Finding Refuge in an Anxious Age

Review of Matt Fradd's Book Jesus Our Refuge

Anxiety has become one of the defining challenges of modern life. Millions of adults struggle with anxiety, and many more will experience it at some point during their lives. While cognitive behavioral therapy and medication remain important treatments, it is also worthwhile to consider the role that faith can play in helping people face anxiety. This is where Matt Fradd’s Jesus Our Refuge enters the conversation.

Mental disorders and anxiety will never be eliminated purely through spirituality, but a healthy spirituality among the population could well reduce the number of people struggling with these challenges. While spiritual reading cannot cure clinical anxiety disorders, it can help address many of the habits, fears, and spiritual misconceptions that often intensify our experience of anxiety and worry.

The book begins by establishing Jesus as the face of mercy. So many of our spiritual problems boil down to a misunderstanding of who God is and who God is for me. These guided reflections help the reader to grow in understanding of God and love for Him. When so many people think of God as an examining judge, it is refreshing to hear about Him as a Shepherd who looks to guide His beloved souls back to His flock. He is a healer of hearts and a friend of sinners.

After coming to understand Jesus as the face of mercy, we are invited to leave the world’s false “safe spaces” in favor of the refuge found only in Christ. So much of what we read and hear on the news tries to make us feel anxious and worried. Much of today’s media environment rewards content that provokes strong emotional reactions. As a result, we are constantly exposed to stories that can leave us feeling anxious, fearful, or overwhelmed. They are selling our attention to attract commercials, so their strategy is understandable, if perhaps also a little diabolical.

Christ wants true freedom for us, and He wants to be our refuge. He does not want to see us leave Him in pursuit of pleasure and comfort in places that will only leave us more vulnerable and afraid.

The book ends with a florilegium, a collection of sayings from the saints that can encourage us on the journey to holiness.

Each chapter begins with a verse from Scripture that helps to frame its content. It is a simple book, designed to foster devotion in our hearts. In a world where we feel more exposed to violence, division, and hatred, it is comforting to be reminded of the eternal truths that have lasted through centuries.

Throughout the book, he brings his own experience to bear, giving witness to the transformative power of Christ.

I encountered the person of Jesus Christ. And though it’s difficult to put into words, the experience was like stepping into color for the first time. Everything around me seemed to pulse with meaning and beauty, as if the world had suddenly come alive (Matt Fradd, Jesus Our Refuge, p. 5).

He shares personal stories about getting distracted that will resonate with all of us. The need to constantly multitask divides our attention and leaves us feeling more anxious and worried, never allowing us to fully rest. Rather than resting, we just get distracted. (cf. p. 59)

It is not merely a series of pious reflections. His chapter on repentance helps the reader want to turn away from sin. As good as it is to focus on holiness, we must first take out the trash. We need to get rid of the garbage in our souls if we are going to advance along the path of holiness that Christ had prepared for us.

Fradd combines contemporary examples with timeless spiritual wisdom. For Christians seeking peace in an anxious age, Jesus Our Refuge offers more than encouragement. It offers an invitation to encounter Christ, the one refuge that never fails.