Danish theologian, Iben Thranholm’s personal journey profoundly illustrates how the Christian faith, particularly expressed through Catholic sacramental life, mysticism, and spiritual warfare, offers a path from debilitating anxiety to peace rooted in divine love.
In Be not worried (Vær ikke bekymret,) she critiques modern therapeutic culture’s limitations in addressing existential fears and mental health by neglecting the spiritual dimension of the human person.
The path from anxiety to peace: Finding peace amidst anxiety is a mental struggle that many in the West now face, with no solutions except the use of drugs or pharmaceuticals.
How are we to retain peace of mind while facing the almost constant fear and anxiety that fills the world with anguish, Thranholm asks in her new book.
By embracing theology that integrates suffering, surrender, and real divine encounter, believers can discover not only relief from worry but also a joyful hope that transcends worldly troubles.
This text invites readers to reconsider anxiety not merely as mental illness, but as a spiritual call to relationship, healing, and transformation through Christ. (Feature photo: Iben Thranholm with Hanne Nabintu Herland, London 2019.)
The path from anxiety to peace: Christian spirituality invites surrender to God’s providence over self-reliance. Modern notions emphasizing personal control and positivity often escalate worry when control falters. Biblical exhortations (Matt 6:25-34) to “not be anxious for tomorrow” emphasize trusting God’s care as the foundation for peace.
Apostles like Paul manifest this in their joy amid suffering, anchoring hope not in circumstances but in divine friendship and providential care.
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The path from anxiety to peace: Prayer and sacramental life provide practical means to combat anxiety and spiritual attack, she explains.
The book includes recommended prayers of protection invoking St. Michael, the Holy Spirit, and God’s cleansing power.
Daily rituals such as praying the Rosary foster calming focus and connection with God through Mary. These spiritual disciplines build resistance against the “tyranny” of worries and allow God’s peace to “keep hearts and minds.”
The contemporary disbelief in Satan blinds people to how demonic forces may exacerbate or instigate anxiety and destructive thoughts.
Experienced exorcists note that thoughts and feelings can sometimes come from oppressive spiritual entities, which can be resisted through prayer, sacramental life, and invoking angels like St. Michael. This challenges reductionist views on mental health and reintegrates spiritual resources into healing.
Be not worried (Vær ikke bekymret) is a book well worth reading, out now by Iben Thranholm.
Article first published April 21, 2025.
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