If there were ever a book to articulate the difficulties, the sorrows, the pains, the heartache, and also the joys of this season of life, this is that book. I love Annie F. Downs. I have loved her since before I even read her books, but I love her even more once I had read her books. Once I had heard her honesty. Once I had realized that someone else understood.
I know that many people try to understand how it feels to be one of the very few people not getting what everyone else speaks of as God’s greatest blessing (more on that another time). Finally, someone who understands. Someone who is ahead of me in this journey and is learning lessons ahead of me. Someone who is doing the hard work so that her sister coming behind her might better walk this path with grace and love.
“This story of His kindness, the one I”m about to tell you, WILL have an ending. And by the time we get there, God will have done it all, and I will know it and you will know it. And we will never forget Him. Remember that. Remember God.”
Recommendation #2 Remember God by Annie F. Downs. I am forever thankful for the bravery of Annie and for her writing books that are so transparent and life-giving. I listened to the audiobook as Annie read it and wept. You’re probably realizing that I’ve cried a lot this year. And I have. I’ve cried tears of sorrow, tears of confusion, tears of joy, and tears of thankfulness. I have cried to let myself feel and have the freedom to let emotions come as they are needed.
This book spoke to a very deep need in my soul to be seen in my struggle. To be reminded that God sees me in this heartache and that He is showing me the way to go in love and kindness. He spoke directly to my heart through this book.
I have two things to say about this book. 1) I am sure there is some dark place that every one has experienced at one time or another. And I am sure that every one has wondered what God was doing with their life and what the plans actually are. You will certainly come away from this book assured to remember God for who He is and what He is doing right now.
2) I am single and can only view this from a single perspective, so I don’t know if everyone else will be as deeply impacted by this book as I was. But if nothing else, I think the church could do with some empathy lessons on how it feels to be single in Christian culture. This book can provide insight into just how hard it is and how you can come alongside us.
I am deeply thankful for this book and the impact it has had on me. Go find Remember God by Annie F. Downs at your local bookstore or get it on Amazon for only $11. I’d love to know what other people think of the book. Has it impacted you as much as it has me?
♥︎Jenna
This blog post is a part of a series called Rediscovering God for the Write31Days challenge to write every day in October. You can find links to all posts in my series here. If you want to know more about the Write31Days challenge, you can find out more at www.write31days.com.