David Powlison. Worry: Pursuing a Better Path to Peace. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, March 1st 2004. 30 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
This is a counseling booklet on the topic of worrying. It is a part of a series published by Presbyterian and Reformed called “Resources for Changing Lives” which feature booklets on various biblical counseling issues. While some of the booklets in the series could be very specific and tailored for particular individuals going through certain issues such as A.D.D, OCD, self-injury and suicidal thoughts, I thought this booklet on worry would definitely be useful to a larger amount of people since every one of us struggle with worrying in one degree or another about something.
In this book the author David Powlison focused on Luke 12:22-34 as his primary passage in addressing the worrying heart. I appreciated that this booklet was based upon a passage of Scripture since you can never go wrong in biblical counseling when you base your counsel upon a passage that explicitly addresses a specific problem. This minimizes the risk of “proof-texting.” By “proof-texting” I mean taking verses out of context to make it say what one wants it to say. Powlison does a good job principlizing from the passage and also drawing rightful application from it.
I thought the booklet had good use of questions that is helpful to probe one’s own heart. I also thought it was interesting that Powlison had a section in the booklet titled “You’ve Got Plenty of Good Reasons to Worry!” I admit at first I was cautious but his point here is not that there are good reasons for ungodly worries. Instead Powlison goes for the issue of the heart by asking “Why do you worry?” Powlison makes a great observation that “Anxiety and control are two sides of the same coin” which means that “When we can’t control some, we worry about it” (12). Whatever the reasons one might have for worrying the next section is the “meat” of the book which gives us better reasons not to worry from Luke 12:22-34. The author points out seven promises that Jesus makes. I think it is good to study them, highlight what the author wrote in this section that stood out, meditate on these promises from Jesus and also regularly review them.
After reading this booklet myself I thought this was a helpful resource for Pastors to assign as a reading assignment for someone whom they are counseling concerning worrying. As often is the case for biblical counseling even the counselor would be greatly edified by this work. An excellent tool in the biblical counselor’s tool belt.
Thanks, Jim. I struggle with worrying as I’m sure most Christians do at times. It almost “feels good” to worry because it gives the sense that your doing SOMETHING about the problem but it just ends up feeding a sense of helplessness. This mirrors the works vs. faith struggle we go through on our way to trusting in Christ.
Good point about how worrying and trusting in God mirrors the ” the works vs. faith struggle.” I always thought our struggles with worry can be analogous to an iceberg. Just when you shaved the top off of what you are worrying, something else floats up to take its place. How we need God’s grace and utilize God’s ordinary means of grace in dealing with anxiety and worries.
RE: the iceburg.
Good one! As the old bromide goes, “It’s always something.”
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thanks for the reblog brother Vincent.
You’re very welcome Brother Jim 😎
Thank you for posting this. I too worry and quite often. I guess the worst part is that I know that the bible says over 300 times not to worry, which makes me worry even more when I’m worrying
Doug,
You’re welcome brother and thank you for reading this. I didn’t even know that the Bible mentioned not worrying 300 times. By the way if you ever need another Christian brother to pray for you, let me know. We all need God’s grace in battling worry and sometimes in His providence His provision is the prayers of other believers.
lindasavedbygrace.wordpress.com/2017/05/14/never-destroyed-on-the-christians-soul/
This is my article on the interplay of the physical and spiritual in those with mental illness and other mental issues.
As someone who deals with multiple, serious mental illnesses, I blog about the struggle from time to time. If there are any questions from people who are new to the struggle and med encouragement or who don’t struggle with this and need help with ideas of helping those with mental illnesses, I would be happy to try to answer any questions you may have. It’s a hard road, but one that can be used mightily for the Kingdom.
It’s true for me. I worry a lot when I can’t control the situation.
It is always encouraging to read a book that has a biblical perspective on worrying (God can help us overcome our sin and doubt). Thanks for the review SlimJim.
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