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Unafraid: Trusting God in an Unsafe World
Though I don’t know where your fears started or how deep they sit in your soul, I do know Fear is a heavy burden. One of the heaviest you can carry. It’s exhausting and overwhelming. And it’s not from God.
—Susie Davis, Unafraid
In 1978 Susie Davis watched as a thirteen-year-old classmate entered her classroom and killed her teacher. As a witness to one of the earliest school shootings in our nation, Susie faced years of paralyzing fear and an intense distrust of God. But God relentlessly pursued her and, over time, broke Susie’s fear addiction.
In Unafraid, Susie offers her hard-won insights about how we can trust God in the midst of our fears about violence, disease, and personal tragedy. With you, she asks, “How do we live unafraid? How do we remain aware of world events without giving in to fear? How do we make everyday choices to stop letting ‘What if?’ control us?”
As Susie shows us, it is possible to break fear’s grasp on our lives. We can be aware of the terrible without forgetting the beautiful. We can look up with joy and realize the remarkable Jesus wants to take our fear and give us, in its place, true peace. Walk this liberating journey with her and learn what it means to live unafraid.
—Susie Davis, Unafraid
In 1978 Susie Davis watched as a thirteen-year-old classmate entered her classroom and killed her teacher. As a witness to one of the earliest school shootings in our nation, Susie faced years of paralyzing fear and an intense distrust of God. But God relentlessly pursued her and, over time, broke Susie’s fear addiction.
In Unafraid, Susie offers her hard-won insights about how we can trust God in the midst of our fears about violence, disease, and personal tragedy. With you, she asks, “How do we live unafraid? How do we remain aware of world events without giving in to fear? How do we make everyday choices to stop letting ‘What if?’ control us?”
As Susie shows us, it is possible to break fear’s grasp on our lives. We can be aware of the terrible without forgetting the beautiful. We can look up with joy and realize the remarkable Jesus wants to take our fear and give us, in its place, true peace. Walk this liberating journey with her and learn what it means to live unafraid.
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2015
33 people are currently reading
873 people want to read
About the author
Susie Davis
33 books33 followersSusie Davis is an author, speaker and co-founder of Austin Christian Fellowship. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Will Davis, Jr., and they have 3 delightful young adult children (Will III, Emily, and Sara) who are all married and living their one beautiful life.
Susie’s podcast, Dear Daughters, is full of wisdom and joy, offering women young and old the kind of comfort and companionship they crave.
Aside from family and ministry, Susie is hopelessly addicted to horseback riding, McDonald’s coffee and pink geraniums. She loves bird watching, creek walking and connecting the dots between God and nature. Her favorites include cooking, gathering people at her big French farm table and asking deep questions.
Susie’s podcast, Dear Daughters, is full of wisdom and joy, offering women young and old the kind of comfort and companionship they crave.
Aside from family and ministry, Susie is hopelessly addicted to horseback riding, McDonald’s coffee and pink geraniums. She loves bird watching, creek walking and connecting the dots between God and nature. Her favorites include cooking, gathering people at her big French farm table and asking deep questions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
June 21, 2015
This book is written from the author's personal experience for all of us who have struggled with strongholds of intense fear. This includes a feeling that God will not necessarily look after us, based on the observable experiences of ourselves and others. Susie's started in High School, when a fellow student shot and killed a teacher in front of the class. Others have different triggers, but share her feelings.
I like how she helps us face the fact that fear is an idol. We may think of 'idols' as only things which bring us pleasure, but they are simply things which consume our thoughts and attention, and take priority above God. So even though we abhor our fear, it may be high time we're alerted to the fact that we may, in fact, worship it.
Davis has been there, and knows the lies we tell ourselves, all the while convincing our hearts that we're simply trying to be careful and informed. We apply scripture like band-aids, not really believing in God's protection anymore. We may think of God as a pleasant game-loser, but honour fear as the stronger player. We may run up against fear's horrid sidekicks, named paranoia and hypochondria, which are personal acquaintances of mine. Our extensive note taking and research, aimed to keep us 'informed' is, in reality, getting an education from the enemy about the world. Indulging in these activities leaves huge openings for us to be pounced on with outrageous ideas and ridiculous scenarios. (She outlined some of hers, apparently to make us shake our heads that she was so extreme, but I found mine have been a perfect match over the years.)
