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Perfectly Suited: The Armor of God for the Anxious Mind
What do you do when your own mind turns on you?
Fear, anxiety, and the critical voices in your head can be overwhelming―even if you believe Christ died to free you from those things. When J. D. Peabody found himself in a mental and emotional meltdown, he reached for the armor of God. In the process, he discovered God’s protection and grace were far greater than he had previously imagined.
Perfectly Suited explores the armor of God through the lens of personal struggle, showing how the ancient metaphor for God’s care is powerful for his embattled children in every generation.
Fear, anxiety, and the critical voices in your head can be overwhelming―even if you believe Christ died to free you from those things. When J. D. Peabody found himself in a mental and emotional meltdown, he reached for the armor of God. In the process, he discovered God’s protection and grace were far greater than he had previously imagined.
Perfectly Suited explores the armor of God through the lens of personal struggle, showing how the ancient metaphor for God’s care is powerful for his embattled children in every generation.
173 pages, Paperback
Published August 9, 2022
16 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Peabody
4 books37 followersJ.D. Peabody has always loved stories, and his career has been spent improving his ability to write and tell them. For nearly two decades, he wrote in the context of advertising and public relations agencies, where he gained an appreciation (or at least a tolerance) for being edited. He then switched fields entirely, attending seminary, helping start a new church and learning the discipline of writing for weekly sermon deadlines.
Along the way, he tried his hand at writing poetry and song lyrics, which met with some success and taught him the difference between connecting emotionally and just being clever with words. He published articles that required attention to word count. He also wrote multiple screenplays that honed his sense of dialog and plot development.
After years of writing and rewriting, his first two books are both arriving on shelves within months of each other in 2022, one for grown-ups and one for young readers (or at least the young at heart).
A friend once told him, "Keep your head down and keep chopping wood." He hopes to keep chopping away at more books.
J.D. is a native of the Pacific Northwest, where he lives with his wife, who offsets the perpetually cloudy skies.
Along the way, he tried his hand at writing poetry and song lyrics, which met with some success and taught him the difference between connecting emotionally and just being clever with words. He published articles that required attention to word count. He also wrote multiple screenplays that honed his sense of dialog and plot development.
After years of writing and rewriting, his first two books are both arriving on shelves within months of each other in 2022, one for grown-ups and one for young readers (or at least the young at heart).
A friend once told him, "Keep your head down and keep chopping wood." He hopes to keep chopping away at more books.
J.D. is a native of the Pacific Northwest, where he lives with his wife, who offsets the perpetually cloudy skies.
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December 5, 2022
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. Opinions expressed are my own.
Bottom line: If I could recommend just one book for the whole year, this book would be it.
Personal Connection
After reading The Ink of Elspet, by the same author, I was delighted when Peabody offered me a review copy of Perfectly Suited. While I enjoyed the children’s book, I was completely blown away by Perfectly Suited. The Lord ministered to me strongly through this book, and I believe the message would minister to many Christians, like myself, who are accustomed to striving.
Why I Liked It
Early on in the book, Peabody explains that he has been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I have not, but I have grappled with a lot of anxiety from a young age. With that said, I connected so very deeply with what Peabody wrote about his own childhood. Although I didn’t begin journaling until high school, so many of his descriptions of his own early years felt like they could have been taken from my own journals. For example, Peabody rededicated his life to the Lord multiple times while growing up, renewing His commitment to live for the Lord. But the words in the margins of J.D.’s childhood Bible actually pointed to a whole lot of striving.
Striving, and fear, are two things the Lord has been healing me from, particularly in the years since I graduated from college. He has used my mom to minister to me, to unlearn the fear that formed my foundation from an early age, both through church and experiences with my dad’s family. It has been a beautiful, hopeful process. But I’m so very aware that fear continues to be integral to the lives of so many, many Christians. It’s that terror of hell. That deep-down knowledge that we’re on the verge of disappointing God– and worse, still, going to hell. My many “prayers of salvation,” growing up, were based on that horror of eternity, not on good news.
But Perfectly Suited. It’s an enormous breath of fresh air. It’s the release from striving, exchanging man’s heavy yoke for Christ’s light one. And, most importantly, it’s about how we aren’t the ones to make that trade. Steeped in grace, the book returns over and over to the central idea that we are not the ones in control– God is. Over and over, the author affirms that the only cure for what ails us is to rest in Him.
