"You are Not Alone" (Jennie Allen)

TITLE: You Are Not Alone: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxious Thoughts and Believing What's True
AUTHOR: Jennie Allen
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: Waterbrook Multnomah, 2024, (192 pages).

Mental health is a big topic nowadays. Ever since the Covid pandemic, we continue to hear news reports and various mainstream articles talking about the need for proper mental healthcare. One of the best ways to cultivate good mental health is toward the young. Many problems arise out of a poor or traumatic upbringing. As the younger population becomes more exposed to the Internet, it is increasingly important to take steps to foster wisdom and tact when dealing with so much information, especially via social media. That is not the only concern. Children needs guidance in almost all areas of life. From discerning Truth from fiction to dealing with thoughts and all kinds of feelings, author Jennie Allen gives us tools and tips to guide the younger ones among us. It is easy to feel helpless with the continuing onslaught of information and mass misinformation out there. Thankfully, this resource helps us put things in perspective. Calling it a "Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxious Thoughts and Believing What's True," this book anchors readers on the foundation of all stability: The Bible. Written in three parts, Allen guides us with clear instruction and biblical wisdom on how to deal with life, and especially our spiritual upbringing. Part One gives us a birds-eye view of the book's structure. It covers many concerns such as anxiety, confusion, feelings, self-esteem, self-identity, relationships matters, thoughts, etc. Allen points out the need to be constantly on the lookout for Truth, and not just hearsay or what other people are saying. She guides us through many passages from the Bible to constantly remind us to anchor ourselves upon the Word of God. Of thoughts, she calls us to take captive every thought (2 Cor 10:5). She reminds us that fighting commences in our heads. She helps us understand the vicious spiral of anxiety: "Feelings lead to thoughts; Thoughts lead to actions; Actions have consequences; Consequences make us feel feelings; And then it starts all over again." One thing leads to another. In order to instill positive change, it is important to interrupt any such spiral of deception. In order to make good choices, we need to distinguish truth from fiction. The best way to fight lies is with Truth. 

Part Two is about the more specific ways to engage our thoughts rightly. Thoughts that create anxiety. Thoughts that bring shame. Loneliness. Helplessness. Feeling misunderstood. Perfectionism. Each of these six things could easily derail any of our efforts to think and feel well. Allen gives us examples and tips on how to deal with these negativity. Using worksheets and diagrams for us to visualize our thoughts and fears, Allen gives pointed biblical references to guide our thoughts. When anxious, pray more. When feeling shamed, make a conscientious choice to open up to God and ask Him for comfort. In times of loneliness, remember that God is always with us even when we do not feel it. When helpless or overwhelmed, trust God. When feeling unfair, be humble and continue to seek God. When one feels like a failure, remember that we only need God, and God alone is enough. Each chapter ends with a prayer guide to help us practise the themes described. 

Finally, Part Three comprises two chapters to help us keep improving. It is about guarding our minds from consuming lies. It shows us how to choose God's way. It assures us of God's perfect love. One important point is about discerning the kinds of friends we make. There are those who fill us up with encouragement and there are also those who wear us down. Spending time consistently with God will help us better discernment our lives and our relationships.

Three Thoughts
First, this book is clearly written and targeted at young people as well as parents. Jennie Allen shares not only her knowledge of children but also her experience as a parent. This is an invaluable combination which makes Allen a wise voice to listen to. I like this book for the way the content is spaced out for personal reflection. Instead of cramming words to save pages, the author generously provides space for readers to interact with drawings, thoughts, and feelings. It takes one to understand how children think and the layout demonstrates that understanding. Using mind-mapping helps one to visualize the thought process.

Second, Jennie deals with the mind and how to ensure a healthy thinking process. She expands on the different sources of anxiety to show us how one wrong thought can lead to another wrong thinking. This comes in many different feelings like confusion, helplessness, loneliness, shame, feeling misunderstood, perfectionism, and so on. Each time she tackles the specific source, she gives us a common antidote: the Word of God. This might seem too simplistic an answer but it's the plain truth. That is why Allen anchors the book on the key verse in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to take every thought captive.

Finally, she goes down to the feelings level, which is essentially the title of the book. The reader of this book will learn he or she is not alone. The Truth is we are never alone for God will always be with us. If there is one Truth to take away from this book, this is it. Loneliness is a big issue regardless of age group. With the rise of social media and the influx of scams, it is easy to be deceived in this world. One of the biggest lies is to feel connected just because we have many friends online or many likes on our social media platforms. Studies have consistently shown that having many online friends often do not translate into real relationships. Eventually, one needs to have a Church community to belong to. More importantly, one needs to cultivate a consistent relationship with God. Otherwise, we become sitting ducks for all kinds of deception and misinformation.

Thanks to Allen, we are blessed to have a resource that helps push back against the lies of this world, increasingly entering via social media. The threats might be new but the solution is the same.

Jennie Allen is the founder and visionary of IF:Gathering as well as the New York Times bestselling author of Get Out of Your Head, Find Your People, Made for This, Anything, and Nothing to Prove. A frequent speaker at national events and conferences, she is a passionate leader, following God’s call on her life to catalyze a generation to live what they believe. Jennie earned a master’s in biblical studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Zac, have four children.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of WaterBrook Multnomah via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.