As the only real solution, she urges us to train our minds to knock down subtle, apparently rational thoughts against God's truth. If you're like me, we need a bit of plain talk like this. We need to be told that rather than being in our circumstances, as we imagine, our sickness is actually in our hearts. We have to face the fact that rather than being like brave Caleb in the Bible, we'd be more likely find ourselves among the rest of the Israelites, who think it's safer to warn others about the giants.
I'd place this book on my shelf along with other faith-building testimonies and teachings about our true biblical grounds for relying on God's love and expecting healing.
Thanks to Blogging for Books and WaterBrook Multnomah for my review copy.
I like how she helps us face the fact that fear is an idol. We may think of 'idols' as only things which bring us pleasure, but they are simply things which consume our thoughts and attention, and take priority above God. So even though we abhor our fear, it may be high time we're alerted to the fact that we may, in fact, worship it.
Davis has been there, and knows the lies we tell ourselves, all the while convincing our hearts that we're simply trying to be careful and informed. We apply scripture like band-aids, not really believing in God's protection anymore. We may think of God as a pleasant game-loser, but honour fear as the stronger player. We may run up against fear's horrid sidekicks, named paranoia and hypochondria, which are personal acquaintances of mine. Our extensive note taking and research, aimed to keep us 'informed' is, in reality, getting an education from the enemy about the world. Indulging in these activities leaves huge openings for us to be pounced on with outrageous ideas and ridiculous scenarios. (She outlined some of hers, apparently to make us shake our heads that she was so extreme, but I found mine have been a perfect match over the years.)
As the only real solution, she urges us to train our minds to knock down subtle, apparently rational thoughts against God's truth. If you're like me, we need a bit of plain talk like this. We need to be told that rather than being in our circumstances, as we imagine, our sickness is actually in our hearts. We have to face the fact that rather than being like brave Caleb in the Bible, we'd be more likely find ourselves among the rest of the Israelites, who think it's safer to warn others about the giants.
I'd place this book on my shelf along with other faith-building testimonies and teachings about our true biblical grounds for relying on God's love and expecting healing.
Thanks to Blogging for Books and WaterBrook Multnomah for my review copy.
July 6, 2015
I had higher hopes for this book. The title attracted me immediately, as did the description of the author's trauma which triggered her panic disorder. I'd expected Davis to tell more of her story. Instead she told snippets,going back and forth in time, from past to present, to recent past, etc.. and then it was more advice. How to. Do this. Bottom line: love God more and you'll be fine. Kind of a short shrift here. I like Davis' writing style and her honesty was refreshing. I just wished she'd kept more to her story and let it speak for itself rather than revert to the usual self help kind of stuff at the end.
August 1, 2015
I truly can't say enough wonderful things about this book. Susie Davis articulates about fear things I couldn't put into words for years. I knew i had a problem, I just couldn't define it.
I can now. I love God. I believe in Him with my whole heart. I just don't trust Him.
My father died when I was 7 in a hot air balloon accident. I learned at a very young age the world isn't safe.
Susie Davis walks a fear-er like me through the winding road that is learning to trust God. A journey full of His promises that ends with a huge bear hug from a loving heavenly Father.
I can now. I love God. I believe in Him with my whole heart. I just don't trust Him.
My father died when I was 7 in a hot air balloon accident. I learned at a very young age the world isn't safe.
Susie Davis walks a fear-er like me through the winding road that is learning to trust God. A journey full of His promises that ends with a huge bear hug from a loving heavenly Father.
October 2, 2016
Easy to read and I love the way she weaves truth into the story of the hardship she has endured.
November 28, 2019
After witnessing a murder when 13-year-old, Susie Davis had started to live in fear. On the surface a nice pastor´s wife, behind the surface a scared woman, who even did not show that she needed healing. This is her story about her healing - and more. We women tend to live with our fears, so maybe this can be a helpful book for you. As it was for me - at least in showing me the certain duality I have been living in - loving my God, but not trusting Him to have my back.
This is a warm, loving book from somebody who truly understands and is very tender towards her readers. Even if her story is specific and based on her circumstances, the general observations (and questions on the end of every chapters) might be a good base for your growth out of fear and more into love.
