A Small Book for the Anxious Heart

Small Book for the Anxious Heart is composed of 50 short daily readings for the Christian dealing with anxiety and worry. Each reading gives you a chance to respond and reflect on what you've read. I highly recommend it!

Perfection is not the answer. Perfection ultimately trusts in itself, and that compounds our fears. What we are after is the confidence that God always hears those who turn to him. (Psalm 51:17) Always.

This daily devotion opened the many different ways our hearts are anxious. The triggers and more importantly, what brings us peace. If you have a trust issue, you probably suffer from anxiety. If you have relationship problems, you probably suffer from fear. But in honestly, there are many things that cause us anxiety. However, there is only one thing that brings peace and that is facing your reality. Actually saying that aloud can cause anxiety but in facing our reality, we are directing our eyes, heart, soul, and mind to Jesus. Loving him with all that we are.

In knowing how we depend on our selves, we can shift that independence on Christ by faith. It is a cry for help or calling on God that we focus on what is important and releasing those things that are not. Where does my help come from? It is not the disappearance of anxiety but the appearance of God in our lives 24/7.

We are a needy people and not having those needs met by God will cause anxiety. This devotion will cause you to look different at the aspect of anxiety but also in your relationship with the Lord and faith. That there is relationship building that gives satisfaction.

Highly Recommend!

A Special Thank you to New Growth Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

First sentence from the introduction: Anxieties remain among my top bugaboos. My own grappling with them is different than it was even a year ago, but I see so much more that is available, so much room for growth. In this book I will raise some themes from books on fear that I have previously written, but I will also introduce new themes and, I hope, add the benefit of additional experience.

First "sentence" from day one: Could there be a more important topic? Our lives are full of uncertainties. We never know what the day will bring. Worries, fears, and stress are part of daily life. We shouldn’t be surprised, then, that Scripture says so much about it, and that what it says is both attractive and helpful. The Lord responds to our fears with words of comfort, which he is pleased to repeat again and again. His words to us cluster around two themes: your God is very near, and he gives the grace and power you need for today. The aim of this book is to help us become more skillful in how we identify our fears and anxieties, hear God’s good words, and grow. You could say that our goal is wisdom. Wisdom is another name for skill in living.

Is it a devotional? Is it a Bible study? It's a happy-happy blend of both. It's a book of daily readings--fifty days--that challenge readers to grow in their faith. The devotions are substantive--packed with information both practical and biblical.

There were some readings that I just LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED. I thought they were timely, relevant, and just what I needed. Other readings I "merely" loved, loved, loved. Overall, I would say I was an enthusiastic reader and definitely part of Welch's target audience.
I would say the book has the potential--with the Spirit--to offer hope and change to readers.

I loved that each daily reading ended with a question or two--or an activity. Sometimes he's asking readers to write what they're thinking and feeling. Sometimes he's asking readers to "be brave" and reach out to someone--anyone--to talk to about their feelings and experiences. He's a big advocate that there's nothing to be ashamed about. Talking about what you're feeling with someone else can be life-changing. He is also a BIG advocate of PRAYER.

I disobeyed Welch in that I did NOT read just one a day. I was wearing my BOOK REVIEWER HAT. Yes, I'm part of his target audience--someone who has wrestled with anxiety and fear--but I'm also a book blogger who wanted to finish the book so I could review it and recommend it to others. I didn't want to wait FIFTY whole days before I started spreading the word: BUY THIS BOOK. Or THIS WOULD MAKE A LOVELY CHRISTMAS GIFT.

Fear and anxiety are huge in many peoples lives today. This book “A Small Book for the Anxious Heart” is an easy daily devotional for people who are in the grips of fear and anxiety. Welch shares scriptural truth teaching us how to put our trust where it belongs and to put worry and fear aside. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever dealt the lest bit with anxiety or fear.

"A Small Book For the Anxious Heart by Edward Welch is a practical and helpful book. The author has been a counselor for thirty eight years. He understands anxiety and worry after listening to many peoples struggles. Edward Welch has also written dozens of books and has an established reputation in the Christian world. This book is a devotional to help guide the anxious person to seek the Lord for their peace and strength. He starts out the devotional sharing about his struggles with anxiety and then shares how the Lord can help the anxieties in our lives. He also shares verses to help when we are anxious. He ends the devotional with a response and questions to help the reader apply the message to their lives. I have found the devotionals helpful and practical. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read and review this very helpful book. I think it is a helpful resource for pastors and counselors. I will share my review on facebook, netgalley, Goodreads, my blog, Amazon and with the church staff.

Don’t let the small title fool you. These fifty readings on overcoming anxiety are huge in what they bring to the reader. They aren’t long, but the topics are profound—loneliness, fear, anxiety, forgiveness—are just a few of the subjects covered. Instead of cliche answers that don’t help, the author points directly to the source of true and complete healing, Jesus.

Scripture is included, as is a reflection at the end of each reading.

I found this book encouraging and one I’d absolutely recommend to anyone dealing with anxiety.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated and all opinions are my own.

I am never disappointed with Ed Welch. This book is very legit because it addresses the issue of anxiety. I have come to a place in my life realizing that our problem in the world is that we just don't know how to deal with issues in a healthy biblical way. It is why we spend so much money on medicines and coaches. I am not down-playing those, but how about if we try to tackle our issue in a biblical way first? This book definitely highlights the beauty of just that. I read and re-read this book because of how it focused directly on anxiety. I am so thankful for this author's ability to tackle legitimate issues in life. He wants to help us find wholeness in Jesus. I appreciate that greatly.

I received an advanced/review copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content and honesty of my review.

I struggle greatly with anxiety and I'm always looking for ways to help. I especially appreciate it when it comes from a biblical standpoint as my faith is very important to me. Sometimes the only true comfort I feel comes directly from the Creator, and I felt like this book had a great way of showing how to minimize the need for perfection and amplify the need for Jesus. I'd like to purchase a physical copy of this book so I can more accurately fill out the responses and get something deeper out of it.

I highly recommend this book for any fellow Christians who struggle with feeling anxious and need a reminder of just Who they belong to.

I have long since enjoyed Edward T. Welch's books. This was no different! Filled with intuitive insight into an anxious heart and easily broken into manageable reading bites, this book is perfect for helping anyone with anxiety or who is prone to worry. I highly recommend it as an easy ready but also an important one.