The bestselling author of Love Unending and Midnight Mom Devotional reassures anxious women that even if you can't shake off fear, your faith is not broken.
For years, Christian women have been told, "If you just prayed more, had more faith, and trusted Jesus, you'd have more peace." But what does it mean when a Christian momma continues to worry? How does she reconcile her feelings of fear with her faith in God? And how does she raise her children in a home full of peace when she feels anything but peaceful?
Becky Thompson, a best-selling author with a degree in biblical studies, knows firsthand what it is like to suffer from the crippling effects of anxiety--a condition she has struggled to overcome for most of her life. For her and many others, the fear she faces is not a faith issue. It's a physical one that affects over 40 million adults in the US.
As Becky examines the relationship between the promise of peace in Scripture and the reality of life, motherhood, and anxiety, she brings both a practical and spiritual approach to the discussion of anxiety and how it impacts your mind, body, and spirit.
Peace meets moms in the forest of fear where they have felt isolated and alone and walks them toward hope, reminding them that there are millions of other women who walk the same dark, uncertain trails they do and there isn't something wrong with their faith because they can't shake the fear. Peace is a lifeline for the Christian mom desperate for solid advice based on sound doctrine and presented in a way that makes her feel understood and far less alone on her journey toward healing.
Becky Thompson is the author of BeckyThompson.com and is the founder of the Midnight Mom Devotional community on Facebook where over two million moms gather nightly for prayer.
Becky is the author of ten books, Hope Unfolding, Love Unending, Truth Unchanging, My Real Story, Midnight Mom Devotional, Peace, God So Close, Midnight Dad Devotional, Tonight We Pray for the Momma, and Healing Rest.
Becky lives in NW Oklahoma with her husband, Jared, and their three children.
I enjoyed this easy read. Becky writes to you like you are talking to a friend. There is some scripture, but not as much as I would like. I would consider this a self-help Christian book. She does point out some ways that can physically affect anxiety, which I appreciated.
I always feel like while reading her books she writes as if we were best friends. I was fortunate to be in the launch team for this wonderful book. I have dealt with my own anxiety from many different factors in my life so this book gave me a better perspective of all the past/future times of dealing with my own anxiety.
Becky Thompson gives you the tools you need to feel the peace and hope again of healing your own anxiety and resources to help others as well. I cried in many parts of this book. It was refreshing to know that we are not alone. She ultimately points to gaining hope through our faith, but advocates on other resources we may need to gain peace, hope, and healing which I feel is so important.
If you have anxiety, you can need and read this book even if you're not (yet) a momma.
Even though she makes it clear that she's not a big fan of hiking, Becky describes anxiety as a forest and overcoming as a hike we can complete only with God's help. I appreciated this unique analogy (I'd never before heard of trail angels!). She uses Scripture liberally throughout--but she's also not afraid to point out that caffeine and lack of sleep can also contribute to anxiety, as difficult as that may be for modern mommas to hear!
First, I used this book as my morning devotion. It definitely would not normally take a month to read.
Second, even though it is for the momma’s heart, she so brilliantly wrote this for it to be for ALL women.
Third, if you don’t cry at some point, check your pulse.
I have sticky notes all through my copy, but I love this book so much you are more than welcome to borrow it and see what hit me right in the heart, mind, and soul.
I’ve read and loved all of Becky Thompson’s books but this one is my favorite so far. You can really see her heart in this book. I would recommend it to any woman who struggles with anxiety on any level. I really appreciated that while this is a Christian book and a solid one at that, Becky doesn’t just recite the stereotypical church speech as pertains to anxiety (or mental disorders as a whole for that matter). She talks a lot about the physiological reasons anxiety happens and how our hormones play a part. She discusses how our bodies are imperfect because of living in a broken world, and just like our physical bodies can break down or stop working properly, our brains can as well. She gives practical advice on how to handle anxiety as well as spiritual. While she does acknowledge anxiety isn’t always a spiritual problem, she does address it on that level as well, because, ultimately, Becky is pointing her readers back to Jesus as the ultimate source of peace. And that is the entire point of the book.
The two chapters that stood out most to me were the chapter on the Holy Spirit and how we as Christians lack understanding of this aspect of God, and the chapter at the end about “going back into the forest” and helping other women who are struggling with a lack of peace in their lives.
