Todd Friel - Stressed Out: A Practical, Biblical Approach to Anxiety

What Others Are Saying...

Todd Friel is a wealth of wonderful wisdom; an oasis of biblical truth in a desert of shallow theology. Stressed Out is drawn from a well that will refresh your soul.

Ray Comfort , CEO/Founder, LivingWaters.com

Todd Friel has done the Church a great service. Pastors, counselors, and church leaders will receive a great deal of help from this practical guide on some of the most debilitating issues in a believers life. As our times become increasingly troubling and stressful, Stressed Out is a perfect antidote.

Pastor Emilio Ramos , Heritage Grace Community Church

The word worry is derived from the old English word wyrgan. It means to strangle. Worry harasses you and grabs you by the throat. Worry chokes. Todd properly analyzes the problem, lovingly identifies worry for what it is, then pushes your attention to the true solution. If you would like some biblical relief from the vice grips of the vice of worry, Stressed Out beats a straitjacket every time.

Mike Abendroth , Pastor of Bethlehem Bible Church
and host of No Compromise Radio

While depression and anxiety are sweeping the nation in epidemic proportions, there is hope to be found. Todd Friel has written a very biblical and accessible book to aid the weary sufferer. Drawing heavily from the Gospels, he is able to bring helpful prescriptions from the Lord Jesus the Great Physician. Stressed Out is laced with Friels unique brand of wit, along with his nurturing heart. This book is a great resource for the Church, and a joy to read.

Nate Pickowicz , Pastor of Harvest Bible Church

If youre currently struggling with the storms that rage in an anxious heart, this book offers concrete, authentic and wonderfully biblical help. Buy this book.

Pastor Lyndon Unger , writer at TheCripplegate.com

When Christians experience anxiety, we should acknowledge that we are not trusting in God and the teachings of His Word in the way that we should. When it happens, we should remember that God has the wisdom and power to overcome anxious thoughts, which in reality are an effect of the Fall (Genesis 3), and we can have victory in Him. Todds new book offers hope as it helps you discover how to become conformed to the image of Gods Son, including how your thinking can be transformed through the power of Gods Word starting with its very first verse.

Ken Ham , President/CEO, Answers in Genesis

Stressed Out is undoubtedly one of the most powerful, practical, and biblical books ever written on the subject of anxiety. I would even dare say that its refreshingly revolutionary. You will breathe multiple sighs of relief as you read through its pages, and when youre done, you will delightfully find yourself reveling in an unspeakable joy that will give birth to a God-honoring calm in your heart, and exuberant worship in your life. Read it! Live it! Share it!

Emeal (E.Z.) Zwayne , President, Living Waters

As someone who has previously struggled through anxiety, I am very pleased that Stressed Out gently and surgically uses the soothing balm of Scripture to illustrate that the only appropriate remedy to this malady is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Unlike previous works on this subject, Mr. Friel has provided Christians laden with anxiety an indelible resource in recognizing and resting in the one true God and the eternal peace which comes only in His unwavering glorification.

Landon Chapman , owner/writer,

EntreatingFavor.com; host, FireAway! Podcast

Worry is one of the great obstacles that hinders our Christian effectiveness and service. Stressed Out not only helps us understand what anxiety is, but it also provides seasoned advice of how to deal with it from a biblical perspective. Straight-forward and direct, Todd Friel offers practical advice for those who deal with this debilitating enemy of life. Dont stress out, read this book!

Steven J. Lawson , President, OnePassion Ministries, Dallas, TX

Anxiety is a crippling emotion. People caught in the grip of gloom or struggling under the weight of worry naturally feel trapped and helpless. Christians contending with feelings of fear and melancholy often bear the twin burdens of guilt and shame as well. After all, Philippians 4:6 is one of the most familiar commands in the New Testament: Be anxious for nothing.

But overcoming anxiety is not as simple as turning off a spigot. Those inclined to live by their natural feelings will simply succumb to brooding inactivity. There are solid biblical remedies for this malady, and they involve all the same means of grace that energize our sanctification. In this brilliant and wonderfully written book, Todd Friel clearly identifies and explains the biblical answers to the problem of anxiety. If you are frustrated in the quest for freedom from fear, or if you are trying to help someone who is afflicted with negative emotions, this book is just the right balance of encouragement, instruction, and biblical wisdom.

Phil Johnson , Executive Director, Grace to You Ministries

First printing: July 2016

Copyright 2016 by Todd Friel. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. For information write:

New Leaf Press, P.O. Box 726, Green Forest, AR 72638

New Leaf Press is a division of the New Leaf Publishing Group, Inc.

ISBN: 978-0-89221-743-4

Library of Con gress Number: 2016941695

Cover by Diana Bogardus

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations designated NIV are from the New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations designated NKJV are from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations designated NLT are from the New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations designated ESV are from the English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Please consider requesting that a copy of this volume be purchased by your local library system.

Printed in the United States of America

Please visit our website for other great titles: www.newleafpress.net

For information regarding author interviews,

please contact the publicity department at (870) 438-5288.

Contents

Please note , this book is not attempting to offer medical advice. Before you make any decisions about beginning or eliminating any medication, you should consult your physician and your pastor to carefully make this decision.

Introduction

S tart having hope right now. God is willing and able to fix your anxiety problem. He has done it for millions of people and He will do it for you too. You have His word on it. God is an anxiety expert. He has seen countless cases of depression and He would say to you, Bring it on. I am ready, willing, and able to overcome your struggle.

Thankfully, God is not a physician with a crabby bedside manner; He delights in helping His children live an anxiety-free life. If you are willing to let your Great Physician diagnose and cure you, your anxiety will go away. You may have an occasional flare-up, but God can and will make you whole.