Rigney Ministries

Nine months of progressively worsening stomach pain, which couldn’t be diagnosed … in the end it turned out to be lactose intolerance. I have no idea why my daughter’s pediatric gastrointestinal specialist didn’t think to check that BEFORE she did the high dollar testing which included an upper GI. Finally, a friend suggested that we just TRY over-the-counter meds for lactose intolerance, and wonder of wonders … it worked! I was SO relieved!

Several months later, she had an allergic reaction to dust, which set off a mild case of asthma, for which two asthma inhalers were prescribed. Apparently, the strength of the meds was too strong or conflicting or who knows what, but it landed us in the ER late one evening with her having a severe panic attack. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I seriously considered lying on the bed beside her and having a panic attack of my own!

Fears! EVERYBODY has them … health concerns, financial woes, fear of not mattering, fear of overwhelming challenges, fear of violence, fear of really trusting God with your life … the list could go on and on. These days, there are PLENTY of opportunities to fall into the pit of despair because of fear. I know I’ve been wrestling with it, and I’m thinking you are too. That’s why the timing of Max Lucado’s new book, Fearless, couldn’t be better. With soothing words and insightful wisdom, based on the solid principles of Scripture, Max offers encouragement and strategies for combating some of our most common fears. For instance, this rousing encouragement is given in the chapter titled “What If Things Get Worse?”

Avoid Pollyanna optimism. We gain nothing by glossing over the brutality of human existence. This is a toxic world. But neither do we join the Chicken Little chorus of gloom and doom. “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” Somewhere between Pollyanna and Chicken Little, between blind denial and blatant panic, stands the levelheaded, clear-thinking, sill-believing follower of Christ. Wide eyed, yet unafraid … Courage is fear that has said its prayers.

That’s powerful stuff! Stuff you would hear the coach say in the locker room before you faced your most fierce rival. Oh, wait … that IS who we are facing! Thanks for the pep talk, Coach Max!

On His Exciting Journey,

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This is my personal review of Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear, written by Max Lucado and published by Thomas Nelson.