Don't Jump Out of the Kayak

Overcoming Anxiety, Fear, and Panic in the Christian Life

By: Luke E. Johnston

Narrated by: Vinnie Angelo

“Luke, stay in your kayak!”

Those were the words that echoed across the waves of Lake Michigan as six-year-old Luke drifted farther and farther from shore—alone, panicking, and moments away from jumping out of the kayak entirely. He couldn’t paddle. He couldn’t think. Fear had taken over.

But then came his father’s voice again. Calm. Firm. Present.

“Do as I do. Follow me.”

That day became the beginning of a lifelong lesson in trust, obedience, and the Father’s rescuing grace.

In Don’t Jump Out of the Kayak, pastor and storyteller Luke E. Johnston invites listeners to discover how the same truth that saved him as a child can rescue us all from the crippling effects of fear, anxiety, and spiritual drift. Drawing from vivid personal experience, biblical insight, and pastoral wisdom, Johnston shows how the storms of life—whether loss, stress, sin, or uncertainty—reveal our deep need for the Father’s guidance and the Son’s saving presence.

Each chapter unfolds a practical, gospel-centered truth about what it means to trust the Father in the waves of life. You’ll learn:

Why fear so easily pulls us away from God—and how His voice calls us back.

How to recognize when you’ve drifted from intimacy with the Father.

What it looks like to “paddle again” through faith, repentance, and dependence on Christ.

How to overcome anxiety and panic by remembering the gospel’s first lessons.

Why Jesus’ words, “Follow Me,” are still the safest direction you’ll ever hear.

Whether you’re someone realizing for the first time that you’ve drifted far from God, or a seasoned believer struggling to stay afloat in life’s chaos, this book will help you find your bearings again—anchored in the mercy of Christ and guided by the Father’s steady voice.

You may be in over your head—but your Father is still in control.

Stay in the kayak. Follow Him home.

©2025 Luke E. Johnston (P)2025 Luke E. Johnston

Well Worth More Than One Listen-Through!

Even though I had already read the book, i decided to listen here. i was surprised at how it came alive, and I caught a number of powerful quotes that I had forgotten. I've read a lot of books and resources about anxiety, and this is by far the best of the group for the Christian reader or for those curious about Christianity. The stories and examples are engaging and applicable, the guidance is based in biblical truth, and you have the sense that the author is genuinely familiar with both the battle with anxiety and sound, practical means of addressing it. Johnston's concise presentation and story-teller tone make reading or listening a pleasure. The reader is articulate with a very listenable style. I plan to revisit this one every year or two!