Let Go of Your Fear: Choosing to Trust Jesus in Life's Stormy Times

by Gary Zimak

Worry begins with fear. And events in our time—pandemic, war, political division, hate—are making us both worried and fearful. Gary Zimak, author of the bestselling Give Up Worry for Lent! , wants to help you find hope in God no matter what life sends your way. Zimak explores two Gospel stories of Jesus calming storms—and his disciples—to show you how to manage the big feelings of fear in your life. His practical retelling of the familiar stories, when Jesus is asleep in the boat and when he walks across the water toward his disciples, is an invitation to encounter the Lord in the midst of your own storms and move from discouragement to courage and away from anxiety and toward hope. Fear is like a smoke alarm, Zimak says. It’s designed to warn you of impending danger so you can take appropriate action—and maybe even save your life. But often your internal alarm system is too sensitive. As a result, you’re afraid when you shouldn’t be. “We’re afraid because we don’t believe that God loves us, is with us, and is bigger than our problems,” Zimak writes. In Let Go of Your Fear , you’ll   Perfect for individual or group use, each chapter of Let Go of Your Fear includes reflection questions to help you identify the times and places you are most likely to wrestle with fear and to guide you to establish new habits that move you away from discouragement and anxiety toward greater faith, hope, and trust.

160 pages, Paperback

Published March 25, 2022

About the author

Host of Following The Truth on BlogTalkRadio (M-F at 8PM Eastern)

Author of A Worrier’s Guide To The Bible and Listen To Your Blessed Mother(coming in August 2013)

Regular Guest on Catholic Answers Live, EWTN Radio’s Son Rise Morning Show, Catholic Connection with Teresa Tomeo and Relevant Radio’s Morning Air

Catholic Lay Evangelist and Motivational Speaker

Blogger and Regular Contributor to Catholic Stand, Catholic Exchange & New Advent Websites

Reviews

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let Go of Your Fear is a great book about facing our fears and not letting them have control over us. In this book, Gary Zimak uses the stories of the apostles in the boat on the Sea of Galilee to illustrate how Jesus is in control, both when we can sense his presence and when we can’t.

In the first big example, Jesus is asleep in the boat when the storm comes up. Not only does he stop the storm, but he asks the apostles why they are afraid. This is a great example not only of Jesus sometimes visibly being in control, but also of how Jesus is waiting for us to invite him into our troubles no matter how big or small.

The second big example is the storm on the Sea of Galilee again, but this time Jesus is out of sight for a time. Mr. Zimak uses Jesus being out of sight to illustrate how Jesus is often working behind the scenes in ways we don’t know about and may not understand. Jesus does make his presence known and as in the previous example, he calms the storm.

Mr. Zimak also makes sure to express that sometimes instead of calming the storm, Jesus comforts us through the storm because he is using the storm to teach us something, to bring us closer to him.

I really liked the examples the author used and I could relate to much of what the author discussed. The last year has been full of challenges I never expected to have to face. Some of them are continuing into this year and I can see how sometimes Jesus calmed the storm and other times, Jesus calmed me through the storm. In all of it, Jesus has never left me and has used all of it for his glory. I am looking forward to using the lessons learned in this book to let go of my fears and focus on Jesus alone.

Thank you to Ave Maria Press, Gary Zimak, and NetGalley for the copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always Gary Zimak lays out logically & with feeling why we need to trust in the Lord.
Filled with scriptural arguments, he stays grounded in reality & the Earthly human experience too.
It’s something like Gospel CBT

There are accompanying thoughtful questions at the end of the chapters so that the reader can make the material more personal & see where one stands & how one can apply the suggestions.

It’s a book to be read more than once since the process of Letting Go of Fear is not easy. I do highly recommend.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this excellent book, which I plan to read often, Gary Zimak provides a close reading of the parable about Jesus and the storm, and gives readers profound advice about how to deal with fear, keep the faith and trust in God. I especially liked his advice about prayer. At the end of each chapter, there are
questions for reflection and prayers.
This was a very reassuring and helpful book.

EDITION Paperback

ISBN 9781646801299

PRICE $15.95 (USD)

[Kelly Leininger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and I highly recommend it for anyone to read. You will not be disappointed.

[Jill M. Kruta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful lesson on trusting Jesus. Great parallel of the storms the apostles faced to what we face in our own lives.