Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren
Week 10: Chapter 9 — Defend Us from Every Fear
Read Chapter 9 of Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren. Primary Compline phrase: "Defend us from every fear."
Previewing Week 10 of Prayer in the Night
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 15-week guide when you’re ready.
Fear is one of the most universal human experiences and one of the most honest. This chapter does not ask us to stop being afraid — it asks us to bring our fear into prayer, to the God who promises to defend and not abandon us.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Warren catalogs the kinds of fear that populate modern life — fear of failure, of death, of meaninglessness, of the future. Which fears feel most alive and present for you right now?
2.She makes an important distinction between fear that is a reasonable response to real danger and fear that has become disproportionate or controlling. How do you discern the difference in your own emotional life? What does faith have to say to both kinds?
3.Warren reflects on the biblical command 'do not be afraid' — which appears hundreds of times in Scripture — not as a demand for emotional suppression but as a promise of divine presence. How does reframing 'do not be afraid' as a promise rather than a command change how you hear it?