So many books that promise practical applications focus on how we can make it happen, how we, ultimately are in charge of our salvation. But that’s not what Perfectly Suited does. It draws the reader back to Christ, to rich fellowship with Him, to utter dependence on Him. Amen!
What to Expect
Perfectly Suited consists of an introduction plus twelve chapters. The first six chapters are very reflective, as the author relays his own story, emphasizing the Lord’s working in him in regards to anxiety. Peabody heavily incorporates Scripture to show that our salvation isn’t at all up to us, and he also offers beneficial information about the mental processes in the anxious mind. We learn, for instance, that the basal ganglia is a part of our brain that deals with danger. When it’s not working right, we interpret everyday sorts of things as dangerous. These chapters also contrast the (attempted) way of self-sufficiency, with the way of God’s strength.
The latter half of the book interacts more directly with the Armor of God passage in Ephesians, with one chapter each dealing with one of the parts of the armor. As in the first half, personal narrative and Scripture are both woven in.
Format
The format of the book, in itself, was a relief. While most (99%) of the books I read have paragraphs that run one into the next, without any space between, Perfectly Suited has a nice white space between each paragraph. As the book deals with anxiety, I am particularly grateful for this decision on the part of the author and publisher. The book is so much more readable, in this way, and actively combats anxiety, with this simple formatting choice.
Favorite Quotes
Although I wouldn’t say I agree with every single word, this was one of those books where I could see myself highlighting most of the content. That’s a pretty difficult thing to do in a review, so I am instead opting to choose a handful of favorite quotes, to showcase some of the beautiful (and truthful!) ideas presented.
"The Bible says the name of Jesus is above every name. I have come to believe that does not just include personal names and titles. Every named thing must come under the authority of the name that is above all names."
p. 120
Context: In discussing, and naming, parts of the brain that are physiologically responsible for our anxious reactions, Peabody emphasizes that even the brain is not exempt from Christ’s authority.
"In the psalm writer’s analogy, we are all birds, caught in the trap of a hunter. Unable to release ourselves, we cry out for help. But the answer is surprising: God also has feathers and wings. To set us free, God became a bird Himself and climbed down inside the trap next to us, offering His own wings as a refuge."
p. 109
Context: Various psalms use bird imagery in describing the feeling of being and trapped, as well as the feeling of finding refuge in God. Peabody briefly follows the metaphor to the allegory of Christ coming in the flesh.
"When Paul admonished the church in Ephesus to “put on” the full armor of God, the Greek word he chose also describes “sinking into” a garment. Picture easing yourself down onto a soft couch or wrapping yourself in a thick blanket. To sink into something is effortless, more allowing it to happen than striving to attain it."
p. 49
Context: While there are quite a few sentences I could choose to do it, this sentence does a great job of introducing and summing up the key message of the book, that the armor of God is sourced, and completed, in Christ– not our own efforts.
Content Note
Chapter ten, “The Secret to Sword Fighting,” made some bold claims that I grappled with a bit over this past week. Although I finished the book about two weeks ago, this review has taken awhile as I thought, prayed, and consulted godly counsel. At this point, I do believe that the core ideas presented in this chapter do align with Scripture.
There is one line, which I did want to mention, simply because of the author’s word choice: “Not all the problematic texts explained to us in Scripture can be explained away” (p. 128).
The word “problematic” caught my eye, because of its political connotations, as the word has been used, by secular society, to combat core biblical values. However, in context, the author is not making that connection. Instead, he is talking about those verses that we cannot understand on our own. The whole point, in this chapter, is that “Our relationship to God’s Word will always be one of surrender, not control” (p. 132). Therefore, we can trust God with what we don’t understand, and look to His Spirit for guidance in this.
As my mom (she was, and usually is, the godly counsel I sought) helpfully rephrased. “Scripture is not problematic, but we may have a problem with certain Scriptures.”
Recommendation Status
Highly, highly recommended! If I could recommend one title, of all the books I’ve reviewed this year, Perfectly Suited would be it. I praise God for this message of grace, freedom and rest.
Bottom line: If I could recommend just one book for the whole year, this book would be it.
