stories, and thoughtful heart-oriented application into the tapestry of his book. The thirty chapters are short enough to read several in one sitting. The last two thirds of the book helpfully divides into four sections addressing three categories of fear: (1) money and possessions; (2) people and their judgments; (3) death, pain and punishment; then finally, peace with God. This last section may be my favorite, as Welch helpfully unfolds several biblical themes (such as covenant, shalom, and peacemaking) with a view to helping us deal with our fears.
Running Scared will be helpful for several groups of people: (1) those with anxiety disorders or pathological fears; (2) people struggling with everyday, garden-variety worry; (3) psychologistis, pastors, and both professional and lay counselors who are trying to help people work through their fears. I found the book helpful in both personal and pastoral ways and highly recommend it to others.
March 14, 2014
An excellent Christ-centered, gospel focused look at fear and anxiety. I don't usually write in books but I think this is one that I will be revisiting so I did a fair amount of underlining.
My two 'criticisms' would be...
...don't read the first section first. He starts by encouraging you to take a good hard look at your fears. A helpful exercise when you have the tools to handle those fears. But when you are in the midst of struggling with great fears, staring them in the face and fleshing them out may only result in nightmares (really epic nightmares...yikes!) So read the rest of the book first then come back to the first section
...there were parts of the book that felt like he didn't want to get into the really messy kinds of fears. He spends a good deal of time talking about anxiety about money - a perfectly legitimate fear - but sometimes it felt like he was calling this the ultimate fear (or ultimate evidence of fear.) which felt a bit trivial to me since the main fears I brought to the book were the fear of losing a child, and the fear of a family member dying without knowing Christ. But many of the thoughts and meditations he shared on dealing with fears about money could be applied to other fears as well so it's still a 5 star book for me.
My two 'criticisms' would be...
...don't read the first section first. He starts by encouraging you to take a good hard look at your fears. A helpful exercise when you have the tools to handle those fears. But when you are in the midst of struggling with great fears, staring them in the face and fleshing them out may only result in nightmares (really epic nightmares...yikes!) So read the rest of the book first then come back to the first section
...there were parts of the book that felt like he didn't want to get into the really messy kinds of fears. He spends a good deal of time talking about anxiety about money - a perfectly legitimate fear - but sometimes it felt like he was calling this the ultimate fear (or ultimate evidence of fear.) which felt a bit trivial to me since the main fears I brought to the book were the fear of losing a child, and the fear of a family member dying without knowing Christ. But many of the thoughts and meditations he shared on dealing with fears about money could be applied to other fears as well so it's still a 5 star book for me.
September 18, 2018
Good book on fear, anxiety, and how to battle them through faith and trust in God. Much more of this book was about money issues than I expected, although it makes sense, given how many people struggle with anxieties about money. Still, this made the book a little less helpful than I was hoping it would be for dealing with an anxiety disorder. The last part of the book was particularly good.
October 10, 2025
This is the final book in my reading list on depression, anxiety, and stress—and I think it was a fitting one to end with. It’s certainly one of the most comprehensive yet pastoral, encouraging, and deeply counseling works I’ve read in this area. That’s not surprising, since Welch himself is a counselor and writes with the heart of one.
As I wrap up this season of reading, my goal is to slowly begin applying the most important insights from each book rather than continuing to accumulate more information. Each author has offered a unique perspective and way of explaining truth, but one of Welch’s key ideas—the manna principle—stood out to me most. Living in the grace given to us today, not anxiously reaching for tomorrow’s supply, was both freeing and deeply convicting. There were many takeaways, but that’s the one I’ll be chewing on the most.
Now it’s time to shift gears—to move away from seeing everything through the lens of fear, worry, and anxiety, and instead engage more deeply with resources that help me meditate on the virtues and truths these books have pointed me toward.
God has been so faithful in this journey—through friends, counselors, and resources like this. My personal circumstances at home or at work haven’t changed—but neither has GOD. And that is enough.
I’ll close with one powerful story Welch shares near the end of Running Scared:
“A good friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer. Since he had younger children, many people said it wasn’t fair. My response was just to worry…
His response? ‘Nothing has changed.’ His God was still both good and in complete control…
But mostly he just did the next thing. He did what he believed God called him to do: read Scripture daily, pray with his children, be faithful at his job, and love those he had opportunity to love.
His example in this was a witness to the grace of God. He is the man to whom I dedicated this book.”
—Edward T. Welch, Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest
As I wrap up this season of reading, my goal is to slowly begin applying the most important insights from each book rather than continuing to accumulate more information. Each author has offered a unique perspective and way of explaining truth, but one of Welch’s key ideas—the manna principle—stood out to me most. Living in the grace given to us today, not anxiously reaching for tomorrow’s supply, was both freeing and deeply convicting. There were many takeaways, but that’s the one I’ll be chewing on the most.