This is a warm, loving book from somebody who truly understands and is very tender towards her readers. Even if her story is specific and based on her circumstances, the general observations (and questions on the end of every chapters) might be a good base for your growth out of fear and more into love.
September 18, 2018
I found this book at a women’s retreat and sat down to read it. This book has changed my life. This book helped me dig deep into my own life and find the root of my fears and allowed me to find solutions and realize I needed to work on myself. This book allowed me to overcome my fear after a miscarriage and to still trust God even when I am scared of His power at times. I recommend this book to anyone who struggles with fear of tragedies.
November 13, 2017
This is an important book for all who struggle with fear. The author's life has mirrored my own in many ways, fear replaced by faith, and is told in a way that helped me appreciate my own journey to peace. Do I still struggle with it sometimes? Sure. But I have a better understanding of the basis and better tools for the fight.
March 25, 2018
Wonderfully written showing forth the PRAISE Worthiness of Our God !
This is an excellent book even to those who don't know that fear is robbing their faith. So lovingly written.
This is an excellent book even to those who don't know that fear is robbing their faith. So lovingly written.
May 12, 2018
Encouraging Read
Mrs. Davis shares her fears resulting from a trauma she experienced while in school. She is very candid and open with her feelings, and relates how God helped her overcome her fearful tendencies. It is a very uplifting read.
Mrs. Davis shares her fears resulting from a trauma she experienced while in school. She is very candid and open with her feelings, and relates how God helped her overcome her fearful tendencies. It is a very uplifting read.
September 10, 2018
Quick read of one who survived the trauma of a school shooting when she was 14 yet spent many years dealing with PTSD.
I appreciated the author’s vulnerability in telling just how significant this trauma affected her life but also the slow and steady path God put her on out of crippling anxiety.
I appreciated the author’s vulnerability in telling just how significant this trauma affected her life but also the slow and steady path God put her on out of crippling anxiety.
June 13, 2020
If you’ve ever wanted an older women to mother you lovingly and kindly in the area of fear, this is the book for you. I felt Susie’s warmth the whole time and had the sense that I could have been speaking with her about all of this during a mentoring meeting at her own dining room table.
July 14, 2023
I really needed the reminders in this book. I feel like I was doing fairly well until I had kids. After kids, it opens a wealth of fear that just stirs up and never fully leaves.
I will say the first half of the book, I did feel my anxiety rising as I read and that could be because she was telling the stories of her own anxiety in her teen years and 20s. But it still did not make me want to pick up the story a ton. I had to force myself to keep reading, telling myself it has to get better.
I think the over all theme is that the worst happened to Susie, yet her fears as she grew up got worse and the fears never matched. I think that’s the real lesson here. The torment in our heads 99% off the time is not what is really going on.
I think having stories from her past going back and forth out of order was harder to follow but her easy way of writing was excellent.
I will say the first half of the book, I did feel my anxiety rising as I read and that could be because she was telling the stories of her own anxiety in her teen years and 20s. But it still did not make me want to pick up the story a ton. I had to force myself to keep reading, telling myself it has to get better.
I think the over all theme is that the worst happened to Susie, yet her fears as she grew up got worse and the fears never matched. I think that’s the real lesson here. The torment in our heads 99% off the time is not what is really going on.
I think having stories from her past going back and forth out of order was harder to follow but her easy way of writing was excellent.
August 29, 2019
Susie Davis is such a mentor, at any age. All of us who have been challenged by fear will appreciate this book.
January 12, 2020
"Instead of fretting about what could happen, pray for wisdom about what to do when something does happen. "
February 18, 2020
I borrowed this from the library. Buying my own copy. Some great wisdom!
July 12, 2021
I loved this book so much. This is Susie's testimony of how God healed her from terrible fears. God is still in the healing business!
September 15, 2025
Such a good read using personal testimony to witness on how combat fear
July 8, 2015
The author says, “Fear is a rule breaker. A fake-out. A liar. And we all learn to fear soon enough…Fear creeps in through books, T.V. and other people’s stories…I think I first learned of fear that way,” the author confesses. “Fear whispers when we’re young. It follows us when we’re older. And somehow along the way, we start to think it’s normal to be afraid.”
