"If we're not careful, our whole identity can be wrapped up in what other people think we're supposed to be or what we think we're supposed to do." (148)
Title: If You Only Knew: My Unlikely, Unavoidable Story of Becoming Free
Publisher: B&H Publishing
Release Date: January 30, 2018
Genre: Non-Fiction / Memoir
Links*: Amazon l Goodreads l Book Depository l CBD l Itunes
What if you knew all the moments of my past that I am not proud of? What if you really knew me, the messy parts that I’ve hoped to forget and worked hard to conceal? For so long, my greatest fear was what you might think of me if you only knew the whole story.
It’s exhausting, this guarding of our stories and struggles. Fear of being found out had caused me to hide—but I wasn’t just covering my flaws, I was unintentionally blocking the beauty of God’s grace. My journey to real freedom began when I quit running from my mess and started trusting Jesus to make something beautiful of it.
This book is that story. It’s stepping out of shame and insecurity into gospel freedom. It’s letting God turn our failures and frailties into testimonies of His faithfulness. I’ve discovered that when we quit hiding, God gets the glory and we are able to fully embrace not only our relationship with Him, but also with one another.
Transparency brings freedom, and in every moment, we'll find that God can absolutely be trusted.
It’s exhausting, this guarding of our stories and struggles. Fear of being found out had caused me to hide—but I wasn’t just covering my flaws, I was unintentionally blocking the beauty of God’s grace. My journey to real freedom began when I quit running from my mess and started trusting Jesus to make something beautiful of it.
This book is that story. It’s stepping out of shame and insecurity into gospel freedom. It’s letting God turn our failures and frailties into testimonies of His faithfulness. I’ve discovered that when we quit hiding, God gets the glory and we are able to fully embrace not only our relationship with Him, but also with one another.
Transparency brings freedom, and in every moment, we'll find that God can absolutely be trusted.
MY THOUGHTS
Authenticity is such a great thing to behold, and Jamie Ivey did so in If You Only Knew. I've never listened to her podcast, The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey, so I'm not familiar with her. I was drawn to the cover and the title + tagline. If You Only Knew: My Unlikely, Unavoidable Story of Becoming Free. Free is also one of those words that mystify in many ways. It can be taken literally or subjectively. And in this book, freedom from self packs quite the punch.
In If You Only Knew is Jamie Ivey's story - her memoir, her vulnerabilities all written for readers to choose to gloss over or to be open to how it connects, how it mirrors and how it relates.
"When we become women who own our stories and become vulnerable about our lives, Jesus' grace and mercy take center stage." (201)
". . .my identity is not skewed because of all the things I've done or haven't done, but is secure by all the things Jesus has done (as well as by what He hasn't done, like condemn and reject me)." (154)
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
TO PURCHASE A COPY*
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 |
| Image taken from Jamie's Blog |
Jamie and her husband, Aaron, worship pastor at The Austin Stone Community Church, live in Austin, Texas with their four kids and two dogs.
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting. If you don't have any of the accounts listed in the pull down menu, just comment using "Anonymous" and put your name/nickname in the comment. Happy reading!