Blessed in the Mess by Joyce Meyer Book Review

About the Book:

Life is often messy. We hear people say, “My life is a mess,” or “This situation is a mess.” What they mean is that life has become difficult, painful or confusing. But God never promised us a trouble-free life. In fact, His Word tells us to expect the opposite. In John 16:33, Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (NIV).

In Blessed in the Mess, beloved Bible teacher Joyce Meyer shows us how to be blessed in the midst of life’s most challenging circumstances. The Bible is filled with instructions on how to handle ourselves when difficulty comes our way, and Blessed in the Mess shares that wisdom through poignant and practical teaching that equips us to remain stable and hopeful in every situation. No matter what problems we may face, there is a way to remain joyful and patient as God works on them. If you have not handled the messy issues or challenges in your life well in the past, then with God’s help, you can begin to manage them better, starting now.

We should never waste our pain. Through the wisdom distilled in this book, we can learn how to gain something from our messes, use those insights to avoid trouble in the future, and share our experiences to help other people find blessings in the midst of their messes.

My Review:

Life does not always progress the way we want. We experience pain, disappointments, and confusion. Meyer writes that God has not promised us a trouble free life but rather has promised that we will, in fact, have trouble. (John 16:22) The way we live through the trouble is by having a stable foundation, following God's instruction. We remain patient, trust God and stay positive, knowing that something good will come from our experiences.

She knows God does not always deliver us from difficult situations. She uses her own life of childhood sexual abuse and a troubled marriage then her current ministry as an example of what God can do when He takes us through trouble. She also reminds us that we can comfort others because of what we have gone through. (2 Cor. 1:3-4)

She also writes about becoming spiritually mature, about taking responsibility, about being obedient to God and living responsibly in general. She illustrates her teaching with stories from her own life and from the Bible.

Spiritual growth is important and I really appreciate Meyer's teaching on how God uses suffering to accomplish it. I like her way of being so encouraging yet realistic. I do not like her emphasis on the power of the words we speak. She likens our spoken words with the creative ability of God. (1137/3557) That does not sit well with me. I do like that Meyer reminds us our victory is not of ourselves but rather through Christ.

This is an encouraging book for Christians in difficult situations.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Joyce Meyer is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s leading practical Bible teachers. Her broadcast, Enjoying Everyday Life, airs daily on hundreds of television networks and radio stations worldwide. Joyce has written nearly 100 inspirational books. Bestsellers include God Is Not Mad at You; Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits; Living Beyond Your Feelings; Power Thoughts; Battlefield of the Mind; and The Confident Woman. Joyce holds conferences throughout the year, speaking to thousands around the world.

FaithWords, 128 pages.

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