Now it’s time to shift gears—to move away from seeing everything through the lens of fear, worry, and anxiety, and instead engage more deeply with resources that help me meditate on the virtues and truths these books have pointed me toward.
God has been so faithful in this journey—through friends, counselors, and resources like this. My personal circumstances at home or at work haven’t changed—but neither has GOD. And that is enough.
I’ll close with one powerful story Welch shares near the end of Running Scared:
“A good friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer. Since he had younger children, many people said it wasn’t fair. My response was just to worry…
His response? ‘Nothing has changed.’ His God was still both good and in complete control…
But mostly he just did the next thing. He did what he believed God called him to do: read Scripture daily, pray with his children, be faithful at his job, and love those he had opportunity to love.
His example in this was a witness to the grace of God. He is the man to whom I dedicated this book.”
—Edward T. Welch, Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest
February 13, 2023
“I have a new philosophy. I only dread one day at a time," Charles Schulz put on Charlie Brown's lips words that many of us resonate with. We all have fear. Many of us are paralyzed with debilitating fears, others with low-grade anxiety that we don't seem to ever be able to shake.
Ed Welch’s “Running Scared” examines the multifaceted challenge of fear. Welch offers a number of tools and biblical perspectives to help us negotiate the rough terrain of fear.
The strength of Welch’s book is that he isn’t reductionistic about fear. I appreciated the many different biblical narratives Welch unpacked. The book reads almost like a devotional and I would encourage readers not to plow through it, but to slowly take it in.
Personally, I would have liked a little more structure and a road map along the way. But the Welch is a wise and biblically faithful guide for anyone who struggles with fear.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
“The odd thing is that fear and anxiety are running away from something, but they don’t know what to run to. They know danger, but they don’t know where to find peace and rest.”
“When you erode the fear of death with the knowledge that you already died [in Christ], you will find yourself moving toward a simple, bold obedience.”
“Beneath our questions about God’s generosity and his care for our needs is something darker. What we really care about is our wants.”
“Worriers are visionaries minus the optimism.”
“So your task is not to transform into a superficial, sunny optimist. It is to grow to be an optimist by faith. The kingdom is advancing; God’s reign is spreading; there will be justice; and when we belong to Christ, it will end with joy.”
“Whom do I trust? Where is my faith? Those are the questions that all worriers must ask, yet all of us already know the answer. Our trust is divided. We don’t put all our eggs in one basket—even God’s—because that’s too risky. Our trust might not pay off the way we hope. We are reluctant to simply say to our Father, “I am yours,” and stop worrying. Jesus knows this. Fear and worry reveal that our faith is indeed small. If you are looking to plumb the depths of worry, you can find it in your mixed allegiances. You trust God for some things but not others. You trust him for heaven but not for earth.”
For more reviews see thebeehive.live.
Ed Welch’s “Running Scared” examines the multifaceted challenge of fear. Welch offers a number of tools and biblical perspectives to help us negotiate the rough terrain of fear.
The strength of Welch’s book is that he isn’t reductionistic about fear. I appreciated the many different biblical narratives Welch unpacked. The book reads almost like a devotional and I would encourage readers not to plow through it, but to slowly take it in.
Personally, I would have liked a little more structure and a road map along the way. But the Welch is a wise and biblically faithful guide for anyone who struggles with fear.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
“The odd thing is that fear and anxiety are running away from something, but they don’t know what to run to. They know danger, but they don’t know where to find peace and rest.”
“When you erode the fear of death with the knowledge that you already died [in Christ], you will find yourself moving toward a simple, bold obedience.”
“Beneath our questions about God’s generosity and his care for our needs is something darker. What we really care about is our wants.”
“Worriers are visionaries minus the optimism.”
“So your task is not to transform into a superficial, sunny optimist. It is to grow to be an optimist by faith. The kingdom is advancing; God’s reign is spreading; there will be justice; and when we belong to Christ, it will end with joy.”
“Whom do I trust? Where is my faith? Those are the questions that all worriers must ask, yet all of us already know the answer. Our trust is divided. We don’t put all our eggs in one basket—even God’s—because that’s too risky. Our trust might not pay off the way we hope. We are reluctant to simply say to our Father, “I am yours,” and stop worrying. Jesus knows this. Fear and worry reveal that our faith is indeed small. If you are looking to plumb the depths of worry, you can find it in your mixed allegiances. You trust God for some things but not others. You trust him for heaven but not for earth.”
For more reviews see thebeehive.live.
July 4, 2019
For the general reader, Welch's book is profound at times but meandering at others, longer than it ought to be. However, for the reader who comes seeking relief from anxiety the book is a gold mine of Biblical wisdom that does not reduce the complexity of factors that lead to emotional pain.
