Anxiety: Anatomy and Cure

The Gospel for Real Life #2

by Robert W. Kellemen

Worry, doubt, and fear get the best of us all sometimes, and often there is no way to get rid of them. Anxiety, like any other negative emotion, is a twisted version of something positive from God; since we live in a fallen world, we may never have full victory over it.

However, Bob Kellemen proves that we can have victory in our anxiety—can learn how to use it when it strikes and avoid the temptation to sin. In this biblical study, he lays out a proper Christian view of anxiety, from creation to fall to redemption to consummation. Along the way, he helps us to apply the gospel to our daily lives and reclaim anxiety for what it should be—vigilance to motivate us to do God's work.

The Gospel for Real Life booklet series by the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC) applies the timeless hope of Christ to the unique struggles of modern believers.

Genres: Christian, Health, Nonfiction, Counselling

48 pages, Paperback

First published April 20, 2012

About the author

My passion is to write, speak, and consult on Christ-centered comprehensive, compassioante, culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation that changes lives with Christ's changeless truth

My web site is: www.rpmministries.org

I have authored:

Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direciton

Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction

Sacred Friendships: Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith

My wife, Shirley, and I have been married for 28 years. We have a married son, Josh (to Andi), and a young adult daughter, Marie, who is a college Senior.

Reviews

[Grace Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

So helpful for how short it is. Gives unique insights into understanding anxiety and nuanced ways to respond to anxiety as believers.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

A factual and friendly look at anxiety from author and biblical counselor Bob Kellemen. Kellemen asks what messages are we telling ourselves that are contributing anxiety and worry? He advises taking responsibility for our thought life (31), right in the same line of thinking as Philippians 4:8. This is a command to install healthy habits of thinking. The anxious must replace fearful inaction with others centered action.

Overall, a good read. It could have been strengthened with more exegesis of biblical passages and definitions of the terms anxiety, fear, and worry. At times, they feel conflated. The booklet is certainly a good resource and worth reading with a friend struggling with anxiety.

[Kym McNabney]

I have to be honest; I didn’t check the page count and was quite shocked at how tiny ANXIETY, ANATOMY AND CURE by ROBERT W KELLEMEN is. I was equally shocked at what a great book it is. The saying “little is more” certainly applies to ANXIETY,ANATOMY AND CURE. It is packed full of great, easy to understand information. Cuts right to the chase. I highly recommend it for anyone dealing with anxiety, or if you know of someone that does so you can provide help. Honestly, I feel all of us can benefit from this quick and easy read.

From Amazon and the back cover:

Worry, doubt, and fear get the best of us all sometimes, and often there is no way to get rid of them. Anxiety, like any other negative emotion, is a twisted version of something positive from God; since we live in a fallen world, we may never have full victory over it.

However, Bob Kellemen proves that we can have victory in our anxiety—can learn how to use it when it strikes and avoid the temptation to sin. In this biblical study, he lays out a proper Christian view of anxiety, from creation to fall to redemption to consummation. Along the way, he helps us to apply the gospel to our daily lives and reclaim anxiety for what it should be—vigilance to motivate us to do God's work.

The Gospel for Real Life booklet series by the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC) applies the timeless hope of Christ to the unique struggles of modern believers.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's easy to overlook the spiritual aspect of anxiety and to focus strictly on the biology and psychology. That's why I didn't think this book would help me at all. While this guide isn't a cure for anxiety, it is certainly a first step. It brings a broader spiritual perspective on a complex mental issue, and I would recommend it to anyone struggling with anxiety.

[Lana]

I think this is not a bad book but I'm pretty confused. Maybe I need to come back when my head is on a little straighter. I kept reading sentences and thinking that they were true and good, but I couldn't figure out the flow of the arguments and the book so I am having a hard time extending the true sentences to the rest of reality.

I do think I might disagree about some of the parts about anxiety relating to us guarding each other and creation, but maybe I'm just really confused and misunderstanding them. I also think if he had expanded on that more I might have understood it better.

I liked the parts about clinging to Christ but I wanted more about what that looks like and what it results in.

[Priscilla S. Bengtson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book, and so applicable to my daily life in working out anxiety in my life of faith! There were so many aha moments that I had that really helped me connect the Gospel and prayer to my daily life and struggles. And I never realized that anxiety can be rooted in pride, as I stew about and try to fix things that only God can fix, and that I can surrender to my Great Physician and trust Him with them. Life-changing!!!

[Gustavo Jaramillo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected more from this book, more profundity on the topic. I believe it covers many important aspects of anxiety but in a basic way.

I would return to it if I would prepare a teaching on anxiety, to provide me of a general guideline or to remember the many tools that God gives us to deal with anxiety.

[Alecia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, encouraging booklet on anxiety. Focuses specifically on the book of Philippians and how we can apply its truths to the experience of anxiety. It was helpful for me to read to reorient some of my thinking that so easily falls to fear, and it’s motivated me to go back and study Philippians again. 🤍

[Lee Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful Book

This book is very helpful for anyone facing anxiety. The author does a great job of helping the reader embrace better thinking when face to face with anxiety and fear. He does so in way that does not negate physical treatment for anxiousness.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book did a good job at looking at hyper-vigilance. It was compassionate and founded in Scripture. It is written as much for those who are helping people with anxiety as it is for those who suffer from it. A quick but useful read.

[Stacey Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot packed into this short book—one of the best I’ve read on the subject. Balanced, compassionate, and encouraging. The creation-fall-redemption-consummation picture of anxiety as being stuck vigilance is something I’d never heard before, and was extremely helpful. Highly recommend!

[Landon Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a realistic, helpful, balanced, and biblical perspective on anxiety. It seems to me that most Americans will experience anxiety at some point in life, and this resource helps connect the truth of Philippians (especially chapter 4) to our struggle with anxiety.

[Geoff Petrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book. Short, sweet, practical, accessible.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really helpful. But, left wanting more.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a helpful little book for life, not just anxiety!

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful from a theological perspective - didn't give it 5 stars as it lacked more practical things to do practice.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seemed rushed

[Chas Bomgardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Might need to be a yearly read! Such a good book drawing on what the Bible has to say about anxiety and how we should handle it practically. Way deeper than just reading a verse and being cured.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful resource for the one who struggles with and counsels others through anxiety.

[Corby H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good insights into anxiety and how the Gospel helps us fight our fears.

[Leandro Dutra]

Very challenging introduction to the theme, geared towards the sufferer but based on a Biblical conscienciouness of sin & grace.