I love that Becky uses solid biblical truths throughout the book; this isn’t a self-help, cure all book to end all of your problems. It’s a book that points continuously back to Jesus who is Peace. It’s full of reminders that we can’t have peace, true peace, without Him. This book is a must for any Christian woman who lives with anxiety, and a really useful tool for anyone who knows someone in their life who struggles in this way.
Thank you to WaterBrook and Multnomah for the free review copy. All opinions are my own. Becky Thompson has faced anxiety most of her life, and in this book, she walks the reader through her journey with anxiety. She shares about the scientific reasons why someone can become or is anxious. She also shares some tips on how to overcome this anxiety. In this book, she candidly shares how anxiety plagues her and what she has done throughout her life to cope. I appreciated her vulnerability and openness while sharing about such a personal topic. She does get quite into her anxiety and as someone that can be anxious easily, I did find myself on edge when reading about some of her triggers, so anxiety sufferers please be aware of this and read it at a time that you can handle reading about someone's anxiety spiral. Each chapter also ends with a prayer and simple next steps that can be helpful in guiding the reader to examine their anxiety and triggers and what can be done about it. She also continually points the reader back to Jesus and the Bible, which is the most important part. I think these Truths were added in at the perfect and necessary parts.
What a timely book for all that we have been experiencing in our world right now! I think there has never been more anxiety around us than today, at least not in my lifetime! Becky’s book hit home for me. First of all, who couldn’t use more peace! She takes you though her own struggles with anxiety and helps you to access your anxiety through many different contributors. As I read her book, I had some lightbulb moments and I felt at one point, I was writing the pages myself! See, I had a panic attack for the first time this year and it was a very similar experience that Becky once had. I found the Lord showing me how I can rest in Him and have hope and healing through His Word and through steps I myself can take. Are you struggling finding peace? Or dealing with anxiety? Read Becky’s book and then pass it on!
Peace is something that we all seek. Even if you do not experience anxiety on a daily basis, everyone feels anxious at times, and this can steal our peace. Becky Thompson understands all too well how anxiety can interfere with daily life and our ability to be the best mom we can be. She has struggled, and at times still struggles with anxiety, and wrote this book to offer practical advice and encouragement to other moms who struggle as well. I felt really connected to Becky as I read the book, because she was honest enough to admit that she isn't complete "cured" of anxiety. She was real about the challenges that she faces, and offered grace to Christian women who still deal with anxiety despite their strong faith. This book is so timely as we ride the waves of upheaval through 2020.
My main takeaway from this book was that just because you have anxiety does not mean that you are not a Christian, or do not have enough faith in God. We are all going to have difficulties in this life, whether it be anxiety or something else. "Anxiety disorders are very common, affecting nearly a third of all adults at some point in their lives. That's a lot of people!" It is comforting to know that if you are experiencing anxiety, you are not alone. Becky offers scripture, heartfelt prayers, and personal stories throughout the book, along with practical strategies to combat anxiety (i.e. diet, sleep, therapy, and prayer).
Some of my favorite quotes from this book include:
"Anxiety does not disqualify you from being a woman full of faith."
"Feeling afraid doesn't disqualify you from being used by Jesus any more than chronic migraines or allergies to foods prevent one of our brothers or sisters from preaching the gospel of hope and healing."
"When we choose to operate from a place of assurance in the power of God rather than fear of the dangers of the world, we can rest in the peace that comes from coparenting with the One who created the universe."
"We are fully connected to God, but we walk around as if He is an eternity away."
"The fear I feel doesn't define my faith because I am not my emotions."
"I have anxiety. I am a Christian woman full of faith. They are independent facts about me."
There are so many other quotes that I could share from this book! It really touched my heart, and I know that it is a book that can and will comfort and encourage so many other women as they work through anxiety alongside their strong faith.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I read a book by Becky Thompson years ago (Hope Unfolding) after seeing some of her Midnight Mom Devotional prayers on Facebook, and I thought it was really good. So I started following her on social media. She would occasionally come on Facebook live and talk about Jesus things, and I loved how she talked about her faith. So in December when I saw that she has a group called The Clearing on Facebook where she comes on live every Tuesday to teach about Jesus and pray, I jumped at the chance to join. It’s been lovely. She’s so genuine and passionate about helping other women, and her prayers feel so powerful. She’s an inspiration to me. Then she mentioned that she would be starting a study on her book Peace that would have another live Facebook gathering each week, and I decided I wanted to do that too.