Personal Connection
After reading The Ink of Elspet, by the same author, I was delighted when Peabody offered me a review copy of Perfectly Suited. While I enjoyed the children’s book, I was completely blown away by Perfectly Suited. The Lord ministered to me strongly through this book, and I believe the message would minister to many Christians, like myself, who are accustomed to striving.
Why I Liked It
Early on in the book, Peabody explains that he has been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I have not, but I have grappled with a lot of anxiety from a young age. With that said, I connected so very deeply with what Peabody wrote about his own childhood. Although I didn’t begin journaling until high school, so many of his descriptions of his own early years felt like they could have been taken from my own journals. For example, Peabody rededicated his life to the Lord multiple times while growing up, renewing His commitment to live for the Lord. But the words in the margins of J.D.’s childhood Bible actually pointed to a whole lot of striving.
Striving, and fear, are two things the Lord has been healing me from, particularly in the years since I graduated from college. He has used my mom to minister to me, to unlearn the fear that formed my foundation from an early age, both through church and experiences with my dad’s family. It has been a beautiful, hopeful process. But I’m so very aware that fear continues to be integral to the lives of so many, many Christians. It’s that terror of hell. That deep-down knowledge that we’re on the verge of disappointing God– and worse, still, going to hell. My many “prayers of salvation,” growing up, were based on that horror of eternity, not on good news.
But Perfectly Suited. It’s an enormous breath of fresh air. It’s the release from striving, exchanging man’s heavy yoke for Christ’s light one. And, most importantly, it’s about how we aren’t the ones to make that trade. Steeped in grace, the book returns over and over to the central idea that we are not the ones in control– God is. Over and over, the author affirms that the only cure for what ails us is to rest in Him.
So many books that promise practical applications focus on how we can make it happen, how we, ultimately are in charge of our salvation. But that’s not what Perfectly Suited does. It draws the reader back to Christ, to rich fellowship with Him, to utter dependence on Him. Amen!
What to Expect
Perfectly Suited consists of an introduction plus twelve chapters. The first six chapters are very reflective, as the author relays his own story, emphasizing the Lord’s working in him in regards to anxiety. Peabody heavily incorporates Scripture to show that our salvation isn’t at all up to us, and he also offers beneficial information about the mental processes in the anxious mind. We learn, for instance, that the basal ganglia is a part of our brain that deals with danger. When it’s not working right, we interpret everyday sorts of things as dangerous. These chapters also contrast the (attempted) way of self-sufficiency, with the way of God’s strength.
The latter half of the book interacts more directly with the Armor of God passage in Ephesians, with one chapter each dealing with one of the parts of the armor. As in the first half, personal narrative and Scripture are both woven in.
Format
The format of the book, in itself, was a relief. While most (99%) of the books I read have paragraphs that run one into the next, without any space between, Perfectly Suited has a nice white space between each paragraph. As the book deals with anxiety, I am particularly grateful for this decision on the part of the author and publisher. The book is so much more readable, in this way, and actively combats anxiety, with this simple formatting choice.
Favorite Quotes
Although I wouldn’t say I agree with every single word, this was one of those books where I could see myself highlighting most of the content. That’s a pretty difficult thing to do in a review, so I am instead opting to choose a handful of favorite quotes, to showcase some of the beautiful (and truthful!) ideas presented.
"The Bible says the name of Jesus is above every name. I have come to believe that does not just include personal names and titles. Every named thing must come under the authority of the name that is above all names."
p. 120
Context: In discussing, and naming, parts of the brain that are physiologically responsible for our anxious reactions, Peabody emphasizes that even the brain is not exempt from Christ’s authority.
"In the psalm writer’s analogy, we are all birds, caught in the trap of a hunter. Unable to release ourselves, we cry out for help. But the answer is surprising: God also has feathers and wings. To set us free, God became a bird Himself and climbed down inside the trap next to us, offering His own wings as a refuge."
p. 109
Context: Various psalms use bird imagery in describing the feeling of being and trapped, as well as the feeling of finding refuge in God. Peabody briefly follows the metaphor to the allegory of Christ coming in the flesh.
