Book Review: Breaking the Fear Cycle by Maria Furlough

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Title: Breaking the Fear Cycle: How to Find Peace for Your Anxious Heart

Author: Maria Furlough

Series: Standalone

Genre: Christian Living/Non-fiction

Audience: Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

It seems there is more to fear now than ever, but fear and anxiety are nothing new to human beings - or to God. The Bible calls us to not be afraid on many occasions, and of course we all want to live without fear. But just how is that accomplished when every news item seems designed to get us wringing our hands?

Using her own story as a catalyst, Maria Furlough shows readers how to overcome fear for good. She calls readers to make a list of their fears, to choose to bring those fears to God rather than acting on them, and to trust God with the future. She shows how when we give God full control over our lives, choosing his sovereignty over our own ability, we can break the cycle of fear, grow through suffering, and trust God to fulfill his promises of protection and peace.

Anyone who is filled with anxiety over their personal circumstances, the state of the world today, or even their fear-clogged social media feeds will welcome this hands-on journey from fear to freedom.

~ MY REVIEW ~

**5 stars**

I really like Christian Living books. When I saw the beautiful cover and realized the book was addressing fear and anxiety, I knew I had to request Breaking the Fear Cycle to review. I'm so thankful I did! This book is absolutely worth the read.

Breaking the Fear Cycle: How to Find Peace for Your Anxious Heart by Maria Furlough is one of the best - if not the best - books on this topic that I've read. It dug so deep! So authentic, radical, and soul-changing. It met me right where I was in my own journey of struggling with fear and truly touched my heart. I'm in awe of how, I believe, God used Maria's life, fears, and experiences to impact my own life! Breaking the Fear Cycle was a book I needed. It encouraged me to lean hard on God, and stop running and face my fears. It fed the hope that I don't have to live under the tyrannical rule of anxiety. I know many women who would benefit greatly from reading this book. I'm excited to share it with them!

Breaking the Fear Cycle is done in Bible study format, so you can easily buy copies of the book and go through it for your next study!

Maria Furlough gets to the hard and gritty when talking about fear and suffering. She shares her personal story of losing a child. She talks about what thoughts she had and fears she faced. She also shares a lot of Scripture in this book, and is constantly pointing back to Christ and eternity. Though addressing heavy topics, she adds some humor, and her writing style is lovely.

One of the most powerful quotes of this book, to me, was: "If I didn't kill the fear, the fear was going to kill me." (pg. 17) Dear friends, if you're struggling but know you need to kill your fear, Breaking the Fear Cycle is definitely an amazing tool to take with you on the journey.

I look forward to reading this book again someday. And hopefully other books by Maria Furlough!

I received a copy of Breaking the Fear Cycle from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Can I Just Hide in Bed 'Til Jesus Comes Back by Martha Bolton and Christin Ditchfield

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Title: Can I Just Hide in Bed 'Til Jesus Comes Back?: Facing Life with Courage, not Comforters

Author: Martha Bolton and Christin Ditchfield

Series: Standalone

Genre: Christian Living

Audience: Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

Depression, fear, a sense of unworthiness, and unfulfilled dreams can make women retreat to their beds - figuratively and literally - and refuse to face life. Yet most of the time, hiding in bed makes matters worse. Who needs emotional bedsores? Authors Martha Bolton and Christin Ditchfield gently show women how to climb out from under their emotional bedcovers, face their fears and doubts, and step into the lives God has planned for them.

Can I Just Hide in Bed 'til Jesus Comes Back? faces down the fear, depression, and unfulfilled dreams that cripple many women to the point of wanting to crawl in bed - for the rest of their lives. Compiled as a collection of short, mostly humorous and warmhearted stories, it offers readers practical, concrete steps to help them move forward when they are ready. Essays are interspersed with special humor features such as "Top Ten" lists, while "Whenever You're Ready" sections offer Scriptures, journaling questions, and practical suggestions for "putting your feet on the floor" and "taking a few steps forward." The book addresses four themes:
Facing feelings of fear, anxiety, discouragement, and depression
Facing people and relationship issues
Facing the pain of grief and loss
Facing life - and getting yours back

~ MY REVIEW ~

**4.5 stars**

This was a great Christian Living read! Can I Just Hide in Bed 'Til Jesus Comes Back? by Martha Bolton and Christin Ditchfield speaks to real struggles with frankness, applicable ideas, hope, and a generous dash of humor. These ladies know how I feel! *smiles* After just finishing Fearless by Cheri Fuller, this book felt like the perfect companion read. It addressed fear and anxiety - talked about facing life with courage and prayer - like Fearless, but was a bit of a lighter read and had me almost laughing out loud many a time!