It’s definitely a good book, but for a couple of reasons I didn’t connect much with it. First off, it’s very conversational. I don’t usually love Christian nonfiction written in that way. Becky writes similar to how she talks, and while I love hearing her talk about this stuff, I love it less in print form, but that’s just me.
And second, the message in this book didn’t feel like something that’s relevant to me at this point in my life. Back in my late teens and my twenties I struggled with depression, and a bit of anxiety. But once I got serious about my faith in my thirties, my struggles with depression and anxiety changed from a daily problem to something I only occasionally deal with, and it’s much less intense, to the point of not even thinking about it most of the time. But it doesn’t happen that way for everyone. Even women who have a very strong faith sometimes have intense struggles with these things, and there’s no shame in that. That’s who Becky is speaking to in this book (but also to women who don’t yet know Jesus, or who are just starting to).
So I felt that for me, this was a three star book, but I’m giving it four stars, because I think if I was the target audience I would have gotten a lot out of it. And if you are a mom that deals with anxiety I certainly recommend it.
This. Book. I don’t know how Becky Thompson always ends up writing new favorite books of mine, but she’s done it again here with Peace! Once again, I loved how this book read as if I were sitting down with a good friend, hearing her wisdom and chatting on the topic of anxiety that we face in motherhood.
As always, Becky’s writing is honest and real as she shares her own struggles with anxiety in many different ways and also how she’s personally been encouraged and gotten through it. This book is filled with practical and encouraging reminders, and spoke right to my heart. One thing I so appreciated was how Becky’s approach to the topic of anxiety in this book wasn’t just biblical (though of course that was the solid base!) but that she also talks about the very real scientific and medical part of anxiety. She blatantly says that you can’t simply make the blanket statement that more prayer, more time in the Word, more going to church, etc. can fix anxiety. She fully addresses that medicine and therapy and other things can be needed. This is a topic that can always be anxiety inducing (ironic) in church culture, so I was very grateful that Becky wrote on this topic in such a truthful way.
This book is a beautiful tool that leaves you feeling refreshed and not quite so alone in the struggle. Just as the title suggests, it will leave you with so much hope and can even be a great first step to healing. I really can’t recommend this book highly enough for all momma’s.
Thank you NetGalley and Waterbrook Multnomah for the gifted copy.
If you are like me, your first introduction to Becky Thompson was through the extremely popular Midnight Mom Facebook page. This encouraging page shares inspiring devotionals for moms that are shared thousands of times across news feeds around the world. So when I heard about Becky's new book for anxious moms, I knew it would be a welcome and helpful blessing.
In this uplifting read, Becky speaks to her readers as if they are friends sitting in the room with her. She lets them know that they are not alone and it is okay to be a faithful Christian yet still suffer with feelings of anxiety. Becky's bravery in speaking out will help so many women who are afraid to share their true feelings.
I really enjoyed this book and felt uplifted by reading it and applying it to my own life. I think this book is greatly needed in our world today as anxiety is seemingly at an all time high with all of the struggles that everyone is facing. You will walk away from this book feeling refreshed and understood
I've struggled with anxiety for several years now. I have faced people telling me there was no way I could be a christian or have faith in God if I struggled with anxiety. It's always left me feeling a little unsure about my true relationship with God. As I read this book, I realized I was relating on nearly every level with what Becky was writing. I felt a little less alone and understood why it was ok to be a woman of faith and a woman living with anxiety.
Her book, Peace, made me feel a little less alone in things I've panicked about in the past...little and big things...and understand that I was actually completely normal. The scriptures, the examples, and the way she shares her heart brings hope to my heart that I can overcome, be ok with, and trust God in new ways.
This book is for any mama, or grandma who struggles with anxiety, or even if you're single. I honestly think everyone woman could benefit from this book.
In this crazy world we are living in, I know my own anxiety has increased. This book is perfectly timed with some thoughtful and practical things to do to help deal with anxiety of any level. I think it is fair to say that most mothers experience anxiety at some level. Thompson is someone who has been through it and is still challenged by anxiety everyday. I like how she is very honest that she still struggles. But, she is also quick to point out that there is still hope. There are many things moms can do to take care of their physical, mental and spiritual selves. She constantly points the reader to God, the ultimate source of hope.