"When Paul admonished the church in Ephesus to “put on” the full armor of God, the Greek word he chose also describes “sinking into” a garment. Picture easing yourself down onto a soft couch or wrapping yourself in a thick blanket. To sink into something is effortless, more allowing it to happen than striving to attain it."
p. 49
Context: While there are quite a few sentences I could choose to do it, this sentence does a great job of introducing and summing up the key message of the book, that the armor of God is sourced, and completed, in Christ– not our own efforts.
Content Note
Chapter ten, “The Secret to Sword Fighting,” made some bold claims that I grappled with a bit over this past week. Although I finished the book about two weeks ago, this review has taken awhile as I thought, prayed, and consulted godly counsel. At this point, I do believe that the core ideas presented in this chapter do align with Scripture.
There is one line, which I did want to mention, simply because of the author’s word choice: “Not all the problematic texts explained to us in Scripture can be explained away” (p. 128).
The word “problematic” caught my eye, because of its political connotations, as the word has been used, by secular society, to combat core biblical values. However, in context, the author is not making that connection. Instead, he is talking about those verses that we cannot understand on our own. The whole point, in this chapter, is that “Our relationship to God’s Word will always be one of surrender, not control” (p. 132). Therefore, we can trust God with what we don’t understand, and look to His Spirit for guidance in this.
As my mom (she was, and usually is, the godly counsel I sought) helpfully rephrased. “Scripture is not problematic, but we may have a problem with certain Scriptures.”
Recommendation Status
Highly, highly recommended! If I could recommend one title, of all the books I’ve reviewed this year, Perfectly Suited would be it. I praise God for this message of grace, freedom and rest.
September 21, 2024
I usually approach any faith-based books about mental illness with a large spoonful of skepticism, but this one was so full of grace and powerful truths. I loved going through this with our small group and was so blessed by the conversations this book ignited.
“In the night of weary souls,
When courage and color
Have been drained away
And my once willing spirit
Has given way to fear
And my broken mind
Refuses to respond
And my weakened body
Cannot stay awake
In the desperate hour
And the fatigue
Outweighs my intentions
And my intentions
Are less than pure
And I am no help to myself —
In that place I find Christ,
Praying for me.”
“In the night of weary souls,
When courage and color
Have been drained away
And my once willing spirit
Has given way to fear
And my broken mind
Refuses to respond
And my weakened body
Cannot stay awake
In the desperate hour
And the fatigue
Outweighs my intentions
And my intentions
Are less than pure
And I am no help to myself —
In that place I find Christ,
Praying for me.”
September 5, 2022
Reviewed by: Mary Lou Codman-Wilson, PhD., Pastoral Psychology, Psychological Anthropology, Christian Education and Buddhism.
Review:
Pastor J.D. Perkins discovered a few years ago that he had a classic case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: “I found my mind suddenly bombarded by a barrage of disturbing ideas and images that sent me into a tailspin. My mind raised the alarm at these thoughts that felt threatening and unstoppable, even when their only real power lay in my fear of them.” (p.14). As he was “struggling against panic as his mind spun itself into another frenzy,” he reached for the armor of God. His book, Perfectly Suited, is his description of how he learned to apply God’s armor in the midst of his mental anxieties and distortions. This focus makes the book very practical for many who struggle with mental issues like OCD and “the OCD predisposition to scrape endlessly for explanations” (p.38), or are “full of striving and a vague insecurity” (p.22). Part of his healing came through an understanding that the brain can be reshaped as he “unlearned patterns that had become second nature,” (p.57). He quotes Henri Nouwen, “It wasn’t that the Gospel proved useful for my many worries but that the Gospel proved the uselessness of my worries and so refocused my whole attention,” (p. 73). Within that context he learned whole new meanings and applications for each piece of gospel armor (Eph.6). This is a highly practical and challenging book for Christians of any age or background.
Excerpts:
“My default discipleship all revolved around expectations of myself. . .What more do I need to learn? What is my duty? In worship? Love? Evangelism? Is my thinking about God accurate?. . .These all sound like worthwhile endeavors for any Christian to pursue. And yet I can talk at length about any of these without once mentioning anything Christ has done. . .God never asks us to earn his love. And when we miss that, we miss the gospel. . .If we’re counting on anything we do, think, know, feel or experience to secure our standing with God, we’re no longer living in grace. We’re living in the imagined strength of striving. And that’s not strong enough,” (pp. 26-27).
