It's Not Supposed to be This Way by Lysa Terkeurst

If we live long enough, I think there are tough moments that come when most of us say, It's not supposed to be this way. We wonder why these things happen. The past few years, Lysa Terkeurst has faced some tough challenges which she shares in her new book, It's Not Supposed To Be This Way.

It's Not Supposed To Be This Way is Terkeurst's story of how she handled the hard things of the past few years and how turning to God helped her face them. This book is part memoir and part an inspirational encouragement book for anyone reading it who is facing tough challenges and struggling. At the end of each chapter, Terkeurst has a "Remember" section with some of the most important ideas from each chapter that she encourages readers to cling to. That section is followed by a "Receive" section with several Bible verses to soak in and meditate on. Then she offers a "Reflect" section with questions to think on. This book pairs well with your Bible, of course, but it would also be helpful to use a journal along with it to get the most out of it. Then there is a prayer to pray at the end.

I have faced a different set of hard challenges the past few years--my own set of heartbreaks. It's Not Supposed to be this Way is like sitting down with Terkeurst in a coffee shop and sharing the hard things together. All through this book, she shares her heartfelt story in a way that leaves you feeling like she is in the hard things of life with you and not above you. She shares hard things, embarrassing moments and moments she even had to laugh rather than cry. . .although she did share about the crying too. This book helped me want to draw closer to God and to others facing hard things. After reading it, I feel like we can indeed face these hard things together and with God and we will make it until God says, "Well done good and faithful servant." It isn't a fast read, and I wouldn't expect that from this book. It is a good book to use with a journal and maybe to share with a trusted friend or counselor as you work through it. I highly recommend it to any Christian going through hard stuff. I am sorry to hear all of the hard things Terkeurst has gone through, but I think this is one of the best books of it's kind that I have read because she has been there and has compassion for the reader.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.