Have you ever found yourself feeling lonely? I'm talking there's-a-physical-ache-in-your-soul or standing-in-a-crowded-room-feeling-empty kind of lonely. Have you ever flipped through Facebook and Instagram and viewed picture after picture of your "friends" hanging out without you? Have you watched couple after couple get engaged and asked yourself what's wrong with you? Or wondered why he got the ___________ instead of you?
In her book, Uninvited, Terkeurst gives us glimpses into the very raw, painful moments of her own life to show us that we're not alone in this fight. To show us that she shares in our struggles of comparison and loneliness. But mostly, to show us that we don't have to be controlled by our fears and past rejection. That no matter what you have gone through in the past, it does not mean you have to continue living like a bad song on repeat. In fact, she tells us to break free from that cycle. She tells us to live loved. And somehow she manages to write all of this without sounding "self-helpy". Terkeurst's honest writing will leave any reader in deep self-reflection after just one chapter. Her writing is laced with anecdotes, Scripture, and truth bombs that will make you stop and read it about eight times before its meaning starts to set in. Seriously, I could only handle a chapter a day. (I would recommend you do the same - take the time to really mull over each chapter. If you rush through it, you won't get nearly as much out of it.) As I read on, I felt like Lysa had taken my thoughts that I never knew how to articulate and put them onto paper. It was straight spooky. Terkeurst's writing mixed with her use of Scripture (not just being sporadically thrown in there - but still loaded with Truth), leads me to give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. Get it as a last minute Christmas present for someone in your life. Or treat yourself! Seriously, this is a must-read for all. Happy Christmas, page turners! Have a wonderful holiday season!
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So sorry for the wait, page turners! I know I haven't written a review in about 2 months. Life has been pretty nuts between moving, getting a full time job, moving again, and figuring out what on earth this whole figuring-out-your-life thing is supposed to look like once you graduate college. (If anyone has figured it out - I'll gladly accept any and all wisdom/general advice.) Anywho, in the midst of all of the moves, the decisions, and generally feeling like a toddler that lost their parent in a grocery store, endlessly bumbling around trying to find them - a wonderful mentor of mine sent me Wendy Pope's Wait and See: Finding Peace in God's Pauses and Plans. The timing was nothing short of perfect. I think I actually laughed when I opened the package. Then I began to read.
Pope is an honest, well-written writer who divulges the very real and hard moments of her life and the lives of others. As a reader, you get to walk with people who are in seasons of singleness, who have tried for years to have a child, who are fighting physically for their lives, and who are just as lost as you may be. This book took me to some real places. It took me a while to read it. There were times I wanted to throw it across the room, but I would never inflict harm on a book because it's just wrong (looking at you monsters that dog-ear pages). But it was always refreshingly honest and points you back to the truth of God's Word. I will forever be grateful to have read this book. To really learn to live in the pauses and uncertainties in our lives. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone in any sort of transitional period. It's good stuff. |
AuthorStephanie can be found curled up with a good book, playing her ukulele, or enjoying the occasional (everyday) taco. ArchivesCategories |