Thinking Through Anxiety: A Brief Christian Look

by J. Ryan Davidson

“What if . . . ?”

This is the paralyzing question that haunts both believers and unbelievers alike. It is a fear that something bad might happen. And each one of us wants the full assurance that everything will be okay. Yet the world offers no such hope for desperate situations. There can be no comfort if the worst to the “What if?” question comes true. It is no wonder people suffer from anxiety, worry, and depression.

This small booklet on anxiety offers a word of encouragement and hope to the hurting heart. When Jesus said, “Do not be anxious about your life” (Luke 12:22), He was speaking as one who as all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18), and offers us the only antidote to our anxiety.

77 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2017

Reviews

[Cody Bumpus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short, yet comprehensive, read from a pastor in our local community. He is a trusted source, and this work is yet another example. It’s a book that you can get through in just 30 minutes of reading, yet covers multiple aspects of the issue of anxiety, from both a biblical perspective as well as physical. Anxiety plagues our culture and often has an unbiblical approach brought to it, so this book was really helpful! It dismantles some common inappropriate excuses and presents some biblical and practical guides. Well worth the read!

[Aron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative booklet about a mayor problem. Davidson looks at anxiety from a scientific perspective, but he primarily looks at it from a biblical theological perspective. As a theologian, it really helped me to think it through. What I liked the most is that Davidson doesn't necessarily encourage his readers to solve the issue of anxiety, but he does however shines his light on how to deal (or help others deal) with it biblically.

[Steve Hemmeke · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this short booklet, the author gives a solidly Biblical look at a neglected issue.
Davidson considers how the Gospel, the ordinary means of grace, Sabbath, and our thinking patterns affect our worries. I especially appreciated the "back-burner" idea, of how to handle unhelpful thoughts that will not go away.

[Persis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A balanced approach based on scripture but not rejecting the common-grace insights from psychiatry and psychology. The author is a trained counselor and a pastor who writes with a very caring heart. I can attest to this because he is my pastor.

[Nate Weis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An immensely helpful little book. Being a person that struggles with anxiety, I found this book to be spiritually edifying, very balanced, and practically useful. This will be at the top of my list of resources to recommend to those wrestling with this issue.

[Ellen Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thinking Through Anxiety by J. Ryan Davidson

The author says, "Can godly Christians suffer from anxiety? Can we still have a biblical assurance of salvation and a godly life if we find ourselves battling with anxious thoughts? Actually, this can be a real challenge, even a plague, for when we go through such times we feel that the very comfort we need is beyond our reach, specifically because we wonder if we are allowed to have the comfort of the Gospel when we battle with anxiety."

This book is steeped in Bible and although it's a short book, give us reminders at each page turn that our focus is to be on the cross, not on our worries.

I'm not a person generally beset by worries, but there are a few "what ifs" that visit from time to time. Even so, the reminder - keep your eye on the cross - was a blessing to receive.

If you're a worrier, or if you know or live with a worrier, then this little book will give you encouragement, or ways to encourage others.