Book Review: FEARLESS by Max Lucado

To me, reading Max Lucado's FEARLESS reminisces back about reading his other two books that have equally impacted me tremendously, In The Grip of Grace and Traveling Light. I feel like as if a heavy baggage has been lifted away, a dejected spirit restored, and it is time to laugh again and a time to stand tall.

As I walked through the pages of this book, I felt like I have dipped into the sweet honey of God's grace again - especially when I reached Chapter 3 and 4.

I am glad Max did not trivialize the impact of fear, as shown in Chapters 11 and 13. God is not insulating His believers in giant spiritual bubble from life's shares of pain and heartaches in this fallen world; or as Max puts it, a "decaffeinated" life. In fact, storms of life sometimes are blessings in disguise. As Max puts it (in his dealing of the biblical account of Peter asking Jesus to command him to walk on water), to quote:

"Peter never would have made this request on a calm sea. Had Christ strolled across a lake that was as smooth as mica, Peter would have applauded, but I doubt he would have stepped out of the boat. Storms prompt us to take unprecedented journeys. For a few historic steps and heart-stilling moments, Peter did the impossible. He defied every law of gravity and nature; “he walked on the water to go to Jesus.” (Fearless, Chapter 6)

I am glad he treated this delicate subject of fear in a balance manner; for some fears are real, born out of legitimate concerns. I like the way he differentiated between prudence and paranoia in Chapter 7. Jesus was honest about His fear and Jesus made his fear public in the Garden of Gethsemane.

I am also glad too that Max was blatantly honest about his own fear especially about his fear and doubt that haunted him occasionally during his sermon preparation time (Chapter 12). This goes to show that this book is not just a "to-do" manual, with how many steps to eliminate fear. Rather this book was born out of the author's own personal experiences (including a personal experience of being admitted for a life and death surgery). In other words, it is not just about head knowledge, but heart knowledge.

The chapter on financial fear was dealt with in a humorous, entertaining way, yet, full of wisdom. The chapter on the sovereignty of God, "Fear of God Getting Out Of My Box" (Chapter 14) is a must-read chapter for all believers.

In short, whatever your fears are, Max has a word for you. It is worth my time to read it, and I hope it is worth your time too, for who, has not, at one point or another experienced fear?

Links:

www.TheFearlesBook.com

www.MaxLucado.com/TownHall

www.ThomasNelson.com/Fearless


FREE resources of FEARLESS:

FEARLESS Sample chapters Download links:
Chapter 1 Click here
Chapter 5 Click here
Chapter 6 Click here
Chapter 9 Click here

Free download: Sermon Central Teleconference with Max Lucado Preaching on Fear to a Fearful Audience. Click the link here. (Right click to download)