I instantly connected to what this author had to say about fear. She asks the question “Is it really possible to trust God in an unsafe world?” She reveals her journey and how it is possible. I appreciated how she shared her personal situations, and how she was transparent in her struggles with faith and fear. After she witnessed a neighbor (13 yrs. old - who lived three doors down from her growing up) shoot their teacher in the classroom while everyone watched; then left the room. “Fear” tried to hijack her life that day; and every day after that point.
She says, “At 12 I thought I had met the antidote for fear; “Jesus”…I didn’t realize it then but (after the shooting) it was the beginning of my breakup with God…I loved God, but I did not trust him.”
Susie’s journey from paralyzing fear to trusting faith in God is compelling, she gives readers hope that they too can be set free. She says, “God wants us whole”… (She tried running from God) “And then, at the end of it all, there was God. Right where He had always been. Ready to offer the comfort I craved. The security I longed for. The Home I always wanted.”
…”God was not content to let me set scared to death scrunched under the counter, cowering, while the enemy pounded me with more and more fear. Eventually I let God rescue me.”
Shocking things are broadcast daily on the evening news. It’s easy to let fear take over your life. I liked how she had the reader walk with her to freedom. The freedom all of us can have if we let God rescue us. There comes a point in life when we are at the end of our rope and God says, “Ok, let go I’ve got this!” It’s scary but so is being afraid.
I loved how Susie shared the tender ways God came to her rescue and how she invites readers to see how God is working in their lives too. He wants to set our spirits free. “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of powerful, love and a sound mind”
I highly recommend this book for a book club pick. It’s rich and there is so much to discuss. It’s also a great one to pass onto a friend. It is refreshingly honest and encouraging to the soul! This book is also a keeper.
Disclosure of Material Connection: #AD Sponsored by publisher.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
I instantly connected to what this author had to say about fear. She asks the question “Is it really possible to trust God in an unsafe world?” She reveals her journey and how it is possible. I appreciated how she shared her personal situations, and how she was transparent in her struggles with faith and fear. After she witnessed a neighbor (13 yrs. old - who lived three doors down from her growing up) shoot their teacher in the classroom while everyone watched; then left the room. “Fear” tried to hijack her life that day; and every day after that point.
She says, “At 12 I thought I had met the antidote for fear; “Jesus”…I didn’t realize it then but (after the shooting) it was the beginning of my breakup with God…I loved God, but I did not trust him.”
Susie’s journey from paralyzing fear to trusting faith in God is compelling, she gives readers hope that they too can be set free. She says, “God wants us whole”… (She tried running from God) “And then, at the end of it all, there was God. Right where He had always been. Ready to offer the comfort I craved. The security I longed for. The Home I always wanted.”
…”God was not content to let me set scared to death scrunched under the counter, cowering, while the enemy pounded me with more and more fear. Eventually I let God rescue me.”
Shocking things are broadcast daily on the evening news. It’s easy to let fear take over your life. I liked how she had the reader walk with her to freedom. The freedom all of us can have if we let God rescue us. There comes a point in life when we are at the end of our rope and God says, “Ok, let go I’ve got this!” It’s scary but so is being afraid.
I loved how Susie shared the tender ways God came to her rescue and how she invites readers to see how God is working in their lives too. He wants to set our spirits free. “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of powerful, love and a sound mind”
I highly recommend this book for a book club pick. It’s rich and there is so much to discuss. It’s also a great one to pass onto a friend. It is refreshingly honest and encouraging to the soul! This book is also a keeper.
Disclosure of Material Connection: #AD Sponsored by publisher.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
July 30, 2015
Already a fearful child, the sight of an eighth grade classmate—a neighbor boy—gunning down a favorite teacher in May of 1978 proved to be too much for Susie Davis. As a result, she developed irrational routines like hiding in her closet when she was home alone and later in life checking the whole house for intruders before taking her children inside. For years she functioned this way, covering her coping mechanisms well. However, she did eventually break down and that led to a season of God peeling the layers off the fears that held her in their power. With the help of her husband, friends, and especially God she was able to break fear’s chains. Unafraid is the story of her journey from fear to wholeness and her message of hope to other fearful people.
Davis’s writing voice is friendly and encouraging, though she does sometimes lapse into lecture mode. She uses a lot of sentence fragments which I found distracting as they drew my attention away from content and to the writing itself.