The first half in particular does a good job of turning relevant but familiar Biblical passages into practical themes and lessons. The "Manna Principle" is especially worthwhile and was exceptionally helpful to me.
The second half "specializes" in certain categories of fear - money, relationships, death - with varying degrees of success.
Where it's helpful, it's really helpful. While there is much wandering in between, it certainly doesn't hurt to follow the path all the way through.
The first half in particular does a good job of turning relevant but familiar Biblical passages into practical themes and lessons. The "Manna Principle" is especially worthwhile and was exceptionally helpful to me.
The second half "specializes" in certain categories of fear - money, relationships, death - with varying degrees of success.
Where it's helpful, it's really helpful. While there is much wandering in between, it certainly doesn't hurt to follow the path all the way through.
April 29, 2019
A really awesome book on worry and anxiety, even some of the more severe forms of ot.
January 30, 2023
I’ve read a number of books on anxiety and fear, but Welch’s book which is steeped in scripture by far builds the most faith. Instead of focusing inward, he brings our attention upward to one who casts our fear and brings peace. I wouldn’t say it’s the only book to read on the subject, but for any Christian who deals with fear or anxiety, I highly recommend.
February 29, 2020
4 stars for content, 1-2 stars for organization and length. Really good material here, but it could have been written in 1/3 of the space. Also, his writing is incredibly choppy and doesn't always follow logically. Reading this is kind of like riding passenger in a car whose driver slams the breaks every 30 seconds.
Not enjoyable to read, yet good content on the topic.
Not enjoyable to read, yet good content on the topic.
November 1, 2023
Such a great book. I had to read it really fast so I will definitely read it again. Welch tells us to listen to our fears and see what they say about our hearts. This book unearthed my great fear of people. I found I seek honor, prestige, and comfort in people. It provided great rest to my soul looking for these things in God’s kingdom.
June 1, 2022
4.0 Stars
Edward Welch's "Running Scared" is a devotional-style book which addresses the struggle of fear and anxiety. Welch's book is divided into 30 short sections that deal with a specific aspect of fear, worry, or anxiety and then highlights the peace and rest that we find in God.
The strength of this book is its content. Welch is an experience Biblical counselor, and he quickly gets to the root of our fears and anxieties, lack of faith in God. As an expert psychologist, Welch shows the reader what is driving our fears and how God in Christ gives us hope amid these fears. The briefness of each chapter makes this book extremely readable - you can quickly read one chapter a day with your devotions and complete this book in a month.
The weakness of this book is Welch's writing style and its structure. There are some great Biblical principles that I gleaned from this book (i.e., Manna Principle, Kingdom Allegiances) that I will use in my battle against fear, but I felt that the book could have been structured much better. The 30 short devotions make the book easy to read but make its theological content less organized and harder to grasp at a main idea from the book. As well, I am not a particular fan of Welch's writing style which is more conversational than pedagogical and methodical.
But in sum, this is a great book for worriers, neurotics, scaredy-cats, nervous-wrecks, and obsessive personalities - which is pretty much all of us. Part of the fall is that we just doubt God, which brings anxiety and fear into our lives. Welch's book is a fresh breath of air reminding us of our merciful, good, and gracious God that carries our burdens and guards us with his peace. If you are struggling with anxiety and looking for a devotional book to read, pick this up.
Edward Welch's "Running Scared" is a devotional-style book which addresses the struggle of fear and anxiety. Welch's book is divided into 30 short sections that deal with a specific aspect of fear, worry, or anxiety and then highlights the peace and rest that we find in God.
The strength of this book is its content. Welch is an experience Biblical counselor, and he quickly gets to the root of our fears and anxieties, lack of faith in God. As an expert psychologist, Welch shows the reader what is driving our fears and how God in Christ gives us hope amid these fears. The briefness of each chapter makes this book extremely readable - you can quickly read one chapter a day with your devotions and complete this book in a month.
The weakness of this book is Welch's writing style and its structure. There are some great Biblical principles that I gleaned from this book (i.e., Manna Principle, Kingdom Allegiances) that I will use in my battle against fear, but I felt that the book could have been structured much better. The 30 short devotions make the book easy to read but make its theological content less organized and harder to grasp at a main idea from the book. As well, I am not a particular fan of Welch's writing style which is more conversational than pedagogical and methodical.
But in sum, this is a great book for worriers, neurotics, scaredy-cats, nervous-wrecks, and obsessive personalities - which is pretty much all of us. Part of the fall is that we just doubt God, which brings anxiety and fear into our lives. Welch's book is a fresh breath of air reminding us of our merciful, good, and gracious God that carries our burdens and guards us with his peace. If you are struggling with anxiety and looking for a devotional book to read, pick this up.