“When we press into the center of our greatest dread, we find our Savior arrived there first,… We may never comprehend the full dimensions of this war in which we find ourselves. The point is that we’re not alone in it. Christ stands with us, flanking us on all sides with his undeniable, resurrected self,” (p. 44).
“No matter what caused my anxiety, no matter what part of the blame I bear for my own mess, no matter what role the devil plays in attacking my mind, if I am offering it up to Jesus, God wins and the devil loses. Victory, it turns out, is much bigger than freedom from anxiety. It is freedom from the power of anxiety...Wearing the helmet of salvation can be as simple as soaking in the truth of Jesus. Saturating ourselves with thoughts of him cools the fire in our hearts. What is occupying a disproportionate place in your thoughts? What has you worried or sidetracked? Name it. Call it out and say, “I am placing you where you belong: beneath the authority of Christ himself,” (pp. 120,122).
“God’s forgiveness deserves all our eternal gratitude and celebration. But there is a mobility implied in our rescue, because God has also given us shoes. His grace doesn’t just cover the cost of our fallen state. It gives us the means to leave behind our age-old way of life. He calls us to step out from that which enslaves us and into genuine freedom,”(p. 87).
“My wife became the person God used most often to wrap up his truth for me in my bleakest moments. She listened compassionately (and repeatedly) to my fears and my doubts without being dismissive or judgmental. Then she would smile, look me in the eyes and say, ‘I’m not afraid of your thoughts. I know who you are.’. .The grace of God flowed through her and reached recesses inside me that had been walled off from its light. She handed me the belt of truth to gird me back up, and that truth offered the sanctuary my hounded soul craved,”(p. 70).
Review:
Pastor J.D. Perkins discovered a few years ago that he had a classic case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: “I found my mind suddenly bombarded by a barrage of disturbing ideas and images that sent me into a tailspin. My mind raised the alarm at these thoughts that felt threatening and unstoppable, even when their only real power lay in my fear of them.” (p.14). As he was “struggling against panic as his mind spun itself into another frenzy,” he reached for the armor of God. His book, Perfectly Suited, is his description of how he learned to apply God’s armor in the midst of his mental anxieties and distortions. This focus makes the book very practical for many who struggle with mental issues like OCD and “the OCD predisposition to scrape endlessly for explanations” (p.38), or are “full of striving and a vague insecurity” (p.22). Part of his healing came through an understanding that the brain can be reshaped as he “unlearned patterns that had become second nature,” (p.57). He quotes Henri Nouwen, “It wasn’t that the Gospel proved useful for my many worries but that the Gospel proved the uselessness of my worries and so refocused my whole attention,” (p. 73). Within that context he learned whole new meanings and applications for each piece of gospel armor (Eph.6). This is a highly practical and challenging book for Christians of any age or background.
Excerpts:
“My default discipleship all revolved around expectations of myself. . .What more do I need to learn? What is my duty? In worship? Love? Evangelism? Is my thinking about God accurate?. . .These all sound like worthwhile endeavors for any Christian to pursue. And yet I can talk at length about any of these without once mentioning anything Christ has done. . .God never asks us to earn his love. And when we miss that, we miss the gospel. . .If we’re counting on anything we do, think, know, feel or experience to secure our standing with God, we’re no longer living in grace. We’re living in the imagined strength of striving. And that’s not strong enough,” (pp. 26-27).
“When we press into the center of our greatest dread, we find our Savior arrived there first,… We may never comprehend the full dimensions of this war in which we find ourselves. The point is that we’re not alone in it. Christ stands with us, flanking us on all sides with his undeniable, resurrected self,” (p. 44).
“No matter what caused my anxiety, no matter what part of the blame I bear for my own mess, no matter what role the devil plays in attacking my mind, if I am offering it up to Jesus, God wins and the devil loses. Victory, it turns out, is much bigger than freedom from anxiety. It is freedom from the power of anxiety...Wearing the helmet of salvation can be as simple as soaking in the truth of Jesus. Saturating ourselves with thoughts of him cools the fire in our hearts. What is occupying a disproportionate place in your thoughts? What has you worried or sidetracked? Name it. Call it out and say, “I am placing you where you belong: beneath the authority of Christ himself,” (pp. 120,122).
