How are we to retain peace of mind while facing fear and anxiety that fills the world with anguish? Be not worried (Vær ikke bekymret) presents a deeply personal exploration of anxiety, fear, and spiritual healing through the lens of Christian faith.
The book is written by the Danish theologian, Iben Thranholm, who shares her life journey from childhood anxiety and death fears through personal struggles with faith, to ultimately finding peace and healing in the Catholic Church’s teachings, sacraments, and spirituality.
It highlights the limitations of secular psychology alone in addressing existential fears, and contrasts Western individualism and positive thinking with the liberating power of surrendering to God’s love and providence.
The transformative encounter with the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist cannot be underestimated, and the role of Mary as a model is immense. The Eucharist becomes the source of peace the world cannot give and it is the very medicine that transforms despair into hope.
The power of confession and prayer against demonic oppression is also central to overcoming anxiety and being able to let go of the fear that operates almost as a constant in this world. First published February 18, 2025. Amended version here.
In Be not worried (Vær ikke bekymret,) the Danish theologian Iben Thranholm also reflects on the lack of understanding in the modern West regarding spiritual warfare. Which spiritual weapons do we have to combat depression, angst and fear?
The historic information about these topics are much lost, and many are left defenceless when facing demonic forces. Historically, Europe was a Christian continent and millions had knowledge about the spiritual tools to fight the mental breakdown that faces humans once fear takes over, and hope is lost.
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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. Thranholm strongly critiques modern therapeutic culture’s limitations in addressing existential fears and mental health by neglecting the spiritual dimension of the human person.
Since secular society has rejected the metaphysical world, and explains demons and devils are figments of an imagination, the stigma surrounding experiences with evil is complete. Many are given pharmaceutical medicines alone, with a complete lack in our atheist societies as to the deeper layers within the human that needs a deeper healing than pharmaceuticals can give.
Some anxieties may originate from demonic oppression, not just psychology and need spiritual solutions, precisely those that Christianity upholds.
Childhood death anxiety and modern mental health struggles often point to an underlying spiritual malaise: separation from God. While psychology diagnoses brain function and trauma, Christianity diagnoses alienation from divine love as the root of fear.
Anxiety is reframed as a soul’s cry for connection with God—a “red alarm” signaling spiritual disturbance. This holistic view invites healing through divine communion, not just cognitive therapy, Thranholm points out in Be not worried (Vær ikke bekymret.)
The hopelessness and meaninglessness in the atheist faith, which states that God does not exist and that there is no hope for an afterlife, fills the current atheist secularization with nihilism. The only remaining goal is self-fulfilment and the acquisition of material wealth. Just as philosopher Ayaan Hirsi Ali points out, true peace and meaning cannot be found in materialism alone.
Christian hope as rooted in divine love transcends human control. 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.
Confession and daily prayers are physical but also metaphysical tools of connection to God’s world of love as opposed to this world’s fear and anxiety.
The experience of “shame as Satan’s gold” reveals how people internalize judgments, eroding self-worth and locking themselves in anxiety cycles. The sacrament of confession offers concrete forgiveness, grace, and a “lifting of burdens,” enabling believers to reject demonic self-accusation and receive God’s unconditional love. This restoration is essential for progressive freedom from worry and despair. Discovering Mary as the model of unconditional faith and openness to God’s will is also addressed, as it reshaped Thranholm’s understanding of femininity and interior peace.
Iben Thranholm’s book, which is in Danish, is rich with scriptural references, mystical encounters, and practical spiritual resources, aiming to offer encouragement and guidance for believers facing anxiety and fears for tomorrow. It is well worth reading.
READ MORE:
- The correlation between Social Disorder and Christian Decline
- The defining role of Christianity in the West: Tom Holland’s ground breaking bestseller “Dominion” explains
- Intervju med Iben Thranholm: Åndelig fattigdom preger Europa
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