If you are someone who struggles with anxiety, and are a Christian, then I would highly recommend this book to you! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
She talks about different aspects of anxiety, the science behind it, practical tips and how God plays a part.
Some favorite quotes: 1. “You can feel afraid and know God is in control. You can feel anxious and know God is good. Because you are not what you feel, and sometimes our bodies don’t line up with what our spirits know is true.” 2. “Don’t use your imagination to create a worst-case scenario.” 3. “….practice imagining a future where God meets you and comes through for you in the areas of your life that presently feel uncertain.”
I haven't felt so seen in a book in a long time. Did I learn a ton? Not really. But I felt very validated and seen and like I had a few good reminders of what anxiety is and what it isn't. The contents include what does your fear say about your faith, jesus heals us using multiple methods, how modern motherhood affects our mental health, we're never alone, we need one another, recapturing the power of our imaginations, avoidance, protect your peace, practical methods to increase peace, how to stop the worry wheel, going back in to the forest and walking other women towards freedom. It was very good!
Peace is a beautifully written, encouraging book. It is for women who struggle with anxiety, especially mothers. It is very encouraging and Becky does a great job using both scripture and science to give advice and support for those struggling with anxiety and juggling the overwhelming demands of life. Becky writes like she's talking right to you. She makes you feel like you're not alone, that you're part of a larger community of women who all have each other's backs.
Thank you to #Netgalley for my digital ARC of #Peace.
This book could not have come out at a better time. Peace is written to help women, especially Momma’s find hope and healing from anxiety. I’ve had the opportunity to read all of Becky’s books and this one does not disappoint. Grab your cup of coffee, tea or beverage of choice and be prepared to have what feels like a conversation with a dear friend. Becky writes from the heart, and has a way of speaking directing to YOU. She’s walking through the forest of fear right alongside you- and guess what- there is a way out, and you are not alone in this journey.
In Becky’s book, Peace, she describes different ways anxiety manifests, but also encourages the reader that there is hope found in not only the Lord, but also through modern medicine and counseling as well. I appreciate that she doesn’t just ask for us to “pray it away” because she has dealt with crippling anxiety herself and knows that that’s not helpful to people who suffer with anxiety. Thanks for another great book, Becky!
This has been a great read, even for those who are not religious, even if you are not a mother. Becky is articulated, neither assumes nor pretentious in explaining and sharing of her insights.
I don't know about healing (yet) but definitely given me hope.
I recommend this book to anyone who has been sold a life advice that doesn't work for them, and their concern has been dismissed with variations of "just try the advice harder".
As someone who has read all the books on anxiety, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Becky takes many well-known talking points and flips them on their head. She has a way of explaining them in such a practical way while simultaneously adding perspective I had never heard or considered. The end of chapter prayers and real life challenges give readers a tangible method of applying what is read to our lives. This will be a yearly re-read for me!
I’ve read many books on anxiety, depression, etc, etc. I swallowed this up!! Simple but powerful, concise and to the point. Supportive scripture, relatable experiences and examples, meaningful prayers. I read this along with Becky’s 6-week “Peace” fb live course. Loved it.
The one thing I would change is the tagline “for the anxious momma’s heart” because I believe this book can impact anyone, not just moms. It is absolutely relatable.
Started my quest to read all the Becky Thompson backlist with her recent book, Peace. So many great applications to help readers work through anxiety and fear. A timely read in the face of the COVID pandemic. I read this book as part of the 2021 PopSugar Reading Challenge, "a book you think your best friend would like."
There were a couple of questionable spots for me theologically, but overall I loved and really appreciated the things the author said; how she really called out the underlying roots of fear and lies we believe and pointed the reader to Jesus. She writes and it reads like she is talking to you as a friend.
I loved the beginning and ending thought here. That a person can have all the physical symptoms of being over stressed and anxious, but spiritually be functioning outside of feelings. I had to learn to function outside of feeling after my thyroid imbalance. It's so freeing to realize that I don't have to be what I'm feeling physically or emotionally.
It’s like walking with a friend and her seeing your heart and speaking life into places where you thought were covered up. This book speaks so much light and life in areas I needed along with sharing truth and not just fluffy words around anxiety. It doesn’t matter what season of life you are with (or without) kids - this can meet anyone wherever they are with anxiety 💛