“God’s forgiveness deserves all our eternal gratitude and celebration. But there is a mobility implied in our rescue, because God has also given us shoes. His grace doesn’t just cover the cost of our fallen state. It gives us the means to leave behind our age-old way of life. He calls us to step out from that which enslaves us and into genuine freedom,”(p. 87).
“My wife became the person God used most often to wrap up his truth for me in my bleakest moments. She listened compassionately (and repeatedly) to my fears and my doubts without being dismissive or judgmental. Then she would smile, look me in the eyes and say, ‘I’m not afraid of your thoughts. I know who you are.’. .The grace of God flowed through her and reached recesses inside me that had been walled off from its light. She handed me the belt of truth to gird me back up, and that truth offered the sanctuary my hounded soul craved,”(p. 70).
August 9, 2022
I was amazed at the transparency of J.D. in this book. He wrote it not just to teach, but to help himself find healing and purpose in some of his own experiences. Raw, real, and reachable. A fairly short book (less than 200 pages) that is packed with some of the best teaching and examples of real life you can find.
If I was told to pick a "favorite" part of the book, it would have to be the insightful difference between putting on the armor of God and sinking into it. One is all about me and my efforts, the other is all about God and what He's already done. The temptation, as J.D. says, is we want to put our own armor on underneath what God has provided. But then the best armor doesn't fit so well anymore. Certainly something to ponder.
Here are some other favorite quotes:
"It never occurs to me in the midst of all the soul scrubbing that perhaps part of what God desires for me is freedom from the self- loathing and cruel harshness that tries to pass itself off as making me more like him. The very self-admonishment I equate with holiness is in fact distorting my perception of God."
"As you become aware of former blind spots and areas for growth, be kind to yourself in the process of change."
"All my defenses had kept me from being truly known - and still loved."
"If experiencing all the developmental stages of life didn’t taint Christ’s holiness—if a slow unfolding was part of God’s pre-ordained plan for him—that means God doesn’t expect me to rush my way through growth. Being a work under construction isn’t a concession; it is part of a divine design."
"The Lord who will not break a bruised reed does not punish his children for being in crisis."
I received an ARC; this is my honest review.
If I was told to pick a "favorite" part of the book, it would have to be the insightful difference between putting on the armor of God and sinking into it. One is all about me and my efforts, the other is all about God and what He's already done. The temptation, as J.D. says, is we want to put our own armor on underneath what God has provided. But then the best armor doesn't fit so well anymore. Certainly something to ponder.
Here are some other favorite quotes:
"It never occurs to me in the midst of all the soul scrubbing that perhaps part of what God desires for me is freedom from the self- loathing and cruel harshness that tries to pass itself off as making me more like him. The very self-admonishment I equate with holiness is in fact distorting my perception of God."
"As you become aware of former blind spots and areas for growth, be kind to yourself in the process of change."
"All my defenses had kept me from being truly known - and still loved."
"If experiencing all the developmental stages of life didn’t taint Christ’s holiness—if a slow unfolding was part of God’s pre-ordained plan for him—that means God doesn’t expect me to rush my way through growth. Being a work under construction isn’t a concession; it is part of a divine design."
"The Lord who will not break a bruised reed does not punish his children for being in crisis."
I received an ARC; this is my honest review.
September 15, 2022
Excellent, helpful book for anyone struggling with any form of anxiety or OCD. A wonderful resource for believers with with mental illnesses. Do not let the cheesy title turn you off—this pastor shares his own experience with OCD, and this book is a helpful, rock-solid resource that does not treat mental illness condescendingly.
October 16, 2022
This book was just what I needed to read in this season of life. I think that is why I loved it!
February 14, 2024
4.5 stars
Picked this book up because of a recommendation Jackie Hill Perry made of it via her Instagram story (anything Jackie says to read, I read) and loved it!
This book was very challenging in certain chapters, but encouraging all throughout. As someone who has struggled the majority of their adult life with anxiety, I’m always left with this weird guilt/shame that God doesn’t want this for me. And that’s true!! God doesn’t want that for me, but this book helped me see how I can better use biblical knowledge (specifically the Armor of God found in Ephesians) to counter the lies the enemy tries to feed me.
I found the chapter on the Shield of Faith to be the chapter I most wrestled with and one I will be studying more, even free finishing this book.
