Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety: Becoming a Woman of Faith and Confidence

by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick

Replace Your Worries with God’s Peace

You’re not alone in your struggles with anxiety. Christian women in all seasons of life battle worries about their family, work, health, faith, and more. Yet God has compassion for your weary heart, and when you turn to Him, He’ll guide you to freedom from your fears.

Illuminated by abundant guidance in the Bible, author and biblical counselor Elyse Fitzpatrick provides practical strategies for overcoming anxiety, all the while pointing you back to the One who has overcome your every hardship. You’ll learn how you can
Find comfort and encouragement as you learn from the examples of other women like you—women who have discovered that it really is possible to have peace-filled confidence in every circumstance, even when it feels impossible.

Genres: Christian, Counselling, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Self Help, Womens, Christian Non Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Author of 20+ books on the Christian life and the gospel's impact on everyday living, Elyse is a frequent speaker at women's conferences nationally and internationally.

Elyse's ministry is summed up in these simple words: No fluff, No bricks, just the good news of a crucified and risen Christ.

In 1971 she married her sweetheart Phil and together they raised three children and are enjoying six really adorable grandchildren.

Together they attend Valley Center Community Church in the hills of the North County of San Diego where Phil is an elder.

Reviews

[Jennifer Howey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I initially was excited for this book, but was disappointed chapter after chapter. There are some good biblical truths in there and some practical steps for those who struggle with anxiety on a daily basis. If you have lost someone and are grieving and that’s where your anxiety and worry come from, this is not a good book for that type of scenario. After losing my first child, miscarrying, and giving birth to a 3rd child, of course I struggle with fear, worry, and anxiety. This book made me feel like a bad Christian or that I need to accept what has happened to me as “good” for me. Ridiculous! So here is my review, and hopefully no one else gets hurt by this book.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on the topic! Lots of good application questions and worksheets/homework that can be assigned.

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY REVIEW:

Fear. Worry. Anxiety. These things are very real in many of our lives. For some of us they are greater challenges than for others. But no matter what level you are at in battling this deadly trio in your life this book by Elyse Fitzpatrick will equip you with Scripture that will show you how and enable you to overcome.

I appreciated this book personally because Elyse breaks it into three practical sections - Understanding Your Fears, The Source of Your Fears, & God's Answers to Your Fears - and then simply, yet deeply digs into God's Word and how it applies to these sins. You will walk away with a better understanding of how fear and worry affect your life and how applying the truth of Scripture will help you gain victory. My favorite chapter was chapter 8 which explains in easy-to-understand terms how a solid theology base is the staring point to overcoming fear, worry, and anxiety. Questions like, "Can God free me from fear?, are answered and straight-forward practical help is offered in every chapter. And Elyse will also help you see how fear is often times the symptom of something else you are struggling through.

I highly encourage anyone - man or woman - who has ever struggled little or much with these three areas to read this book. And maybe you don't think it applies to you, but reading it will help you to have compassion on and help others who do struggle with these areas. And quiet honestly, I don't think anyone can read this book without becoming convicted of something in their life! Elyse doesn't dance around the issue, but gets directly to the heart of the matter and offers both help and hope to her readers.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me awhile to finish, as I kept taking breaks. At times, the work required to fully understand my anxieties became overwhelming, so I would step back for a bit. But, I feel this is the best book, aside from the bible, that I have read on this subject. Fitzpatrick really gets to the heart of fear and anxiety and gives wonderful, biblical counsel on how to overcome it, better than any doctor or counselor I've ever talked to!

[Leigh Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book can be very applicable and even helpful for some. I felt like she was too broad and repeating. I was sort of disappointed. I think there were a lot of scenarios that I just simply couldn't relate to.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I’ll read over & over again. Even if you don’t feel that anxiety or worry is a significant problem in your life, it’s worth reading simply for the fact that it is a great reminder of the One who is sovereign & full of grace—no matter who we are nor what circumstance we may face.

[Lynn :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a young christian who is struggling with severe anxiety, this book really helped me to view my worries in a more Godly way.

[Rachael Marsceau · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Fitzpatrick. I found Elyse to be very down-to-earth and personal, so I had no trouble enjoying her writing style. Here are some things I especially liked:

- God cannot help us with things in our imaginations; only in reality. Am I thinking truth?
- God does not give us our ticket for the trip until right as we need to board! (He will give the necessary grace at the moment of need. We don't need to stress about things in the future!)
- Even though flying is statistically proven to be safer than driving, many of us feel safer behind the wheels of our cars because it's the feeling of being in control of our own safety that we love. Is my fear stemming from a desire to be in control?
- Chapter 6 on perfectionism was just beautiful.
- She shared SO many helpful quotes (mostly by Spurgeon), as well as charts/graphs that could easily be reproduced and filled in for future reference.

