Fearless!

A few weeks ago I received a copy of Max Lucado's next to latest book, Fearless, to review. I was a huge Lucado fan when I first started really reading Christian literature, and had kinda gotten away from reading him a little bit recently, until receiving his last two books within a short time of each other. They are two of his best, which is saying a lot for someone who has written a ton of books like Lucado has. Fearless is a challenge to 'imagine your life without fear.' Lucado sets things up with a chapter called "Why Are We Afraid," ends with a chapter that is simply a conclusion, and in the middle addresses 13 (humorously ironic, eh?) common human fears with a chapter devoted to each and to God's response to each.

As someone in ministry, especially someone working with students, I can definitely appreciate many of the fears addressed, as they are common ones we all face, but definitely ones that students deal with on an enormous level, things like 'fear of disappointing God,' 'Fear of Overwhelming Challenges,' ' Fear of Worst-Case Scenarios,' 'Fear of What's Next,' 'Fear of Life's Final Moments,' and 'Fear That God is Not Real,' among others.

In the opening chapter, Lucado addresses many of the daily things that people fear in our world today while introducing Jesus and faith into the equation of overcoming fear. He also points out that there are 21 admonishments of Jesus that relate directly to not being afraid. He states, "Fear may fill our world but it doesn't have to fill our hearts." He then turns to addressing the common fears with a chapter each devoted to 13 of them.

In the chapter on the fear of not mattering, he reminds the reader that we are God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). In the chapter on the fear of disappointing God, he reminds us that God's forgiveness is greater than our fear. In the chapter on worry and anxiety, he reminds us to seek God first (Matthew 6:33) and gives an acronym on being "PEACEFUL." The next chapter addresses the fear of not protecting our kids, he reminds us that God gave up His only Son so He knows what it's like to love and lose a child. Chapter six addresses overwhelming challenges, and encourages us to take courage knowing God is with us. Chapter seven addresses worst-case scenario fears, we are reminded to trust the Father completely. The fear of violence chapter reminds us that God is on our side and can use even bad stuff. The next chapter reminds us that God owns everything and we are to trust Him and not our stuff.

Chapter 10 reminds us that death and the grave need not be feared by the one who belongs to Christ, while chapter 11 offers the reminder that our daily troubles and fear of what's next are preparing us for eternal glory. The 12th chapter reminds us that when we doubt God, our questions are ok, and He will show Himself in a very real way. Chapter 13 reminds us to trust our heavenly Father that things will work out in the end, while Chapter 14 addresses the fear of allowing God out of the box, and us seeing Him in a different light and Him doing amazing things because of His vastness and glory. Finally Lucado concludes by reminding us to turn to the Maker in order to fear less, by praying more, listening to God more deeply and trusting Him more fully.

What a great reminder that fear only entangles us when we allow it and when we take our eyes off the One who is greater than our fear. What a great challenge to trust more and fear less.