The calendar tells a story. You may know this to be true.
For six years, January was only haunting and painful for me. Each year, my anxiety and dread would increase as the month dragged on. I remembered things I wanted to forget and I dreamed things that were not true. Sometimes, I still do. For years, my only goal for the month of January was to just get through it; to just survive all of its 31 dark days. Last year, however, something eclipsed the bad memories - something exciting - and it gave the calendar a new story to tell.
A year ago, on a dreary day much like today, with one click of “Publish,” my book Where Joy Is was launched out into the world for anyone to read. I have to admit, the thought of strangers reading some of my most vulnerable and painful moments from the comfort of their living room recliner was (and still is!) an intimidating thought. It was daunting for me - a chronic people-pleaser - to unveil a first-person account of some of my hardest moments and biggest mistakes. With one simple click with my mouse, three years of tearful hard work was made available for purchase online… and to be honest, I haven’t gotten over it yet. It was overwhelming then, and it still overwhelms me now, 365 days later.
Today is the official one-year anniversary of Where Joy Is, and I am celebrating by singing the words penned by Joachim Neander, “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.” If you would have shown me a picture in 2016 of what my life would look like in 2024, I wouldn’t have believed you. I would have furrowed my brows and dismissed “what the Almighty can do” with some kind of cynical inner response like, Maybe He would do that for you, but not for me. —I never would have said that to your face though.
But out of His great love, the Almighty did for me above anything I could have thought up. He didn’t answer my prayers the way I wanted Him to then. Instead, He gave me Himself, which is far better than any gift or blessing I could pray for earthside. It seems ultra spiritual to say things like that. “God gave me Himself, and that’s better,” can often sound so detached from reality. But it’s true. It is better. To have Christ is to have everything, whether your earthly hands are full or empty. And joy is ours through Christ, even if suffering is the hand you have been dealt.
Where Joy Is is what I like to call “my theological memoir on suffering.” It is the story of how God held me tighter when I tried to let go; of how He led me forward through the darkness of trauma, loss, and uncertainty when all I wanted was to sit in ashes and die.
It is my story, but it is His story most of all. It is His work of grace in my life.
frequently asked questions about WJI…
Q. What is your favorite thing that you address in the book?
A. The whole second half of the book is my favorite because the focus is less about me and more about the character of God. If I had to narrow it all down to my favorite topic in the book, it would be reconciling God’s sovereignty with His goodness. If you are suffering, understanding this dynamic is crucial.
Q. How much of your story do you share?
A. Quite a bit, but only what was appropriate and relevant to the subject.
Q. Do you have a favorite chapter?
A. Chapter 7 makes me cry every time I read through it. It’s about the matchless grace of God. — PSA: Have tissues on hand!
Q. What was the hardest part to write about?
A. There are different kinds of hard. Articulating important theological truths properly was difficult, but writing about painful events was extremely difficult as well. I suppose it depends on your definition of “hard.”
Q. Can your book be used as a study?
A. Yes, it can. From the beginning of my writing process, I did not want the book to be a tell-all, I wanted it to be an aid for other sufferers. Chapters 1-6 tell my story and my theology about faith and suffering. Chapters 7-11 shift the focus to the nature of God’s character and what that has to do with joy. At the end of each chapter, there are soul-searching questions for the purpose of studying the truths deeper.
coming soon!…
There is something so elegant and distinguished about a hard, crisp, book cover sitting neatly on a shelf. It thrills me to tell you that my precious labor of love will be available in hardback edition very soon! Stay tuned.
Join the family
Be part of the community!
- follow on Instagram
- follow on Facebook
- get your copy of Where Joy Is today!