In the past year, I’ve been delightfully surprised at the amount of amazing lit I’ve pretty much “stumbled” upon.
It’s so weird (but perfect), but God often speaks to me by way of books. Seriously!! He knows that that’s a surefire way to get my attention. I can’t tell you how many times in the past two years that I’ve needed a pep talk and I get one in the form of a random giveaway win or ARC opportunity.
Here’s 5 Christian books I’ve read in the past year that you should add to your summer tbr.
1. Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
Wow . . . how can I even explain the impact this book had in my life?
I used to hate the idea of nonfiction. It just sounds so degrading to start a word out with the prefix “non.” It’s immediately negative.
However, this book had me writing in the margins and rereading paragraphs. I will say sometimes it was repetitive, but it’s because these are simple life truths that we KNOW but our hearts need to ACCEPT.
My beef with nonfiction books is that, if it’s good, there’s often wayyyyy too much information for me to retain. To combat this, after I finished every chapter of this book, I wrote (in the book, GASPS from fellow bookworms) the top things I learned and wanted to remember.
2. Own Your Everyday by Jordan Lee Dooley
One of the coolest things about Oh Beloved One is the many opportunities I’ve had to receive ARCs (or free books, period). Own Your Everyday isn’t out yet, but I’d highly suggest you put it on preorder because BOY OH BOY: this was lovely.
It was equal parts kick-in-the-pants and you-got-this-girl, which is refreshing because there is far too much Christian nonfiction out there that’s full of the YOU ARE A GIRL BOSS YOU CAN DO ANYTHING mantra (which is simply not true).
This book reminded me of how prideful I am. I went into it thinking of it as a chore in a way: I needed to read this book for the publisher to get a review. I skimmed the table of contents, totally like
- I don’t struggle with perfectionism or
- imposter syndrome
- or feeling overwhelmed
- or not thinking about community over my own facade.
But heyyyyyy ya girl here was wrong. Dead wrong.
I was lying in my bedroom, on the floor, just full-out sobbing because the book came at a perfect time and it was like it was written for me.
Read it, read it, read it!
3. Choosing Gratitude by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
If you’re anything like me, you like to keep gratitude in the pantry along with the Thanksgiving stuffing. I got this book maybe because it’s yellow, maybe because there’s a daisy on the cover: but, regardless, the content was absolutely stunning.
Nancy totally tackled the idea I had subconsciously accepted: that gratitude is kinda a “lower” virtue Christians have to hone. At the top is the good stuff, like love and joy and peace. But gratitude? BORING.
Nancy really drives home the point that gratitude is so foundational to our Christian walk. I mean, it’s gratitude to God for saving us that should drive our everyday life.
4. Elizabeth: Dealing with Disappointment by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
Okay, this is kinda cheating, but also not. This isn’t technically a book. It’s a devotional, and I won it about a month ago through a Lies Young Women Believe giveaway (which is kinda nuts because I know my chances weren’t high or anything).
I’m a huge fan of writing my thoughts out, which is why this book/devotional/journal format really speaks to me. It helped me “talk” through all my pain and struggles. This would be a fabulous book to go through with fellow Sisters in Christ. *adds to bucket list*
PLUS it’s only eight bucks. Score.
5. Low* by yours sincerely
*you can get this free by subscribing to our mailing list
I love getting emails from the people that have read this little e-book! They usually come at the most perfect of times and all I can do is look up at the sky and say, Thank you God for keeping me going!!
One reader said that every girl and young woman should read this. Why? Simply because we all deal with sadness. This book isn’t simply about depression and anxiety, and it’s certainly not only for people that were officially diagnosed with either of those monsters.
This is especially for the girls who, like me, thought that they were “above” dealing with such overwhelming bouts of sadness. It’s for literally anyone who has ever felt sad (come on, that’s everyone) and even hopeless.
