Sacred Courage

• How rarely we feel able to speak of our fears. Betsy Kirk has taken courage in both hands in writing openly of hers. This beautifully written book invites us to look closely at passages of Scripture, to interrogate them, to believe them with our minds as well as our hearts. It will get talked about, passed around, and recommended—in the mission community and in churches.

  — Julia Cameron, Former Director of Publishing, Lausanne MovementFounder, Dictum Press

• Sacred Courage is an engaging and encouraging resource for anyone struggling with fear which —let’s be honest!—is all of us. In these pages, Betsy shares vulnerably about her own experiences with fear and death, avoiding trite answers or lecturing while continually pointing readers to the truth of the gospel. Sacred Courage is jam-packed with hard-won wisdom, biblical insight, practical help, and clear points of application. I highly recommend this book!

  — Caroline Cobb, Singer-songwriterAuthor, Advent for Exiles

• “Dear heart, let’s repent not of fear but of our responses to it. And let’s start seeingour fear as a call to action—a place for faith to rise.”This book is, without a doubt, the best book I have ever read on the subject of fear in our lives, how it controls us, and what a biblically grounded response should look like. I highly recommend this book for all Christians who desire a deeper walk with God and freedom from life-controlling fear and anxiety.

  — Elise Frasier, Podcast Host, Martyrs and Missionaries

• Fear, manifested in a variety of ways and for a plethora of reasons, is a harsh reality which people everywhere encounter. Flowing out of her own experience dealing with fear, Betsy Kirk addresses this reality in her book Sacred Courage. She skillfully unwraps the various issues and questions related to fear through a careful study of the Word of God. She powerfully concludes that the answers to the complexities of fear are ultimately found in our relationship with God and our trust in his person and his promises. It has been my privilege to serve alongside Betsy as her teammate in Indonesia. I therefore know that the important truths, which she so excellently communicates in this book, are truths upon which she daily relies as she serves cross-culturally. Therefore, I highly recommend this book.

  — Dr. Greg Gripentrog, Former President, OC International

• More than ever, people in my context are recognizing the crippling effect that fear has in their lives. Betsy gives us a treasure trove of wisdom about how to reframe our experiences of fear as opportunities to grow in trust and in Christian courage. And she does so with compelling vulnerability by sharing her own experiences of anxious fear. At every turn, Betsy directs our gaze to the Lord Jesus, the one who offers us the peace we so desperately crave.

  — Mary Willson Hannah, Author, Heavenly Minded

• Are you afraid? Most of us would have to answer “yes” to that question. And whether our fears are of snakes or financial failure or global disaster, they loom large over our lives. Sacred Courage is a helpful companion for the fearful; in its pages, Betsy Kirk teaches us to understand our fears rightly and then applies the comfort of God and his Word to the feelings that keep us up at night. Keep this book by your nightstand and let it lead you to rest your anxious heart in the Lord.

  — Megan Hill, "Managing Editor, The Gospel Coalition Author, Contentment: Seeing God's Goodness"

• I love this book! Betsy writes with raw honesty about the reality of fear in her life and its potential to control and crush her. And yet every page is full of wisdom about how to cope with this daily reality and even to thrive in and through it. Here is faith-filled, Scripture-soaked counsel, delivered with gentle warmth and humor. It will be a great help to fellow-strugglers and all who seek to help them.

  — Vaughan Roberts, Rector of St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford

• This bold book blends biblical wisdom and gripping personal narrative, encouraging readers to “take courage.” Betsy Kirk skillfully explains the nature and prevalence of fear as well as its remedy in the perfect love of God. Highly recommended!

  — Brian J. Tabb, President, Bethlehem College and Seminary

• In Sacred Courage, Betsy draws upon her vast experiences and biblical insights to weave together a beautiful tapestry about living faithfully in a world filled with fear. Betsy Kirk is the real deal. She writes with authenticity, wisdom, and compassion. Betsy’s own courageous example of facing fears will inspire you in your own journey to live audaciously. Her insights from Scripture will encourage you toward deeper trust in your loving Father. May you encounter God here in these pages as you walk out your own journey of Sacred Courage.

  — Koko Wisdom , Member Care and Development Consultant, Pioneers

Author

• Betsy Kirk