[Chloe Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I spent all year with. This book is a book that I’ll never really be done with but it’s taught me so much when it comes to anxiety. Would recommend to any believer who needs reminders of God and his power.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since this book was borrowed from someone, I read it faster than I normally would. It was very good and helpful; I need to buy my own copy so that I can read it again slowly, and take notes/do the exercises at the end of each chapter.

[Linda Filcek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an older one (2001), but TIMELESS as it is full of good practical biblical suggestions for any woman who wants to overcome anxiety and worry.

[Dama Moreira · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ao que você está aspirando? Se você anseia por segurança e prazer terrenos, então o medo triunfará sobre a fé. Se as suas riquezas estão aqui na terra, então elas estão sujeitas à destruição e à perda, e essa possibilidade a deixará temerosa. Mas se o seu tesouro realmente está no céu, você será capaz de agir com fé porque você não tem nada a perder. Pelo contrário, você terá paz, sabendo que o seu tesouro celestial está seguro sob o cuidado protetor de Deus." ❤️

"Quando a nossa única preocupação é obedecer, mil outras preocupações desapareceram."

[Esther Faulkner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t give this to anyone who is struggling with fear, worry or anxiety. Though Elise did a great job on a topical study of those issues—practically this book can come across as a “have more faith” type of book in light of suffering. I’m sure that wasn’t her intent but as someone who found out I have complex PTS, this book was very, very heavy and made my PTS symptoms seem like sin instead of effects of trauma. One thing that was especially troubling was the idea that God cannot help with imagined fears—if you have any familiarity with people who have endured trauma or abuse I then you know they struggle with being triggered by memories of past suffering. People with PTS have horrible nightmares of their fears. The idea that God can’t help with the fears our imaginations produce is not good. After a few months in therapy I was able to pick this book up again and finish it—assuming that the book was written from a Biblical counselor perspective and not a Christian clinical counselor perspective. I will not be passing this book along to anyone.

[Oluremi Ladeji · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book meritoriously answers the question of “overcoming fear, worry, and anxiety” using biblical moralities. The author postulates practical steps using factual life settings. Although the book appears to focus on women as indicated in the title, it is relevant to both men and women and therefore recommended to all.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a wealth of Scripture mixed with practical talk regarding how women's views of themselves and God create anxiety and how to use truth to combat the fear that creates that anxiety. Easy to pick up and read off and on, and re-read at any time.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would definitely recommend this to others. I thoroughly appreciated how the gospel was front and center throughout the entire book.

[Sarah Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars. To be fair, I was already a little on edge when I picked up this book. Some of the information in the author description and the synopsis for the book had me on guard and questioning where the author was coming from before I even began reading. But I had read Elyse Fitzpatrick’s book “Worthy” a couple years back and absolutely loved it…so I truly gave it the best benefit of the doubt I could.

This book is oversimplified by labeling fear, worry, and anxiety as sin. Get your sin under control, repent, and everything will be much better. If people’s opinions and treatment of you are causing you hurt, simply remember it is only God’s opinions that matter and stuff that hurt down…you can do it! While it IS true that in the end God’s opinion is ultimately what matters, it is not true that we should just be okay with people treating us disrespectfully either. But in this book, there are several examples shared of people who have genuinely been treated poorly but the onus of guilt is put on them for it causing emotional struggles, instead of a real discussion on boundaries.

There’s also a whole chapter on how God brings suffering and hardship into our lives purposefully to allow us to grow as Christians. Suffering and hardship DOES exist for everyone, and God can redeem it, but I simply don’t agree that God causes any darkness - in Him, there is no darkness.

There are some good Christian and Biblical truths sprinkled in, absolutely. But the application of them to worry, anxiety, and fear - it doesn’t work in this book. “Have more faith” is not what we should be saying to people who struggle. That is a great way to make the anxiety continue for years and make the person struggling feel alone and sinful.

Overall, this book allows everything to be black and white, with absolutely no grey, and way too tidy. It is a fictional perspective on how things work, and many of the principles shared can be very damaging. There is absolutely a way for psychology and Christianity and mental health to all come together, but this book does not accomplish that in any healthy fashion. Do not recommend.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

After enjoying other books by this author in the past, I found this title on the nose for the current situation and my own response to it. Careful with the topic and helpful with her discussion, Elyse Fitzpatrick guides her readers from understanding what fear looks like, understanding where it comes from, and what God has to say about it through His word.

Easy to read and understand, the book is divided into three sections with a handful of chapters under each section and then each chapter ending with follow up questions and verses for further study and contemplation. I find her writing style engaging though I did occasionally gloss over the illustrations because I find them sometimes distracting. I didn't always agree with her assessment or conclusion though it was in smaller things rather than her main points. I felt she showed what the Bible said about fear rather than what verses could match her own ideas about the topic. She challenges the reader without getting abrasive. I will caution that anyone looking for a book that deals with clinical and severe cases of this topic that this is not going to do a deep dive.

