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A Bright Tomorrow: How to Face the Future Without Fear is the latest title by pastor and author Jared Mellinger. Although this book was released in 2018, I’m not sure that it’s ever been more relevant. Mellinger begins the book by sharing with readers about receiving the difficult news that one of his daughters was diagnosed with cancer early in life. Although the book wasn’t originally intended to be shaped by that hardship, it just so happened to occur in the midst of Mellinger writing A Bright Tomorrow.
It was sweet to read about how God worked through that difficult trial to help Mellinger and his wife lift their eyes to Christ. I always appreciate the opportunity to learn something from someone who practices what they preach. Rather than this being the sort of book in which the author takes an attitude of dishing out advice without heeding it, Mellinger’s tone seems to be more aligned with the words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
A Bright Tomorrow begins with encouragement for facing the storms of life and proceeds with encouragement for specific scenarios and seasons. In the earliest pages of A Bright Tomorrow, Mellinger wrote, “Our fretful anticipation of trouble is often more troubling than the trouble itself. Therefore, our need is not so much to be delivered from the presence of trials as it is to be delivered from our fears of the future,” (pg. 10).
Although A Bright Tomorrow isn’t particularly in the biblical counseling genre, its content proves to be very helpful to that end. It was a great encouragement to read as Mellinger addressed lies that Christians tend to believe that lend to increased fear and anxiety. On page 14 he wrote, “We tend to think that the severity of our anxiety is abnormal, and anxiety gains momentum through that lie.”
He continued, “We sometimes think that worry will help us discover solutions and control the future, but it won’t. Worry has never prepared anyone for anything. You cannot control the future through anxiety. Worry is a thief of joy; it is a liar and a sellout. Worry promises preparation but leads to panic. Jesus knows the concerns of his people. He rescues us from our fears because he cares for us. This is the testimony of the redeemed: ‘I sought the LORD and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears’ (Psalm 34:4),” (pg. 15).
One of my favorite chapters was on the promises of God. Within this chapter, Mellinger highlighted multiple Bible verses that demonstrate aspects of God’s character that remain true for us today.
Mellinger introduced the chapter by writing, “I want to live every day as one seeking a better country, a promised homeland. I want to live with my heart less controlled by fear and more captivated by future rewards. I want to face tomorrow and every day of my life with confidence in the faithful character of God, undaunted by the mouths of lions, the power of fire, the edge of the sword, torture, imprisonment, enemies, and affliction. (See Hebrews 11:32-38).) I want to be made strong out of weakness and mighty in war. I want to be numbered among those of whom the world is not worthy,” (pg. 44). Learning from Mellinger’s humility and courage increased my hope in Christ and my longing for His return.
The chapters on parenting and aging were favorites of mine as well. The parenting chapter served as a helpful reminder that God is the one who changes our children’s hearts. As a mom, it gave me great hope to read Mellinger’s testimony in which he shared about how he lived a life of rebellion into his teen years before the Lord saved him. The aging chapter encouraged my heart by helping me understand the value of aging as it brings me closer to glory with Christ.
I was comforted by the thought expressed on page 102 in which Mellinger wrote, “Decay, loss, and limitations will only make my hope sing louder by causing me to fix my eyes on the bright future Christ has for me. The only things I can lose are things I didn’t deserve in the first place. I will one day gain more than I can possibly deserve in this life. And God will empower me by his Spirit to bless his name when loss comes.”
In the concluding chapter of A Bright Tomorrow, Mellinger included a quote by the late preacher Charles Spurgeon. This quote was an excellent summation not only of the chapter but also of the book and I’ve found myself dwelling on it often. Spurgeon said, “The Christian can stand serenely on the brink of eternity and say, ‘Come on! Let every event foretold become a fact! Pour out your vials, you angels! Fall, you star called Wormwood! Come, Gog and Magog, to the last great battle of Armageddon!’ Nothing is to be feared by those who are one with Jesus. To us remains nothing but joy and rejoicing,” (pg. 128).
A Bright Tomorrow is one of the most hope-filled books I’ve ever read and it made me long for eternity with Christ. While considering the future often does invoke feelings of fear, this book helped me work through some of those feelings and replace them with eager anticipation for the return of Christ. For this reason, I am very grateful and I’m pleased to give A Bright Tomorrow my highest recommendation.
I received A Bright Tomorrow compliments of New Growth Press in exchange for my honest review.
