“Fear” could easily be used as one of my personal descriptors, as much as my big brown eyes and smirky smile.

A sauce pan full of life circumstances combined with a dash of my less-flattering personality traits have created a cauldron of not-so-tasty fear soup from time to time. The opening words “Do not fret” have established Psalm 37 as one of my favorites, reminding me again and again that God does not want me to be a slave to fear. But I fight it. Worrying about what is and what might be, I easily succumb to Fear’s taunts.

Which is why the title of Max Lucado’s newest book captivated my attention from the first glance. “Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear” it proclaims. I have imagined, and it’s a beautiful dream. One that looks a little bit different than real life does right now.

I have been a fan of Max Lucado’s work since No Wonder They Called Him The Savior, a book who’s equal Max has yet to find (in my humble opinion). But Fearless comes pretty darn close.

Taking a baker’s dozen of the Bible’s most repeated commentary on fear, Max walks through Fear’s major categories, and then God’s response to each. “Fear of Not Mattering,” “Fear of Disappointing God,” and “Fear of Worst Case Scenarios” are just a few. Granted, there were a handful that didn’t connect with me. But the vast majority hit pay dirt, if my yellow highlighter has anything to say about it.

It’s simple and direct, weaving in true-to-life stories of individuals just like me who are wrestling with a nagging fear factor at every turn. It’s written in typical Max Lucado form with simple Biblical truths driven home by anecdotal stories and heart-warming life connections. And there isn’t a shortage of catchy alliterations and colorful metaphors, either.

If I have any complaint (and even using that word is a stretch) it’s the fact that the hardback cover, purchase price and apparent size are somewhat deceiving. Of the 220+ pages, 10% is nothing but a discussion guide and advertisements. $24.99 seems a steep price to pay for 180 pages of content, even if it is great Lucado content. Still, the subject matter is timely and the writing communicates and connects the author to reader. What more can a girl want?

If fear has long held you captive, or even if it’s only lately becoming a nuisance, this book might be the perfect antidote.