Max Lucado doing his Max Lucado thing! I am always uplifted when I sit down with one of his books. The timing of this book is perfect for all of the anxiety and chaos in the world and makes you remember to stop and listen, stop and not be afraid. His use of real life examples entwined with Bible verses makes this book very easy to digest and put into use. I love that I can highlight key parts and come back to them as fresh reminders. This would also make a wonderful gift. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read early!

We live in a busy wold. Information is everywhere, headlines scream chaos, anxiety is on the rise. Since 2020, counseling waitlists have grown exponentially, with many clients finding it impossible to get an appointment. Being brave feels far out of reach when most of us are just trying to get through the day.

Author Max Lucado addresses our fear filled world, while encouraging his readers not to be filled with fear themselves. Simply saying, "Don't worry" just doesn't cut it. But in true Lucado style, the author walks us through how to move away from fear as default reaction, love fully, and live boldly. Some of my favorite takeaways from this book include:

*"Parents... We can be loyal advocates, stubborn intercessors. We can take our parenting fears to Christ. If fact, if we don't, we will take our fees out on our kids."

*"Whether or not storms come, we cannot choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can choose."

*"Change trampolines our lives, and when it does, God sends someone special to stabilize us (Holy Spirit)."

*"Christ distributes courage through community; he never dissipates doubts through fellowship. He never deposits all knowledge in one person but distributes pieces of the jigsaw puzzle to many. When you interlock your understanding with mine, and we share our discoveries... When we mix, mingle, confess, and pray, Christ speaks."

I loved that this book goes beyond the cliches of "Don't worry," "Trust the Lord," "Where's your faith?" Instead Lucado uses real life examples of struggle and the peace that comes from laying it all down before the Lord. His writing is a beautiful mix of Scripture and story telling, relating Biblical truth to everyday life we all find ourselves living. This book was an easy read, but with powerful message... making brave choices today can lead us into a purposeful future with the Lord. All in all, a worthwhile read.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.