It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered by Lysa TerKeurst
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book came exactly when I needed it, and I haven’t stopped recommending it since. In It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way Lysa addresses the things and hurts that happen in our lives that leave us questioning where God has gone. The disappointment that comes from loving and following Him, obeying Him, and watching your world fall apart. And she challenges us to lean into Him in this space between two gardens and trust His heart. In the pages, she is vulnerable, focused, wise, and encouraging. I truly want to sit at her kitchen table, hold her hand and prayer with her, and then have her do the same as I cry over my disappointments. What I appreciate most about this book though is the way that she relentlessly points us back to our Father. There are prayers. There are Bible verses. There are questions to force us to wrestle with our fears. And in my copy of the book, there are underlines and “Yes!” throughout.

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way answers the key question how can we trust God when life disappoints us? The last year I’ve been wrestling hard with this question. And Lysa’s transparency has had me writing yes in the margins, and copying the prayers into my journal. I’m already recommending it to friends and know this will be one I keep on hand to giveaway. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter with verses to read and meditate on are a key way to apply what’s been learned in the chapter. It would also work well as a small group book for those who already have trust established. Fundamentally, this book is like sitting down with an older sister who has walked the hard and learned how to press through the disappointment and doubts to find God in the space in between two gardens.

I highly recommend It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way and can’t wait for it to release so I can read through it with others.