I like to scare people, and people like to be scared- Stephen King 

That’s the first quote in this most excellent book RUNNING SCARED. The author, Edward T. Welch, starts part one by addressing fears in different stages of a person’s life, starting with Babies and ending with adults. The adult section lists modern psychosis based in fear. There are fifteen different disorders listed, ranging from Generalized anxiety disorder, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, to Post-traumatic stress disorder and Separation anxiety disorder.  

According to the author, one in ten people experience more extreme versions of these problems, but he encourages us to look closely and honestly at ourselves and we will notice something in every description that feels familiar – he’s right. At this point I can’t say whether it enlightens, or suffocates to understand I share fear on some level with almost every human.  By the time the book ends however, freedom is the one feeling that remains.  

Using scripture, Author Edward Welch, moves us through common fears we face every day.  It is comforting and affirming to realize that God addresses our fears in regards to money and possessions, people and their judgments, and death, pain, punishment, in the bible. He, of course, knew/knows His creation would be weak in areas and require encouragement to stop from imploding. But, RUNNING SCARED does more than just dole out a list of scriptures correlating with a specific fear. The book is divided into two different sections. The first is titled Initial Observations in which the foundation of faith in our world is explored.  

Section two is divided into numerous sections.  Starting with the most important: God Speaks. This is where, of course, where God speaks about fears, who fears, and how to deal with fear.

Then, specific areas are addressed:

A. Money and Possessions - The message of the Kingdom, when the Kingdom isn’t Enough, Seek God’s face and more.

B. People and their Judgments: Love more than Need, Fight Fear with Fear

C. Death, Pain and Punishment: Fear of Death, Fear of Judgment, A glimpse of Heaven, Already dead, and more.

D. Peace be with you – I will be with you, I swear, Pray, Yesterday and Today, The Last Word…and more. 

My personal world could have been fear-filled for the past two years.  Life altering events could have left my family members in a puddle of mucky fear, paralyzed to do act or react. For the first time in my life, I sought the help of a Christian Counselor, because fear gripped my heart so strongly I could not pry my heart free. I experienced many of the things the author covers in this book, but the book helped me even more than the counselor. Why? Because, I could go to it repeatedly, and follow his references to the Word, where of course, truth and wisdom lie.  

I wish I were a Christian who could just go to the Word and find exactly what I need, but in times of great distress, or sadness or emotion, it helps to have someone to direct my way. I know many Christians are able to do what I cannot, and I admire them, but for those who need an extra hand leading them to the answers, books like RUNNING SCARED are welcome partners.

March 24, 2008