Choosing Cheer by Nicolet Bell Book Review

About the Book:

Do you know Jesus but wonder where joy is? Do you find joy when things are smooth sailing but when life gets choppy, does joy seem out of reach? Are you overwhelmed with the state of the world? In this thoughtful and uplifting guide, Nicolet Bell, who chooses cheer as her life’s guiding principle, helps us understand why we should choose cheer, she identifies what is stealing our cheerfulness, and she offers tools to help us choose cheer daily, even when life is challenging. 

Jesus tells us, “In this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), and Bell has taken this teaching to heart. In a thoughtful and inspiring way, she explores real-world difficulties, including her own infertility struggle, the life-threatening illness of a friend’s child, and the everyday aspiration to incorporate the love of Jesus into all of our relationships.
 
In every chapter Bell leads us in a cheer practice with breath prayers, scripture quotes, gratitude exercises, and a cheer challenge that reflects the importance of finding joy in Jesus despite our circumstances. With the compassionate wisdom of a trusted friend, Bell guides us to find peace and wisdom in Jesus’s teachings, and to intentionally embrace all of life’s moments, knowing that our faith will sustain us.

My Review:

It was a bit of a shock to have Bell start her book by reminding us of Jesus' promise that we will have trouble. That is one biblical promise we might not put on our refrigerator. But along with that promise are others. Jesus also said we could have peace and joy because He is with us.

Bell believes we can choose cheer as our daily outlook. But that is a challenge and her ideas to help us do that is what this book is all about. She shares many of her own experiences illustrating how she chooses cheer. I like that she gives practical ideas set in the framework of breath prayers, memorizing Scripture, cultivating gratefulness and spreading the joy.

This is a good book with many practical suggestions to experiencing the peace and joy of Jesus that comes through choosing cheer.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Nicolet Bell is a blogger, content contributor, and chief executive officer for the JourneyWise Network, and host of The Choosing Cheer Podcast. She has served in adult discipleship, family ministry, and NextGen ministry in her local church and speaks regularly at regional women’s retreats and conventions. She has a master’s degree in communications from the University of Southern Mississippi and is currently studying theology. She lives in Jackson, Mississippi with her husband and her young daughter. 

Morehouse Publishing, 200 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)