This book did take a little while to “get into”, which is why it isn’t a full 5 stars for me. But I absolutely recommend all children of the Faith who struggle with anxiety to pick this up!!
Picked this book up because of a recommendation Jackie Hill Perry made of it via her Instagram story (anything Jackie says to read, I read) and loved it!
This book was very challenging in certain chapters, but encouraging all throughout. As someone who has struggled the majority of their adult life with anxiety, I’m always left with this weird guilt/shame that God doesn’t want this for me. And that’s true!! God doesn’t want that for me, but this book helped me see how I can better use biblical knowledge (specifically the Armor of God found in Ephesians) to counter the lies the enemy tries to feed me.
I found the chapter on the Shield of Faith to be the chapter I most wrestled with and one I will be studying more, even free finishing this book.
This book did take a little while to “get into”, which is why it isn’t a full 5 stars for me. But I absolutely recommend all children of the Faith who struggle with anxiety to pick this up!!
May 5, 2023
J.D. Peabody shares new things he learned about the Armor of God when he reached a low point in his mental health and was looking at this passage for not only spiritual battles but also emotional/mental battles.
I really appreciate Peabody's honesty in this. I also like that he doesn't promise any quick fixes. But he does share important spiritual truths from Ephesians 6 that Christians can cling to when anxiety rises or other mental health challenges come their way. He also promotes speaking to counseling/psychiatric professionals when mental health challenges arise and shares how such people were helpful to him in his crisis. I've read other books on the Armor of God and heard several talks, but this brought up some fresh points that were good reminders whether you have anxious tendencies or not.
I really appreciate Peabody's honesty in this. I also like that he doesn't promise any quick fixes. But he does share important spiritual truths from Ephesians 6 that Christians can cling to when anxiety rises or other mental health challenges come their way. He also promotes speaking to counseling/psychiatric professionals when mental health challenges arise and shares how such people were helpful to him in his crisis. I've read other books on the Armor of God and heard several talks, but this brought up some fresh points that were good reminders whether you have anxious tendencies or not.
December 30, 2022
The armor of God. That is the focus of this little book. It is well written and clear. I liked the author’s choice of illustrations for each and every piece of the armor. I also appreciated the authors story as he told a little about himself throughout the book. This was a very encouraging book, I was blessed by reading it.
February 27, 2024
4.5 stars. would highly recommend for anyone struggling with mental health and anxiety and looking for biblical based resources to aide in the journey of caring for your thought life. I especially enjoyed the many thought provoking questions and concepts in each chapter meant to sit and reflect on and help to identify areas of sin and doubt that might be connected to mental health and hindering one’s ability to use different parts of gods armor as protection. Important to note that no amount of pure individual will power or force can “fix” one’s mental health. Sometimes medicine is needed and sometimes surrender is needed and sometimes it doesn’t completely disappear on this side of heaven but is rather kept at a more manageable levels through a healthy balance of medical intervention, counseling, community, and complete and utter dependence upon the grace and mercy of god. It’s an ugly battle. Thanks be to god that Jesus has already fought it and overcome it, and we can cling to that in the already not yet.
November 2, 2022
This book is absolutely brilliant. I never heard anyone talk about anxiety in such a deep and personal yet extremely relatable way. I felt seen in my own anxiety, not alone in my struggles and how to reconcile them with my faith.
Definetely recommend it.
Definetely recommend it.
April 12, 2024
This book started strong, weakened toward the last third but ended relatively well. I enjoyed Peabody's beginning focus on the indicative with this passage. Most believers think of "doing their duty" (quotes are my summation of modern, pull yourself up by the bootstraps sanctification and are not reflective of anything Peabody directly intimates) and that they need to do the work of putting on the armor of God when it is really allowing God to equip us. I think this is where modern American evangelicalism goes wrong... that is, we think that Jesus saved me and now it's up to me to drive the growth in good works. Peabody does a decent job reinforcing that the indicatives of Scripture should be the fuel we need to power us through the imperatives. That is, God's promises for what He has done for us equip and enable us to serve Him in ever greater (and often more harrowing) ways. The greater our vision of Him and all He has done for us will equip us to will allow us to, in essence, reenact the Gospel both privately and publicly in greater forms. Peabody emphasized this quite well.
