Joyce Meyer – Page 3 – REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES

In 2025, the months of January, May, August, and October have five Fridays. I use those Fridays to publish media reviews: books, music, movies, blogs, podcasts, etc. These will be primarily, but not limited to, Christian media sources. Today we are highlighting a book by one of my all-time favorite ministers: Joyce Meyer.

The Answer to Anxiety: How to Break Free from the Tyranny of Anxious Thoughts and Worry

by Joyce Meyer

Published March 2025

160pp

💗 Peace Is Possible—Even Here

“Be anxious for nothing…” That’s easy to read, but hard to live. For many of us, anxiety has woven itself into our days like a constant thread of tension, worry, and what-ifs. But what if that thread could be pulled loose? What if the peace Jesus promised wasn’t just for heaven, but for today?

Joyce Meyer’s latest book, The Answer to Anxiety: How to Break Free from the Tyranny of Anxious Thoughts and Worry, meets us right there—in the middle of our mental mess. It’s scripturally rich, refreshingly honest, and full of practical ways to step out of fear and into freedom.

🕊️ What This Book Offers

In her signature style—warm, wise, and deeply rooted in Scripture—Joyce Meyer shares how we can overcome anxiety by renewing our minds, trusting God, and choosing peace every single day. This isn’t a lofty theological treatise; it’s a life-giving guide for anxious souls who long to breathe again.

✨Key Takeaways

1. Trusting God Is the Path to Peace

The most impactful chapter for me was Chapter 4: Trust God. It’s here Joyce anchors us in the truth that God is not just able—He is willing to carry our burdens. Learning to truly trust Him, not just in theory but in practice, is the key that unlocks peace.

“You don’t have to live like this.”
That’s the whisper of the Holy Spirit through these pages.

2. Your Mind Is the Battleground

Joyce explains how anxiety takes root in our thoughts and how we must renew our minds daily (Romans 12:2) to evict fear and make room for faith. She shares tools and Scriptures that helped her overcome years of toxic thinking.

3. Peace Is Not Passive—It’s a Daily Decision

We’re not victims of anxiety. With God’s help, we can choose differently. Joyce teaches how to interrupt the worry cycle with prayer, gratitude, and truth. It’s not magic—it’s maturity in motion.

4. Philippians 4:6–7 Comes Alive

These familiar verses become a roadmap:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” — (Philippians 4:6–7 ESV)

This book helps you live that promise instead of just quoting it.

💬A Personal Note from My Heart

I didn’t pick up The Answer to Anxiety by accident. I believe the Holy Spirit placed it in my hands at just the right time. I’ve been navigating some deep emotional waters lately—old wounds, unexpected stress, and the kind of weariness that doesn’t go away with a nap.

One morning, while reading Chapter 4, I felt God whisper, “I care for the birds, and I care for you.” That moment stayed with me. It led me to meditate on Matthew 6 and imagine a life where I trust God the way the birds do—without striving, without hoarding, without fear.

That’s the kind of faith I want to walk in.

That’s the kind of peace this book helps nurture.

📚 Final Thoughts

If anxiety has been your unwelcome companion, let this book be your invitation to peace. Joyce doesn’t just offer advice—she points us to Jesus. And in Him, we find the peace we’ve been searching for.

This is a book I’ll return to again and again.
And if you let it, it might just change everything for you.

🎶 Worship Companion: Goodness of God 💖

To close, I invite you to watch / listen to this beautiful lyric video of Goodness of God by CeCe Winans. The lyrics appear over a peaceful shoreline, with gentle waves washing them into the sand—just like God’s presence washing over our anxious thoughts.

“With every breath that I am able / Oh I will sing of the goodness of God…”

Let this song be your prayer of release—and your reminder that God’s goodness is always chasing you, even here.

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.

EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.

On the fourth Friday of each month in 2021 we’re studying Joyce Meyer’s newest book: Do It Afraid. We’re learning how to understand fear, to recognize how it works in our life and finally how to confront fear. We will learn new mindsets that position us for freedom from our most common fears.

Today we wrap up our Do It Afraid Book Study by reviewing Mamma Joyce’s chapters on Confronting Fear.

Take One Step at a Time

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. ~ Psalm 37:23

“Anything you do in obedience to God is something you never have to do alone.”~ Joyce Meyer

One of the best ways to overcome anything is to take it one step at a time. Scripture tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning. With that we know He is trying to teach us to trust Him as we go on our journey each day. Every journey starts with the first step. All God asks us to do is to take that first step with faith that He will be with us all the way.

Stand Up to Doubt

He said to them, ” Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” ~ Luke 24:38

If we truly want to live free from fear, we must learn to live without doubt. ~ Joyce Meyer

Doubt is just fear by another name. It’s sneaky. It doesn’t show up in the same way but yet it is fear nonetheless. Doubt means uncertainty, perplexity, to be without a way. These all imply fearfulness. The key with doubt is to believe we are going to hear from God. Begin by surrendering our will to His and continue on our path in faith thanking God for His direction as we go.

Refuse to Regret the Past or Dread the Future

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. ~ Proverbs 4:25

“Don’t miss what God has for you today by living in regret. Today is an important day in your life. It is actually the most important day of your life, because right at this moment it is the only day you are assured of, so live it fully and trust God to take care of your past and your future.” ~ Joyce Meyer

It’s easy to live with regrets from our past and to dread the future. But if we do we are missing out on what God has for us today. Regrets are just rehearsing past mistakes over and over again that keeps us stuck in the past. Dread is much the same except we are worried about what may or may not happen in the future. And when we get there we will probably have a bad attitude and not enjoy it either. If you struggle with these areas, ask God to help you and He will.

Take Courage and Be Strong

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. ~ Joshua 1:9

“Don’t just pray for fear to go away. Instead pray for God to fill you with boldness, courage, and confidence.” ~ Joyce Meyer

It’s important that we manage our thought life. If we are focusing on our fears they will control us. We can instead, choose to focus on being courageous rather than what we are afraid of. Keep a confession of God’s Word in your heart, mind and words. Don’t think about what can go wrong. Thank God for His direction, strength and courage. Remember, courage is always stronger than fear.

Learn to Be Secure and Confident

Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. ~ Hebrews 11:1

“The more you use your faith, the stronger it will become. Faith is confidence in God… when you have faith that something will take place, you have it in your heart first (you believe), and then you will have it in reality in God’s perfect timing.” ~ Joyce Meyer

Ask God for what you want. Scripture says He wants to give us the desires of our hearts. And God cannot lie. But we must have faith to ask and believe for the things we want, not just for the things we need. Every time we have a prayer answered our confidence grows.

As we watch God work in our life we will gradually become more secure in our faith. We will be able to courageously take one step at a time; to stop doubting our decisions; refuse to regret our past and to not dread the future. We will stand strong, confront our fears and show the devil how big our God is!