Embrace Your Life: How to Find Joy When the Life You Have is Not the Life You Hoped For Paperback – March 22, 2022

I can't say enough good things about this book. I loved the author's style of writing and how many practical applications she gave about navigating through the life that you secretly, or maybe not so secretly wished you had. The author continually points you back to the One who is in control, has already written your story, loves you like no human person could and is preparing you to spend a eternity with Him. God is much more concerned with our holiness than our happiness and has chosen to do the most perfect things in our lives to accomplish His purposes. He tells us VERY clearly in the word that if we are truly His child we are going to suffer. We were made to glorify God. Literally period, end of sentence. We were bought with a price and our life is not our own. But boy, do I live way too many days thinking, it's all about me. The author does a great job of reminding the reader of all these truths. I bought this book to read with a friend who was a Widow at 45 and had a 9 year old grandchild who was murdered. I have had my share of suffering from a husband who committed adultery that ended in divorce to now living in a loveless marriage. But again, the author continually reminds you that we are not alone but dearly loved by our creator. I loved the book so much, I've ordered it for two other friends who are struggling with the circumstances of their lives. Get the book. You won't be sorry.

Most days, I consider myself a satisfied Christian. However, in the hard times, the difficult spot between satisfied and dissatisfied – waiting to hear from the Lord, Embrace Your Life reminds me that I am not alone in the season of longing; that I am a child of God, and that God’s timing, love, and grace is sufficient for me.Through Embrace Your Life, Elizabeth Woodson provides a practical guide to apply the reality of God’s truth, while sharing her own personal struggles, reminding readers that we are not alone in this journey of longing as we learn to embrace who God is, who we are, and embracing what our faith tells us. Each chapter supplies readers with an application guide – a how to guide to embrace and apply the teaching God has for each of us, through the equipping of Elizabeth Woodson. I use these guides as a refresher and complimentary resource to read on the go, when the pace of life makes it hard for me to re-read each chapter in its entirety.I recommend Embrace Your Life by Elizabeth Woodson to all of my family, friends, and small group members who need encouragement as we strive to embrace and live the life we have as we wait on the Lord.

It’s not hard to see why this is an important book — many of us genuinely wrestle with the way our lives have played out, and it can feel as if God has made some kind of mistake and that enjoying our lives as they are is not possible. But Elizabeth offers wisdom she’s both gleaned from scripture and formed from personal experience, and the result is something beautiful. The whole time I read this, I thought, “This is important.” If you are overwhelmed with longing about some aspect of your life (maybe related to a career, marriage, kids, etc.), I think in this book you will find encouragement to press in to biblical truth and discover how the Lord can produce joy even in places where it doesn’t seem like joy can grow.

With what has happened these past few years, this book is a reminder, testament and message we all need. It’s easy to embrace what God is doing in everyone else BUT us. It’s easy to assume that happiness and joy come from measuring and comparison. But what could happen when we embrace our life? Elizabeth does a great job in weaving her story, the Bible and honest question to move the reader to assess, look within and give hope. That come what may we can embrace OUR lives!It’s a great read and you’ll need to grab a journal and pen :)

Elizabeth points us to Jesus and hoping in HIM as we face failures, losses, and life not going as planned.

The media could not be loaded.  I ordered it for a church book club. It was used, but it looks brand new.

This book is very candid, and it was extremely helpful to me during a time in my life when nothing was making sense.

Well done treatment full of biblical teaching/examples. The author did such a great job of making every life situation, whether singleness, infertility or any kind of loss or disappointment an opportunity to grow closer to God in contentment and joy. Will read again and refer to often.

I highly recommend this book! My own life has been full of seasons of disappointment, longing, and unmet expectations that over time begin to affect other areas of my life. For me, when those trials go on for long periods of time or are still realities, it can become lonely and I often lose sight of the bigger picture. With grace and empathy Elizabeth comes alongside us in our struggle. She gives us a Biblical framework for how to consider our longings. She takes us to the roots of our longings and gives us wise counsel in how to rightly view God and ourselves. She directs our attention to the story of Joshua, Old Testament Israel, and includes New Testament references that display the love that God has for the biblical characters and us. She not only gives us Scriptural definitions and guidance, but then also gives us practical application. Each chapter ends with questions that lead us to honestly assess ourselves. Spiritual formation and discipleship are the practices that come to my mind while reading each chapter. The format of the book is a great fit for personal reflection, but will also work for roommates, couples, or small groups. Elizabeth encourages us in the joy we have been given in Jesus Christ, that we have a role to play in His story, and that even in our longings we are loved. I will be buying this book for my teen children, extended family, and friends, and I will keep it close at hand for personal reflection in the future.

Elizabeth's book is incredibly easy to read with small bite-sized chapters, but don't be deceived as these nuggets will leave you reflecting for days. I love that the chapters are deeply personal, full of Scriptural references and incredibly practical. Elizabeth's humility and humanity and love for Jesus are evident throughout. She teaches us how to embrace the life we have with a love for God whether our desires are realised or not.