Overall, it was insightful and gave me much to ponder and seek to change as I deal with occasions of fear and worry. Definitely recommend.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

2020 certainly has been a year of fear, worry, and anxiety for many of us. I began this book about halfway through the year, reading short bits at a time. I had been going through an uncertain period struggling with an illness that was eventually resolved, thankfully. Fitzpatrick delivers a Biblical view for understanding and overcoming worries and anxiety, both the everyday variety and those that are more extreme and debilitating. I didn’t relate much with the women whose stories she shared and I found the book to be somewhat repetitive, but overall it provided an inspirational and thought-provoking message and a reminder of how worry about the future can sap our energy and peace in the moment.

[Paige Collier · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! So practical! Such a blessing. I already can’t wait to read it again with someone. Such a blessing for a believer. Must read. This book helps bring awareness to all the areas fear, worry, and doubt have a foothold in a believers life and give practical steps on how to capture those thoughts and put our focus back on what’s true. Praise God for these practical applications.

[Jana Grote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! I’ve read it twice now and will probably go back to it again. Elyse is a good writer and all of the information in this book is so helpful and biblical. I especially loved how she explains panic attacks and why and how they happen. I also loved her fear God acronym. Such helpful and practical advice throughout the book. Highly recommend!

[Anete Ābola · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. stars. Very good book.
But somehow the older books usually have even more substance, so maybe that is why I am reluctant to give 5 stars. Also, women usually add long drawn out sentences that could have been said in a more concise way. But the book is fine in its content.

[CAREN M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was recommended for my Biblical Counseling class. Highly recommended for the topic.

[Brenda Kominek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book to go towards my ACBC certification. Its really been a good read, especially right now with the state of our nation and world.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent. It really is. The Elise Fitzpatrick’s descriptions of problems and the remedies applied are exact. Her communication and response to her own honest struggles have paved the way for many to be helped through this book. If you struggle with worry, anxiety, or doubt or want to help those who do, I highly recommend this book.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good truth, I thought it odd that she referenced scripture in the tlb version, but the theological truths addressed were good.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fear, worry, and anxiety are all aspects of life that plague so many. I felt this book provided a broad overview of fear with useful scriptures to remember to help relieve our fears.

More than anything, the author created this book as a tool for those struggling with fear, and I feel that overall, it was helpful. This would be a great read for new Christians, but also for Christians who still struggle with the mindset of God as the Ultimate Punisher or the Sour Judge giving and taking away gold stars based on performance. From reading this book, I realized that this image of God is difficult to shake.

I am reminded of what a professor of mine, Dr. Pruitt, said once. Dr. Pruitt reminded us that the Bible said God made people in his own image, however, people tend make God into their own image, too. In other words, our human nature allows us to create a broken image of God. Fitzgerald of this book did a great job of supplying readers with a more accurate image of God.

I enjoyed Fitzgerald's clarity on a broad range of issues concerning fear and anxiety. The only obvious flaw I noted was that this book didn't have to be written towards a female audience. Nothing about it spoke to women alone. This is a shame, since men who could benefit from reading this book might skip right over it due to the title.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book practically helps with applying biblical truth to overcoming anxiety. Overall, I appreciated this book. It was easy to follow, full of truth, and practical.

Personal take aways for me include...
1. How anxiety works. The stair analogy of jumping from the top to the bottom steps with our thoughts.
2. Replacing fear of something with fear of God.
3. Learning to trust God over our circumstances because He really does care for His children.
4. Learning to talk to yourself rather than listen to emotions.

Counsel from the Cross is one of my favorite books in general and specifically by Elyse so it's a hard book to follow but I would say this is a good book. I think others would find it more helpful than I did. I think my struggle with anxiety is unique and it doesn't quite fit in with this book's approach.

[Natali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this was a good, solid book. I didn't much care for the conversational style at times, and that she quoted from The Living Bible far too often, but I think this book would be especially helpful for a newish Christian or one who really struggles with these issues. Fitzpatrick dealt well with the sin issue behind fear, and one of the nuggets I took away was that "worry is a waste of time"--I had never thought of it in those terms before!

[Josue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I happened upon this book while searching for a different book (which I did not find) on overcoming anxiety. And although this book was apparently written for women, I (a man) have greatly benefited from this book!

I did not care for the author's use of the TLB at times. There also could have been more citations used (granted, I realize this was not a "scholarly" book).

Nevertheless, this was an excellent book. I am very grateful to God for leading me to it in His providence.