I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams by Jill Eileen Smith Published by Baker Publishing Group on February 19, 2019
Genres: Biblical Studies, Christian Life, Old Testament, Religion, Spiritual Growth, Women's Issues
Pages: 224
Source: NetGalley
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Life is full of twists and turns. Relationships falter, careers fizzle, health fades. We may be faced with choices we never wanted to make or have situations pushed upon us we'd never expected. Yet, in all of it, God is at our side--even when he feels far away.
Drawing on her extensive research into women of the Old Testament, novelist Jill Eileen Smith turns her pen to the lessons in trusting God that we can learn today from women like
- Eve- Noah's wife- Sarai- Hagar- Lot's wife- Rebekah- Rachel- and more
Readers will learn from what these ancient women did right--and even what they did wrong--when faced with dashed expectations and deferred dreams. And they'll come away with the confidence that ours is a faithful God who loves us and is forming us through our trials into the women he longs for us to be.
You want to know why it has taken me over a week after release date to post this review? You want to know why I have a stack of ‘read’ books waiting to become ‘reviewed’ books? And you know how hard that is for me to wait to write a review. (Emotional reviewer remember!) You want to know why I’m sitting here bleary eyed and tired at the Old Folks Home writing this review when I would rather be sleeping? Because this is the intersection of where inspiration and motivation have merged together. Heaven forbid that happen when I’m in my cozy bed at home! Well, it might have but I was too busy not paying attention to inspiration or emotion to do the things. . . in this case review. Because right now Life does not in any way match my dreams. . .mostly. I’m running ragged at work (which I do love my job), trying to tightrope the balance of electric bills that exceed the rent (thank you extreme cold-naturedness), trying to budget impending vital car repairs, and the cherry on top. . . I am locked out of my Facebook. I’m sure you are sitting there trying to reconcile that last one with all the rest. It’s about identity. Someone saw fit to report my name, a name I have been known by for years – over a decade. A name that has come to represent who I am. A name I am introduced as to new people by mutual friends, a name that is truly a part of my every day life. A name that Facebook is making me prove is mine – even though they ask for the name you are called in every day life. Double standard much? Much like some women who are highlighted in this book, I feel like my identity is in question, I feel like who I think I am is hanging in the balance, and life is definitely not as I imagined it right now.
Jill has taken 12 Old Testament women, some we know well and other’s she has given a name as they are never mentioned, and brought this struggles, their life to relevance in today’s world. I love how she sets up each ‘chapter’ (I personally see this book as a great benefit in a more devotional setting as well) opening with ‘If I Were. . .’ taking that woman’s story and bringing life and relevance to it. ‘In Our World‘ where Jill takes each woman’s story, her life, and weaves it into relevance for today. ‘Imagine with Me’ where we once again return to Biblical times, what it might have been like, with the insight we’ve picked up for ourselves. Each woman has a relevance for today and Jill does an amazing job of addressing these correlations with an emphasis on scripture. ‘Ponder This’ really ties it together before moving on to ‘Taking it Further’ which provides questions to truly motivate the reader (and studyer) forward into not only the scripture but into personal understanding and finding relevance in our ancient sisters.
There is literally a story for every woman here. Infidelity? Gotcha covered. Lies and manipulation by friends and/or family? Yup, got that too. Trusting God when it seems like he’s gone off the deep end? Yup, have you ever given a thought to poor Noah’s wife?!? Sexual assault? Nothing too large for God to walk you through. Sin is as old as time, wait we get to spend time with Eve too! However, so it’s God’s love and his mercy. God sees you when you can’t seem to see yourself. God calls for you when you are buried under insecurities or fear. For every woman there is a friend. For every situation there is a for-bearer, it may not be exact as well the world and technology has changed, but human nature has not. I absolutely adored this book, I found nuggets that I want to go back too and glean again. I found reassurance as I struggle through my own mismatched expectations and dreams. I found reassurance that despite my own humanness God is still there. And he’s been there since literally the beginning of time.
About Jill Eileen Smith
Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Wives of King David series, the Daughters of the Promised Land, the Wives of the Patriarchs, and The Loves of King Solomon series. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.
When she isn’t writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, read stories that take her away, ride her bike to the park, snag date nights with her hubby, try out new restaurants, or play with her lovable, “helpful” cat Tiger. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.
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