December 17, 2018
An excellent book on facing and dealing with fear and anxiety. It's filled with Scripture, it's unmistakably God-centred and it's very real. The way Welch describes our daily experiences of worry in every sphere of life is itself so helpful because he puts into words things we know so well but might struggle to describe for ourselves. And then following every insightful diagnosis, Welch takes time and care to give the Bible's clear and powerful response to our anxiety.
It's a comprehensive book, which is not to say it's complicated but that Welch doesn't rush things but explores every avenue of Biblical hope along the way.
And it's an undeniably challenging book but not in a discomforting way. There is rich encouragement on every page that builds faith and points the reader again and again to the God whose most-repeated words are 'Do not be afraid.'
'Only faith can loosen our fears and worries - faith in the One who is in control and who will give us grace when we need it.'
Highly recommended and one to read and re-read!
It's a comprehensive book, which is not to say it's complicated but that Welch doesn't rush things but explores every avenue of Biblical hope along the way.
And it's an undeniably challenging book but not in a discomforting way. There is rich encouragement on every page that builds faith and points the reader again and again to the God whose most-repeated words are 'Do not be afraid.'
'Only faith can loosen our fears and worries - faith in the One who is in control and who will give us grace when we need it.'
Highly recommended and one to read and re-read!
February 17, 2015
Wow. This book is excellent on so many levels. Without being reductionistic or simplistic, Welch demonstrates repeatedly that the problem of fear, worry, and anxiety is ultimately an issue of mixed allegiance between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. Skillful, gentle, persuasive. This book includes a thoughtful presentation of the gospel at multiple places for those who might not yet understand it, couched in the context of kingdom allegiance. Running Scared is written with a surgeon's skill and a pastor's heart. Highly recommended.
September 19, 2015
Great book. I found this book very helpful and pastoral. Living overseas, there are lots of times when one faces uncertainty and a sense of worry. This book is like talking with a good friend or pastor who wisely and gently helps you to look at life in light of the Kingdom of God. It regularly draws readers to remember God's faithfulness and the way he provides for what his people need. I recommend this book.
February 4, 2023
This was a great read on fighting fear and worry and resting in God. I listened to the audio so I definitely didn’t catch everything. However this was so good that I think I’ll circle back to it eventually and buckle down and do the actual read through.
April 18, 2024
Really good stuff. Makes you think about the things you worry about and trace it back to a fear and shows how ultimately our fears are a failure to trust in and rely on God. Hadn’t considered my own worries too much and hadn’t even realized just how much I was relying on my own strength and abilities to live in this world. I came to a point where I realized that all the things I was worried about were things I was impotent to control, things that only an omnipotent God could truly protect against and provide for in face of all that could go wrong.
December 19, 2023
While this book took me a month to read through, I read it slowly so I could digest it a little at a time. Welch did an excellent job biblically addressing fear and offering hope through Christ, because of his finished work on the cross we don’t have to live in fear, but can have victory over fear and anxiety in our lives.
January 11, 2021
Life changing
I’d dare to say this book is life changing. I love Welch’s books and this was no exception. One of my favorite parts was when he talked about the fear of God.
I’d dare to say this book is life changing. I love Welch’s books and this was no exception. One of my favorite parts was when he talked about the fear of God.
January 1, 2024
Excellent read!!
February 13, 2022
This book had some good reminders, such as Sunday worship shouldn't be the only time I'm saying those words of adoration to God. But overall, it was very redundant and needed better editing. The good message underneath sometimes got lost in all the repetition.
June 6, 2023
Encouraging and very practical on the subject of fear and anxiety. One to reread often!
August 25, 2019
The content was good but I just didn’t enjoy the writing style at all. It also got a bit repetitive at times. Some chapters were wonderfully encouraging about the peace we have in Christ.
October 30, 2023
5 for me. Covers a lot of ground with depth, compassion, grounded theology, and wisdom.
January 31, 2024
Ed Welch does a fantastic job of describing and evaluating fear as a not so surprisingly but all too common characteristic. Anxiety and depression likewise involve fear as a typical characteristic. Fear is the root of many of these common traits.
He describes the fear of the Lord as a way to dispel these other fears and subject them to a more realistic perspective. God's grace is the catalyst for recovering the peace that so often seems distant, and understanding His faithfulness both enlightens us to His holiness and it causes us to relinquish our most cherished anxieties.
He describes the fear of the Lord as a way to dispel these other fears and subject them to a more realistic perspective. God's grace is the catalyst for recovering the peace that so often seems distant, and understanding His faithfulness both enlightens us to His holiness and it causes us to relinquish our most cherished anxieties.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews