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Not Yet: Finding Freedom When Anxiety, Depression, and Other Crap Come Knocking at Your Door
Sometimes when we look for black and white, all we find is more grey. Sometimes we are waiting on God to answer our prayer before we feel like we can trust He’s even listening. Toby Slough, a seasoned leader and pastor of a large church, shares candidly about his public battle with anxiety and depression. Through his story, you will find God at work in the most unlikely “un-churchy” things. He is not standing far off somewhere waiting for you but walking with you, right in the middle of your brokenness and mess. God is with you in your NOT YET.NOT YET is for those who fight feelings of being “less than.” For those who, like the Prodigal Son, are living in a pigpen, and whether it’s from your poor decision making or someone else’s, you’re desperate for someone to throw you a lifeline. It’s for the divorced dad who never gets to see his kids. It’s for the single mom who lays down at night wondering where she’ll get the strength to make it another day. It’s for the business leader who, by all appearances, has it all but lays in bed at night wondering why his world is spinning out of control. It’s for the college girl who knows she shouldn’t measure her worth by comparing herself to the airbrushed images of Instagram but doesn’t have a clue how to stop that train from leaving the station. It’s for every person whose image of Jesus has been tainted by a Christian teacher, leader, or friend who made them feel like the problem was a lack of faith. It’s for the guy or girl who hasn’t had their biggest prayers answered and have convinced themselves, “Either something is wrong with me or something is wrong with God because this Jesus thing just doesn’t seem to work for me.” And it’s for the thousands of people just like me who love Jesus and suffer from panic attacks, anxiety, or depression and find themselves wondering what in the hell God is up to.NOT YET is about not beating yourself up for being scared but learning how to live with courage and freedom when life calls you to play scared. It’s about discovering the truth about God and how He is at work in the most unlikely “un-churchy” kind of things. It’s about discovering a Father who is not standing far off somewhere waiting for you but walking with you, right in the middle of your brokenness and mess.The courage born out of desperation when you find yourself living in the “not yet” moments of life is powerful and possible. Because if you take a step when your pain tells you that you don’t have one left in you, there’s a loving Father at the end of the journey waiting to embrace you with a ring and a robe and welcome you back into the family. Sometimes you have to play scared. Toby's story will help you learn to live well in the middle of your NOT YET.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 4, 2020
26 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 10, 2020
In “Not Yet”, Toby isn’t simply offering us tips, techniques, or a how-to guide for eliminating the junk out of our life.
He is illuminating the person who is already with us and he is equipping us with a new set of glasses to look at all of our crap with.
This is certainly one of those reads that you could offer to someone wrestling with panic, anxiety or depression. But it’s also one of those books that you will want to give to anyone.
The freedom found in ”Not Yet” satisfies ancient and universal needs in the midst of the most challenging problem of our age.
Like a healing balm for your soul, this book will not only leave your better than you found it. It will change everything.
I cannot recommend it enough.
He is illuminating the person who is already with us and he is equipping us with a new set of glasses to look at all of our crap with.
This is certainly one of those reads that you could offer to someone wrestling with panic, anxiety or depression. But it’s also one of those books that you will want to give to anyone.
The freedom found in ”Not Yet” satisfies ancient and universal needs in the midst of the most challenging problem of our age.
Like a healing balm for your soul, this book will not only leave your better than you found it. It will change everything.
I cannot recommend it enough.
September 19, 2020
A must read if you or a member of your family battles depression or anxiety.
January 10, 2020
Not Yet is a book for anyone who goes through struggles in their life. I think that includes all of us. Toby Slough enlightens us to the idea of letting our pain and difficulties minister to other people instead of thinking we only have anything to offer people through our strengths. If that was the case, no one would be in the position to offer love and support to their friends, family, and neighbors. Another thing this book reminds me, is that I am never, ever without God by my side. Even when I don't want to think He is there, HE is! Even when it doesn't feel like He is there, He is! This book is well worth your time to read.
April 9, 2020
I loved how transparent this author was! It is unusual for a male, all-American, red-meat eating, baseball-loving leader to admit he struggles with a panic and anxiety disorder. This guy pastors a large church in the DFW Metroplex, yet is open about dealing with a mental health issue.
The book is engaging and provides helpful perspectives, hope, and great options to face and deal with areas where we feel disappointed that God has "not yet" answered our prayers.
The book is engaging and provides helpful perspectives, hope, and great options to face and deal with areas where we feel disappointed that God has "not yet" answered our prayers.
May 24, 2020
Encouraging and inspiring.
Such a great book. I am so amazed by the amount of transparency that Toby shows in his book and how honest he is with readers and his congregation. This book is such an easy and clear read. If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, or if you are just in a crazy time in your life that you feel stuck in this book is definitely for you.
Such a great book. I am so amazed by the amount of transparency that Toby shows in his book and how honest he is with readers and his congregation. This book is such an easy and clear read. If you are struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, or if you are just in a crazy time in your life that you feel stuck in this book is definitely for you.
January 27, 2022
I ultimately fell in love with this book’s call to authenticity and vulnerability. I shall keep it as a constant reminder of God’s perfect love and generosity throughout my too many anxious moments.
“Keep standing when everything is falling down around you.
Keep walking.
Keep believing.
Keep trusting.
It is well - even in the not yet.
He is still good.”
“Keep standing when everything is falling down around you.
Keep walking.
Keep believing.
Keep trusting.
It is well - even in the not yet.
He is still good.”
May 23, 2020
Excellent read for any believer
Toby’s transparency in dealing with anxiety and panic is so helpful in processing my own pain in the not yet moments of my life. I dare say every human has walked thru or been trapped in the pain and disillusionment of those not yet moments.
Toby’s transparency in dealing with anxiety and panic is so helpful in processing my own pain in the not yet moments of my life. I dare say every human has walked thru or been trapped in the pain and disillusionment of those not yet moments.
August 11, 2020
Excellent book that helps us realize we will never be perfect, but we can still be blessed and have a purpose.
September 23, 2020
Good read!!
I thought this was a really good and enjoyable read. It helped me and i enjoyed the bible verses. Its well written.
I thought this was a really good and enjoyable read. It helped me and i enjoyed the bible verses. Its well written.
January 24, 2022
Very good. So much in this book I have to read again!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews