There are a lot of things about being a mom, especially a first time mom, that can cause even the bravest woman to be fearful. Most of us spend a lot of time in prayer and get advice from more experienced godly mothers to help us on our journey. For some moms though, the fear and anxiety can become too powerful. They can become a mother who is constantly anxious and hovers over her children in constant fear and panic.
If you had previous traumatic experiences in your life, an extra amount of fear and anxiety is to be expected. That’s what happened to Susie Davis. When she was in middle school in the late 1970’s a classmate walked into her classroom and shot and killed the teacher right in front of her. To make matters even worse, he lived a few doors away from her house and never served time for the crime because he was ruled mentally ill.
Unafraid: Trusting God in an Unsafe World,
Books like this can sometimes be so depressing themselves, I am not always sure they help those who are hurting. Although the original murder she witnessed is disturbing, she has a story telling style that helps you understand the circumstances without being too drawn into her personal emotional state.
I am not a therapist and I would imagine some would say her solution is too trite and simple to work for others. Yet, it did work for her and I believe God can work similar transformations in the lives of other hurting and fearful women. I would say though, that if after reading this book your fear is not improving, you should seek professional help. Sometimes God also uses modern medicine to heal us.
I believe Davis has written a very honest account of her journey. I think the sections on mourning the root cause of your fears and anxieties and forgiving the original perpetrator have some important spiritual value even if going through the process does not totally remove all of your fears. In fact, Davis herself admits those anxious thoughts still float into her mind on occasion. The difference is that now she no longer allows them to stay there and take a hold on her life.
I would suggest whether you have an occasional sleepless night from worry or are living in a state of constant fear and anxiety, this book could be helpful. If you don’t struggle with anxiety and fear (I am not sure that is entirely possible when raising children!), then reading this book may give you more empathy and insight into the mothers around you who struggle with these very real emotions. At the very least, it is an interesting story of how God can and does change lives in a myriad of ways.
I was given a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review. Affiliate link is included for your convenience.