Shelf Rating: Mid-Top Shelf

In today’s society there are millions of Americans plagued by anxiety. It can be as quiet as an inner thought that won’t go away. It can be complete panic without any obvious reason why. Whatever the case may be, it can leave someone feeling helpless and alone in their struggles. I, myself, have struggled with anxiety my whole life. So, I approached this book with a genuine desire for answers. In his book, Finding Quiet, J.P. Moreland shares his own experience with crippling anxiety that led him on a downward spiral in his mental health. If you are one of many, this book could be a chance to finally find some quiet.

Finding Quiet begins with J.P. Moreland’s personal experience. The anxiety and panic attacks he began experiencing stopped his life in its tracks. Bedridden and depressed, he began to realize returning to normalcy would require drastic changes in his life. He began his journey to healing by integrating therapy, contemplative prayer, and medication. This book offers directions and tips on how to incorporate contemplative prayer with meditating on scriptures, focusing on God and His kindness, and releasing your anxieties to Him.

Moreland discusses other practical ways to take control of anxiety. For an example, one section describes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), a type of psychotherapy that takes a distressing event in someone’s mind and turns the emotions associated with it into positive ones. Another section goes into the role of medications in mental health and how they positively impacted him. Much of the book is spent giving spiritual guidance as it pertains to the Christian and their own struggles with mental illness. Moreland weaves scripture throughout this book and encouragement that any Christian struggling with this illness can use and hold onto as hope for healing.

I was moved by the story of J.P. Moreland’s journey with anxiety. The beginning of the book had me hooked. As a fellow anxiety sufferer, I was curious to know what worked for him. Knowing him as a thoughtful philosopher and apologist, I thought perhaps he would have some reasonable insights. He did have some great biblical advice when it came to prayer and how we as Christians should approach anxiety both as an actual illness and our day to day worries. He had a lot of encouragement and scriptures to ponder on. I believe it is worth a read simply on those fronts. Although there were plenty of positives I had with this book, there were some odd and borderline problematic positions he had about natural medicines and healing. As a Christian, I do believe we need to be thoughtful about our approach to medicines and how we seek healing for our earthly maladies. I think we should go to God in faith for our illnesses. This book may not approach these positions correctly, but I don’t think it renders this book completely useless. Overall, this was a great read and one I would add right in between my middle and top shelf!

Grab the book here!