Top 5 Books for Every Woman of Faith Who Has Ever Struggled To Believe She Is Enough
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I have always been a firm believer that words hold power. The power to hurt or heal. The power to damage and even destroy.
As an avid reader, I have found so much comfort and validation in reading the words penned by others who can relate to my struggles.
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And, as a woman of faith who has often asked the question “Am I enough?” I also know how truly inspiring and life-changing a soul-soothing read can be.
Here are the top five books I recommend for any wife, mom, sister, daughter, granddaughter or friend of faith who has ever asked that very same question.
5. “You Are Special” by Max Lucado
I don’t know about you, but Max Lucado has been a staple author on my shelf since before I knew how to read. I first encountered his stories as a child, when my mother would read me his books “Tell Me the Story” and “Tell Me the Secrets.”
One story in particular from “Tell Me the Secrets” has stayed with me over the years. It’s a story that makes me cry every time I read it.
The story of Lucado’s “Wemmicks” has long since been made into a separate illustrated children’s book series. “You Are Special” is the first in the series. It’s written as a children’s story, but I personally feel the deeper meaning is so valuable for every age.
Jesus spoke to people through simple to understand parables — stories that held more depth and truth than many probably realized.
In the story of the Wemmicks, Punchinello is a wooden person living in a village with other wooden people. The people carry around stickers — golden stars and gray dots.
If someone does something amazing and praise-worthy, the people rush to put star stickers on the accomplished Wemmick.
But, if someone falls or trips or fails, those same Wemmicks don’t hesitate to place gray dots on the one who simply isn’t good enough.
It isn’t until Punchinello meets Lucia, a Wemmick with no stars or dots, that he questions everything. Lucia has a special relationship with the maker of all Wemmicks — Eli.
My favorite line from this story comes from Eli himself: “The stickers only stick if they matter to you. The more you trust my love, the less you care about their stickers.”
I think this story is so relevant and powerful, especially in today’s social media “liking” culture. We often take on the opinions of others rather than turning to our Creator to define us. No matter your age, this one is a must-read.
4. “Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul” by John and Stasi Eldredge
The wife of John Eldredge, author of “Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul,” offers powerful insight into the mystery that is a woman’s tender heart in “Captivating.”
All women were little girls once. We probably all pictured our perfect weddings and wondered what prince charming would be like when we finally met him.
But, as we grew older, perhaps we were told things such as “you throw like a girl” or “you’re too sensitive,” crushing our delicate feminine hearts and maybe causing us to wonder if femininity in and of itself is somehow a flaw.
But the authors of “Captivating” say otherwise. They take care to remind the reader that womanhood is a beautiful and fascinating thing to be cherished.
“A woman in her glory, a woman of beauty, is a woman who is not striving to become beautiful or worthy or enough,” the authors write. “She knows in her quiet center where God dwells that he finds her beautiful, has deemed her worthy, and in him, she is enough.”
3. “So Long Insecurity: You’ve Been a Bad Friend to Us” by Beth Moore
As someone who has had the privilege of meeting Beth Moore in person and attending a couple of events at which she spoke, I can’t say enough about “So Long Insecurity.”
This message can be found in several formats — as a Bible study group experience, a teen edition, a devotional journal and a chapter book.
I have found encouragement and inspiration in all of these, but the chapter book is what really drove everything home for me.
Moore says, “We’re going to have to let truth scream louder to our souls than the lies that have infected us.”
This can be so hard to do, especially for any woman who has listened to the lies for so long.
You’re unworthy. You’re not good enough. You’ll never measure up. God can’t use you. On and on the lies go, spinning around in our heads.
What’s so great about Moore’s writing is that she gets it. She’s been there and shares openly about her own struggles.
Her words resonate deeply and I always come away from her writing feeling encouraged, uplifted and ready to face the enemy.
It’s a given that the No. 1 book recommendation that trumps all is and always will be the Holy Bible. There is no substitute for God’s Word.
But I believe God does use his people to relate and remind us of the truths of Scripture. Beth Moore always points right back to the Bible and helps her readers see God’s Word as it applies to our situations today.
2. “Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely” by Lysa TerKeurst
If ever there was a book that made me feel as if I was sitting next to a girlfriend having coffee and talking for hours, “Uninvited” would be it.
As the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, TerKeurst has made it her mission to speak to the hearts of women in a real and biblical way.
“Our different ministries have been created so you would know the Truth and live the Truth,” the Proverbs 31 site reads. “Because it changes everything.”
I believe the author has changed everything with “Uninvited.” TerKeurst has a way of talking to her readers as if she’s right there with them.
Reading “Uninvited,” I found myself in a constant state of “yes.” I felt validated. As if I was no longer alone in the feelings I soon came to realize many women struggle with.
TerKeurst talks about “living loved.” She discusses rejection, something so relevant. In recent years, the author opened up about her broken and then saved marriage, which makes this book even more meaningful.
This author writes about rejection in such a way that makes you know deep in your soul that she understands all too well what it’s like.
“Rejection isn’t just an emotional feeling,” she writes. “It’s a message that alters what you believe about yourself.”
We need to stop believing we are worth rejection. “Uninvited” is a must-read for anyone who has ever faced rejection or who has simply believed they are not worthy of love.
1. “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers
Let me begin by saying that historical fiction is not my go-to genre. But “Redeeming Love” is one of those books that transcends every norm.
The story is a retelling of the Book of Hosea. Set in 1850 during California’s Gold Rush, the novel follows farmer Michael Hosea and Angel, the prostitute he believes God wants him to marry.
I’ll be honest, this book addresses tough topics such as human trafficking and rape. The topics are handled delicately and the author even includes a personal note to her readers at the end explaining why she wrote the book.
“I hope this story will help you see who Jesus is an how much He loves you,” Rivers writes. “And may the Lord draw you to Him.”
This book does exactly that. Having read it three times at different points in my life, I can personally attest to the power of the words within these pages.
Though fictional, the story of redemption and unconditional love holds so much truth. It is life changing. After experiencing “Redeeming Love” I can honestly say I’ve seen God in a whole new way. And I am better for it.
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Whether you choose to read all or none of these books, my prayer is that you would know without a doubt you are loved. You are enough for the One who created you.
Psalm 139:14 reads, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Know full well you are a wonderful work of the King. Always.
Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website.
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