The book does contain sound advice about how to counter fear. However, two flies in the ointment spoiled my enjoyment of this memoir.
In a chapter where she likens the trauma of a bad event to Good Friday and recovery from it to Easter Sunday, she calls the time between these things Saturday, writing these words:
After seeing the word “holy” used often in this book in reference to God, I found its use here as a minced oath puzzling and disappointing. It cast a shadow over the whole book for me.
In another chapter describing her “dark night of the soul” she waits to get one of God’s “love notes” to her—perceived communication from Him through circumstances or His voice coming through her thoughts. However, not once in that section does she mention the possibility of hearing from Him by reading the Bible—the place most Christians would go first to get a message from God.
These quibbles aside, there is also lots of wisdom and good advice for the fearful in this book, wisdom like:
and
The book concludes with a set of Discussion Questions and a Study Guide, making it useful for book clubs as well as group and personal study.
I received Unafraid as a gift from the publisher for the purpose of writing a review.
Davis’s writing voice is friendly and encouraging, though she does sometimes lapse into lecture mode. She uses a lot of sentence fragments which I found distracting as they drew my attention away from content and to the writing itself.
The book does contain sound advice about how to counter fear. However, two flies in the ointment spoiled my enjoyment of this memoir.
In a chapter where she likens the trauma of a bad event to Good Friday and recovery from it to Easter Sunday, she calls the time between these things Saturday, writing these words:
“Saturday is the ‘What the holy heck just happened?’ kind of feeling” – Kindle Location 854.
After seeing the word “holy” used often in this book in reference to God, I found its use here as a minced oath puzzling and disappointing. It cast a shadow over the whole book for me.
In another chapter describing her “dark night of the soul” she waits to get one of God’s “love notes” to her—perceived communication from Him through circumstances or His voice coming through her thoughts. However, not once in that section does she mention the possibility of hearing from Him by reading the Bible—the place most Christians would go first to get a message from God.
These quibbles aside, there is also lots of wisdom and good advice for the fearful in this book, wisdom like:
“So many of the giants I face are in my head. Fear whispers unspeakable things and I flinch. ... This is when it’s time for me to take captive, cast down, and throw those thoughts in prison. And I do that by worshiping Jesus. Just as the wise men worshiped Jesus, I lay prostrate fore God and not before my fears” – KL 1504.
and
“... I must daily walk away from fear. And the only way I can hope to do that is to think of fear the same way my Father things of fear. As an idol in my life” – KL 1726.
The book concludes with a set of Discussion Questions and a Study Guide, making it useful for book clubs as well as group and personal study.
I received Unafraid as a gift from the publisher for the purpose of writing a review.
March 11, 2025
Easy read, good book. This book is a good choice for people who struggle with severe anxiety or agoraphobia caused by trauma.
July 5, 2015
Unafraid by Susie Davis is all about "trusting God in an unsafe world".
We all fear. Whether it is about our health, our finances, our family, our world around us, there is stuff out there that is fearful.
On page 8 Davis writes, "I prayed and held on to God as best I could. But I just didn't see the buckets of blessings. I didn't see God working. I got God as the creator of the universe, the sustainer of the world. But I just wasn't so sure he was into the little stuff - like watching after me in my everyday life.
Now I know God always wants my attention. I have found he'll stop at nothing to get it. But it's hard to see God's love and care when fear is staring you in the face. Fear makes you blind...and deaf and dumb."
Fear can paralyze us. It can harm the relationship that we have with God. There is good fear (stay away from that grizzly bear!) and bad fear (worrying about the "what if's" and things we have no control over). This book shows you how to take that bad fear and just hand it over to God. It shows us how to trust.
Page 93: "Sure, when everything is going according to our plans, it's easy. Trusting God is actually fun. It's a "Thank you, God, for making my life so beautiful." But when you're single and waiting for a husband, afraid you'll be alone all your life, it's not so nice. Or when you're unemployed and can't provide for your family because you're waiting for a job, it's not so fun to trust God. When you're cuddling the baby you prayed for, trust is a marvel. But when you're dealing with the heartbreak of years of infertility and you're visiting a friend cuddling her new baby, trusting God hurts. Deeply."