Basically, Can I Just Hide in Bed 'Til Jesus Comes Back? helps you to be upfront with yourself, face your fears, and ask yourself if you're going to keep hiding, or live the abundant life God has called you too. Honestly, people like myself, who struggle with fear, anxiety, depression, or listlessness, need books like this! I very much recommend. It'll get you laughing while taking a look at your heart.

What did I learn? Run to God as soon as the fear/hopelessness hits! Pray continuously. Live life! Laugh! Walk by the Spirit. Sometimes I think we just take ourselves too seriously. God didn't mean for us to live in bondage (whatever that may be), but to be FREE, walking by His Spirit. Trusting Him. With all that we are.

Easy to read, humorous, real, and heartfelt, Can I Just Hide in Bed 'Til Jesus Comes Back?: Facing Life with Courage, Not Comforters has the potential to help a lot of women realize they don't have to hide anymore. God has it all under control. They're alive and breathing, and He has a plan! I thoroughly enjoyed.

I received a copy of Can I Just Hide in Bed 'Til Jesus Comes Back? from Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for my honest review.

Faithful Fridays: To Be Complete

Some days, I just want to go home. I’m not talking about my beautiful childhood home, though I do want to go there too. I’m talking about heaven.

Because some days are simply hard.

I’m incredibly blessed in many ways – not in lacking food, or shelter, or material things. But that’s not to say that I haven’t had a share of emotional and mental trials.

I’ve had days of emotional pain, fear, anxiety, loneliness, and hopelessness. Where my deepest fears and hurts seem magnified into life-sized foes. When, after an exhausting battle with irrational terror, I just want to curl up in a dark corner and fade away in non-existence.

I’ve experienced being thrust into confusing and difficult times … where hope is dashed … And my joy in life suddenly wanes. One day I wake up and realize I can’t see a future for myself.

Even after the intense hurt diminishes, I’m still left with a frustrating listlessness. A lack of excitement for life.

I feel purposeless. What is the point of my life? I feel hopeless. I’m can’t change things. I can’t make it better.

Sometimes I struggle to trust God. God, do You really, really care? I mean, how could someone like me have Your love? You who created galaxies and conquered death and reign for eternity. There are so many people who serve You so much better than I do.

     So do You really see me, God, down here, afraid of everything?

Other days, I think I get a glimpse of His glory, and suddenly my soul longs for heaven, the place it was surely created for!

There, I will know and be fully known. There, I will know that I am utterly and completely loved. There, my doubts, fears, and struggles will be entirely gone. There, I will see Jesus face to face! There, I will run to His arms and feel love, security, and peace. –And awe. Awe for my King.

There, I will be complete.

And here on earth, where the heart is burdened, it sounds particularly beautiful, the thought of being complete. The thought of resting in Jesus’ presence. Of praising His holy name in abandon.

"For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life." 2 Corinthians 5:4

But, I suppose there’s still work for me to do here. And as hopeless and bleak as I sometimes feel my future is, God must have a plan. Because I’m still here. The world is still turning.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

So. I need to choose to trust God. To surrender to Him. Even in the hurt and the fear, I need to reach out and cling to Him, where He’s waiting for me.

"Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:7-8

I must stop letting the darkness surround me and the Enemy’s lies cloud my thinking. Deep down, I know I’m letting darkness win when I stay in the hopeless place, afraid. Afraid of life. Afraid to reach out to the Lord.

No more. Because Satan does not claim the victory. I do. Through Jesus Christ and His awesome sacrifice and love! Because I am a Daughter of Light. And I can take my God’s Word and speak truth over myself.

"Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:8

"For You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord shall enlighten my darkness." 2 Samuel 22:29

Speak truth! Always, always, speak truth. Cling to hope. Dive into love with abandon. God is love. And He loves me. He loves you. Even when we don’t believe it, He loves us absolutely, unconditionally.

"My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him." Psalm 62:5

My dear friends, if you understand how I feel, if you’re afraid, if you’re feeling hopeless, please don’t struggle alone. I’m here for you, a sister in Christ. Let me know if you want me to pray for you, or if you need someone to talk to.

Speak truth, brothers and sisters. Live for Jesus. And look forward to heaven. –Where we will be complete.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you," 1 Peter 1:3-4

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

(All pictures found on Pixabay.com)