*Disclosure- I received this book from Revell in exchange for an honest review- all opinions are my own. This post contains an affiliate link.*
When I first saw the title of this book come up on my list- I knew I HAD to read it. I’ve shared my struggles with anxiety and fear before, and I’m still working on them. It’s not always a *daily* struggle now- but it’s ever present, in the background.
Breaking the Fear Cycle: How to Find Peace for Your Anxious Heart by Maria Furlough could’ve been written for me. There were several chapters that had me literally peeking over my shoulder at my Husband, and reading excerpts out loud to him. It sounded exactly like me. When she talks about her thought process when her Husband comes home late from work without calling- it is eerily similar to how my mind works. ‘He’s crashed. He’s dead. We’re all alone’, basically.
My favorite thing she says about that situation, when our minds make up these unlikely scenarios is this:
“God was never there. In my fearful fabrications, never once did I insert the presence and the power of the living God. My brain would only fixate on the tangible and the horrific facts, not taking into consideration that God shows up in super-natural ways in times of suffering, tragedy, and trials. My fearful thoughts never bothered to include God.”
WOW! I had NEVER even considered this before! In all my control-freak, anxiety laden thoughts had I ever even considered I wouldn’t be alone.
She also touches a lot on the fact that, as humans, we’re control freaks. And that our need for control- it is the basis of SO many of our fears.
“We have just enough control to make us feel as if we are the ones who are in control.”
Spoiler alert: we’re not. We never were.
I’ve been reading Job in my bible each morning, and when she talked about Job in her book, I knew there was a reason I decided to re-visit that particular section in my Bible. Because she points out something I never even noticed in Job’s story… but I’m going to let you find out when you read this book. Because you need to.
If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety- or love someone who does, you need to read this. It gives us solid actions to apply to our lives to help ease our anxieties. This book goes over HARD THINGS. Maria teaches us how to pray like Jesus, and how to let go of things that are beyond our control.
I’m so thankful that I picked up this book, at this juncture in my life. I feel like it was placed in my hands right when I needed it. So, I want to do the same for you!
If you leave a comment on this post, telling me why you would like to read it, I’ll pick a random person and mail it to you. Because I think it can touch so many lives. Then I want you to do the same and pass it on!
How are some ways you have learned to calm your anxious heart? Mine is counting my blessings and focusing on the good- it always helps a little. Even in my darkest days, I have so much to be thankful for!
