Rhett Smith - The Anxious Christian: Can God Use Your Anxiety for Good?

I loved this book. I often read something and think, this will be helpful to many, but I cant think of anyone who would not be helped by reading Rhetts book. It made me smile to see once more how God tucks the best news inside the most unusual boxes if we have the courage to open them.

SHEILA WALSH, author of God Loves Broken People and Those Who Pretend Theyre Not

Rhett Smith asks Christians to stop and take seriously how God is using anxiety in their life. Rhetts an extraordinarily able pastor and counselor, and his surprising new take on the anxious Christian should be in the hands of every 3 AMer out there.

HUGH HEWITT, nationally syndicated talk show host and author

For the first time, I see my anxiety as something to press into rather than run from. The Anxious Christian bears the same gifts as many of my favorite books: an earnest voice, a fresh perspective, and an invitation to begin a journey.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, writer, editor, and director of the ECHO Conference

In these pages, the reader will read a truthful and vulnerable account of how the author has the courage and presence to use anxiety to point himself and his relationships toward the effort to change his own identity and patterns. Read slowly and re-readyou will be rewarded with wisdom that has a practical application of change in your journey of life.

DR. TERRY HARGRAVE, author and professor of marriage and family therapy at Fuller Seminary

An important and timely book. If theres an emotion that could define our postmodern world I believe it would be anxiety. Rhett helps disarm the power we often give anxiety by explaining how it can actually have purpose in the Christian life in that it is potentially a pathway for growth.

JASON INGRAM, Grammy-nominated songwriter, worship leader

Rhetts personal story is profoundly honestvulnerable, agonizing, and joyful. He will not settle for the quick fixes of pop psychology or the veneer of superficial Christianity. In reading The Anxious Christian you will find yourself plunged into the heart of anxiety, and in the deep waters of Gods healing grace.

ADAM S. MCHUGH, author of Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture

In The Anxious Christian, Rhett Smith brings an honest, vulnerable, and refreshing view to anxiety and faith.

R. O. SMITH, codirector of Youth Discipleship at Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles

Rhetts writing is thoughtful, authentic, and relatable. Rhett gently challenges the stereotypes that most Christians have about anxiety and leads us into the redemptive freedom of choice that we have been given. His unique perspective is restorative and hopeful.

MINDY COATES SMITH, D.Min., part-time instructor at Fuller Theological Seminary, and codirector of Youth Discipleship at Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles

2011 by
RHETT SMITH

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All websites listed herein are accurate at the time of publication, but may change in the future or cease to exist. The listing of website references and resources does not imply publisher endorsement of the sites entire contents. Groups, corporations, and organizations are listed for informational purposes, and listing does not imply publisher endorsement of their activities.

Details related to counseling clients have been changed to protect their privacy.

Editor: Christopher Reese

Interior Design: Ragont Design

Cover Design: Erik M. Peterson

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Smith, Rhett.

The anxious Christian : can God use your anxiety for good? / Rhett Smith.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. ).

ISBN 978-0-8024-0444-2

1. AnxietyReligious aspectsChristianity. 2. Christian life. I. Title.
BV4908.5.S653 2011
248.86dc23

2011044694

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To my mother, Melodee, who courageously faced her anxiety in the midst of her breast cancer.

To my father, Tim, brother, Wyatt, and Rita, who have been the best traveling companions on this journey.

To my beautiful children, Hayden and Hudson, who have taught me more about facing my fears than anyone.

Last, to my extraordinary wife, Heatherno words can ever convey just how much you have transformed my life. I would not be who I am today, if not for you. I love you.

Those who believe that they believe in God, but without passion in their hearts, without anguish in their mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, without an element of despair even in their consolation, believe only in the God idea, not God Himself.
Spanish philosopher and writer, MIGUEL DE UNAMUNO

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S omeday, I hope someone writes a book called The Amazingly Confident Christian and asks me to write the foreword. Or the