This. THIS. Trusting God sometimes hurts. Trust isn't easy, it's not always a natural reaction. Yet, we must trust. We must follow where He leads and do what He wants. And that often means to defy our fear and let go...to let God.
Davis showed us how she overcame her lifelong fear and learned how to trust in God with both the big and the small. Following in her footsteps we can learn to do the same.
This book was given to me by blogging for books in exchange for my honest review. See my full review at http://www.trenchesofmommyhood.blogsp...
We all fear. Whether it is about our health, our finances, our family, our world around us, there is stuff out there that is fearful.
On page 8 Davis writes, "I prayed and held on to God as best I could. But I just didn't see the buckets of blessings. I didn't see God working. I got God as the creator of the universe, the sustainer of the world. But I just wasn't so sure he was into the little stuff - like watching after me in my everyday life.
Now I know God always wants my attention. I have found he'll stop at nothing to get it. But it's hard to see God's love and care when fear is staring you in the face. Fear makes you blind...and deaf and dumb."
Fear can paralyze us. It can harm the relationship that we have with God. There is good fear (stay away from that grizzly bear!) and bad fear (worrying about the "what if's" and things we have no control over). This book shows you how to take that bad fear and just hand it over to God. It shows us how to trust.
Page 93: "Sure, when everything is going according to our plans, it's easy. Trusting God is actually fun. It's a "Thank you, God, for making my life so beautiful." But when you're single and waiting for a husband, afraid you'll be alone all your life, it's not so nice. Or when you're unemployed and can't provide for your family because you're waiting for a job, it's not so fun to trust God. When you're cuddling the baby you prayed for, trust is a marvel. But when you're dealing with the heartbreak of years of infertility and you're visiting a friend cuddling her new baby, trusting God hurts. Deeply."
This. THIS. Trusting God sometimes hurts. Trust isn't easy, it's not always a natural reaction. Yet, we must trust. We must follow where He leads and do what He wants. And that often means to defy our fear and let go...to let God.
Davis showed us how she overcame her lifelong fear and learned how to trust in God with both the big and the small. Following in her footsteps we can learn to do the same.
This book was given to me by blogging for books in exchange for my honest review. See my full review at http://www.trenchesofmommyhood.blogsp...
May 10, 2015
I received a free copy of Unafraid: Trusting God in an Unsafe World through the Good Reads First Reads program, which was fortuitous, since I had been wanting to read it. I had seen that it was about one of the first school shootings, so I was expecting a true crime sort of book, which is not what this book is at all. However, the book did not disappoint!
From Susie Davis' encounter with violence at age 13 to her encounter as an adult with the one who committed the act of violence, she walks us through what it is like to live life afraid. She starts with the premise, as she learned first hand when a classmate with a gun walked into her classroom and killed her teacher, that the world is unsafe.
Then, she takes us along with her on her journey as she learns that fear and unforgiveness do not make us safe. Her writing style is casual and chummy, which, while not my preference, did a good job of bringing me into her world. Then I was able to learn along with her what it looks like to let go of the "what ifs" of life and begin to live life unafraid.
With practical advice and real-life examples, she brings scripture to life. In her words, "expect God to be bigger than your worst nightmare, and know him as Immanuel, God with you." "Unafraid" can help you learn how.
Four (out of five) stars: A great read.
From Susie Davis' encounter with violence at age 13 to her encounter as an adult with the one who committed the act of violence, she walks us through what it is like to live life afraid. She starts with the premise, as she learned first hand when a classmate with a gun walked into her classroom and killed her teacher, that the world is unsafe.
Then, she takes us along with her on her journey as she learns that fear and unforgiveness do not make us safe. Her writing style is casual and chummy, which, while not my preference, did a good job of bringing me into her world. Then I was able to learn along with her what it looks like to let go of the "what ifs" of life and begin to live life unafraid.
With practical advice and real-life examples, she brings scripture to life. In her words, "expect God to be bigger than your worst nightmare, and know him as Immanuel, God with you." "Unafraid" can help you learn how.
Four (out of five) stars: A great read.
July 7, 2023
Susie Davis, author of Unafraid, witnessed the murder of her eighth grade teacher by one of her classmates. Leaving her with deeply rooted trust issues, this experience became an obstacle she had to overcome. The loss of trust in her relationship with God created debilitating fears in her life. She felt as I think many of us have, if God is a good father and can keep bad things from happening to us then why doesn’t he?