I do wish Peabody had spent more time explaining the order of the Armor and doing more to differentiate between the two as his explanations indicated several overlaps. Why did God have Paul put them in this order? What differentiates the type of attacks the breastplate fights off versus the helmet? Peabody answers so e of these questions but it left me wanting more. For example, he does a nice job talking about the Greek etymology behind the breastplate, why not do that for the others? I'm sure there is a good story and depth of knowledge to be mined.
I am grateful he ended with the rightful focus on prayer. He ends like he begins and ensures the focus is on He who created and maintains the armor and not the meager soldier that wears it.
I do wish Peabody had spent more time explaining the order of the Armor and doing more to differentiate between the two as his explanations indicated several overlaps. Why did God have Paul put them in this order? What differentiates the type of attacks the breastplate fights off versus the helmet? Peabody answers so e of these questions but it left me wanting more. For example, he does a nice job talking about the Greek etymology behind the breastplate, why not do that for the others? I'm sure there is a good story and depth of knowledge to be mined.
I am grateful he ended with the rightful focus on prayer. He ends like he begins and ensures the focus is on He who created and maintains the armor and not the meager soldier that wears it.
October 5, 2022
Thoughtful, tender and intimate-- JD Peabody shares deeply from his own personal experiences with anxiety and OCD and how those experiences have drawn him deeper into relationship with and understanding of God.
This book is a gentle resting place-- a place where God sees us and knows us in our deepest weaknesses and yet remains God WITH us, a God who chooses us and fights for us. Reframing is one of Peabody's true gifts-- reframing away from a place of shame and failure to a place of grace and belonging.
In a section where Peabody is talking about the lies that Satan focuses on (1. I'm not good enough for God and 2. God's not good enough for me), Peabody shares Psalm 91:4 ("God will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.") and speaks of God's deliverance in the following way:
"In the Psalm writer's analogy, we're all birds, caught in the trap of a hunter. Unable to release ourselves, we cry out for help. But the answer is surprising: God also has feathers and wings. To set us free, God became a bird and climbed down inside the trap next to us, offering his own wings as refuge.
"That's the gospel truth. Jesus is our shield of faith because he has climbed down inside the human condition with us, turning himself into our shelter from harm." [p. 109]
This book is a gentle resting place-- a place where God sees us and knows us in our deepest weaknesses and yet remains God WITH us, a God who chooses us and fights for us. Reframing is one of Peabody's true gifts-- reframing away from a place of shame and failure to a place of grace and belonging.
In a section where Peabody is talking about the lies that Satan focuses on (1. I'm not good enough for God and 2. God's not good enough for me), Peabody shares Psalm 91:4 ("God will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.") and speaks of God's deliverance in the following way:
"In the Psalm writer's analogy, we're all birds, caught in the trap of a hunter. Unable to release ourselves, we cry out for help. But the answer is surprising: God also has feathers and wings. To set us free, God became a bird and climbed down inside the trap next to us, offering his own wings as refuge.
"That's the gospel truth. Jesus is our shield of faith because he has climbed down inside the human condition with us, turning himself into our shelter from harm." [p. 109]
September 20, 2022
The author brings us intimately into his own struggles and gives us his reflections on the Armor of God. With a frank openness and focus on the scripture, I really enjoyed reading through this book and looking at many of the passages in a new light. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
June 19, 2025
I’ve been wanting to read this book for almost a year but the Lord saw fit I’d read it in this newly anxious season I’m in. I loved it so much. Peabody took simple and practical ways to acknowledge and live out being suited in the armor of God from Ephesians 6. This author reminds me a lot of Alistair Begg. I appreciate this book whole heartedly.
December 29, 2022
I NEEDED this book. It has re-shaped the way I think about the relationship between God and mental health. I would recommend anyone suffering from anxiety or OCD to read what Peabody has to say. It's already in one of my friend's hands and I am counting the days until I get it back!
March 11, 2023
Very helpful resource to bring you closer to Jesus during the hard times when you think you can't go on.
October 11, 2023
This is a great book is understand the armor of God. I really like how the author has intertwined his personal testimony with the armor of God.
July 14, 2025
Love this little book! I pull it out and read it about ever six months and it always speaks to me where ever I am in life - this was currently my 4th time reading it
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