I found this book to be well written and easy to read. I was finished in a few days because I had to know how it all worked out for her. Unafraid opened my eyes to see areas in my life that I thought were normal concerns, were actually fears. To be brought to tears at the idea of a close family member taking my daughter to the Children’s Museum, that’s fear. To cry because a family member took my daughter down to the beach to play while I stayed up at the beach house because I was too tired to join, that’s fear. I’ve let fear wreck my emotions because I’ve held on tightly to Alaina, thinking that if I do then nothing bad will happen. The truth is that God is a good Father and He can protect her, that He loves her more than I do.
If you struggle with anxiety and constant what-if scenarios playing through your head then this book is for you. Susie’s story is comforting, she’s been there, she gets it, and she’s fought and continues to fight fear.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
I found this book to be well written and easy to read. I was finished in a few days because I had to know how it all worked out for her. Unafraid opened my eyes to see areas in my life that I thought were normal concerns, were actually fears. To be brought to tears at the idea of a close family member taking my daughter to the Children’s Museum, that’s fear. To cry because a family member took my daughter down to the beach to play while I stayed up at the beach house because I was too tired to join, that’s fear. I’ve let fear wreck my emotions because I’ve held on tightly to Alaina, thinking that if I do then nothing bad will happen. The truth is that God is a good Father and He can protect her, that He loves her more than I do.
If you struggle with anxiety and constant what-if scenarios playing through your head then this book is for you. Susie’s story is comforting, she’s been there, she gets it, and she’s fought and continues to fight fear.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
May 19, 2015
We have all, at some point or another, struggled with fear. Whether it has played a major role in our lives or minor, we as human beings, have learned our own coping methods for dealing with fear. When you add into that mixture, being a Christ follower and believer, which methods we use and why, become very important questions to answer in our faith walk. I love how Susie Davis tackles this subject matter with both candor and vulnerability. I was very thankful that she was willing to share how she learned from her life experiences and that she wrote this book so that others could start learning too and break their own fear cycles. A great read that I would definitely recommend.
July 2, 2015
Sadly, fear is the main factor in human’s life. It dominates through trauma and bad experience, or even negative emotions. Fear grabs people’s mind and dictates the heart… It paralyzes and kills creativity, freedom and peace!
It’s time to get rid of the fear…to show who is boss. Through her book, Susie teaches how she overcame the fear in her life after witnessing the gruesome homicide in front of her eyes… in the classroom.
Like her teaching. I still have fears in my life…but the battle is on!
It’s time to get rid of the fear…to show who is boss. Through her book, Susie teaches how she overcame the fear in her life after witnessing the gruesome homicide in front of her eyes… in the classroom.
Like her teaching. I still have fears in my life…but the battle is on!
August 20, 2015
Great book! My "fear" history is so different from author Susie Davis's that I wasn't sure I'd connect with the book, but read it on the recommendation of a friend. So glad I did. Though the events that caused me to approach life with lots of fear differ from Susie's, the results are very similar. Her approach to overcoming fear is helpful. I underlined many passages in Unafraid and will post several where I can see them daily!
July 25, 2015
Extremely timely book for this day and age...Susie Davis does a great job talking about how fear can take us over and draw us away from intimacy with God toward shame. Her personal experience gives examples easy to relate to the day to day situations we encounter living as Christians in a fallen world.
June 28, 2016
I read this book slowly and purposely so that I could digest all of what God wanted to reveal to me that related to my own struggles . I cannot say enough good things about how the Lord used it to open my eyes to areas within my own heart He wanted to heal. Anyone that struggles with fear should read it.
September 22, 2015
I'll admit, I was a bit hesitant to start this book. I have been having a lot of faith and trust issues lately, and this book seemed like it might be something that would really hurt me to read, because it would cause me to really focus on how "bad" I am. But no, this book was GREAT and I found myself really enjoying it!
November 12, 2016
Susie Davis witnessed such a horrific event and it transformed her thoughts and actions. As someone who feels anxiety and is a worrier over the most irrational of things, it was helpful to read about her journey, to hear the truths that really helped her. I have heard a few interviews she's done with podcasters and was excited to read some of that wisdom.
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