This is a well written easy to read book chock full of wisdom. Laura breaks it down and as someone who has had a lot of hard stuff in her life, you know she knows what she is talking about. I will be revisiting this one!

I found I Give Up by Laura Story to be a raw read of genuine transparency of one living what she is writing about. I was blessed that this author shared the nitty gritty with her readers and I was thankful that I was one of them. She shares of God’s faithfulness as she’s living the life that is laid before her. What she thought life was going to look like and what it actually looks like for her. Surrender is a main theme in all she shares.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


***Also posted on Amazon, CBD, B&N

Ever since I started listening to her songs, Laura Story has been a great inspiration in my life. Whenever I get low in spirit or just need a song to change the atmosphere, I tend to turn on her music. Indescribable. Bless The Lord. Till I Met You. Those songs (plus more!) have kept me going more than once. I’m forever grateful for them and its author!

Now on to Laura Story’s lovely book –

I came across I Give Up by accident. Well, sort of. I was looking for something to read/review and found myself browsing through the nonfiction section. Normally I don’t pick up nonfiction for review, but this book’s title grabbed my attention. The first thing that stood out to me about this book was the style in which Story wrote it. And that was in a very emotional, personal, honest, and very heartfelt way. I loved that!

Page after page, her life story of struggle and surrender really spoke to me. It gave an inside look into what surrendering to God is all about while at the same time acknowledging how hard it can be. She also included short “White flag” prayers at the end of each chapter, and reading them grew my appreciation for I Give Up. In sum, this is a beautiful book.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR PROVIDING A FREE COPY FOR MY HONEST REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN.

I love hearing from one of my favorite singers. Getting a glimpse of who she is and the struggles makes me relate to the songs she sings even more. I do recommend this book.

I Give Up was a really good read. I'm familiar with some of Laura Story's music, so getting to read this in-depth story about moments in her life was interesting and made me feel for her.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Disfruté mucho leer este libro. No es el más conciso ni organizado, pero es muy sincero y me gusta que la cantante haya dado el paso de escribir. Hay algo que tienen las personas que han sufrido que las hace comunicar de una manera que no hace el mejor maestro de redacción. Gracias a Dios por la forma en la que me ha hablado atreves de esta mujer, con Blessings y ahora con este libro. Así quiero tener una vida, de rendición y no porque suena romántico o cristianamente correcto, sino porque es a lo que Dios siempre me está empujando y usa todo para lograrlo. Duré mucho para terminar este libro... Me daba nostalgia terminar... Y hoy use mi sábado para darle fin. Fue un buen uso de mi tiempo y llore en varias partes. Oro Dios use todo lo que me pasa en este tiempo, para su gloria.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Laura is very sincere and I like that the singer has taken the step of writing. There is something that people who have suffered have that makes them communicate in a way that the best writing teacher does not. Thank God for the way you have spoken to me about this woman, with Blessings and now with this book. So I want to have a life of surrender and not because it sounds romantic or "Christianly correct", but because it is what God is always pushing me to do and uses everything to achieve it. I took a long time to finish this book ... I was nostalgic to finish ... And today I used my Saturday to end it. It was a good use of my time and I cried in various parts. I pray that God uses everything that happens to me at this time, for his glory.

I could read Laura’s words every day, she writes in a way that is really relatable and has me going me too or oh I need to try it that way. She is honest and open .

Great book I highly recommend it! Loved her story and how she clung to God and trusted Him through everything.

I read When God Doesn’t Fix It by Laura Story and absolutely loved it so when I found out she was publishing another book I couldn’t wait to read it.

I will admit it took me a while to read this book despite my excitement, because I felt like I wasn’t in the right place to fully grasp the meaning behind it.

In I Give Up: The Secret Joy of a Surrendered Life, Laura takes us through valuable life lessons that helps us learn how to live a surrendered life despite our circumstances.

My favorite part of the book was how Laura pulled key stories from the Bible to further explain the joys that come with living a surrendered life. By pulling from the Bible she was also able to explain and reference that everyone’s walk with Jesus Christ is different. That some people may be called to walk harder lives than others and it’s not because you or I have done something to deserve it.

It simply means, God has a unique plan for each one of us and it has nothing to do with what you or I have done. God loves us equally and without measure so if I’m called to walk a rockier path than someone else that’s okay, because God loves me.

This book greatly puts into perspective my own life and what living a surrendered life to God will do for me.

This was a very Inspirational read. I've listened to Laura Story's songs. And now reading her story was uplifting! The scriptures she uses along with her struggles and the prayers at the end of each chapter. Laura also wrote a Bible study to go along with this book.
For anyone struggling with surrender, this is for you.


Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for the eARC

What I have long appreciated about Laura Story's songs is what I have come to appreciate about her books. She is transparent and honest and writes from her heart and her life experiences. I Give Up is her story of surrender when life didn't end up quite the way she expected. When life takes an unexpected turn, it is easy for Christians to just put on a happy face because they think that is what they are supposed to do. Ms. Story's honesty through her struggles to lead worship in the midst of some dark days is raw and honest. The book is an encouragement to those like me who are living a life with struggles that were not in their plan.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I found this book to a refreshing, inspirational read. Laura Story’s candor and transparency in the way she shares life events, feelings, struggles, and how God’s word encourages her and gives her peace in the middle of life’s storms. Laura shares, about her husband Martin’s brain surgery and how things haven’t quite work out the way she had hoped. She prays, “God, if today is the day you heal Martin. I’m thankful. She hears him say to her, “But what if the healing is a process Laura, what if it’s a long road that has more sleepless nights than you ever imagined, involves more faith than you thought you were capable of? Will you still give me the glory?” Laura says it’s not easy, but she is learning to say yes” Just because I don’t understand His plan it doesn’t mean He isn’t a Good, and faithful God. With a perfect plan for my life. She asks God to help her see the blessings in the middle of trials.” That’s how the song Blessings came about.

She talks about her most recent pregnancy and birth of their son Timothy. A couple weeks before delivery they were told he had a cleft lip and palate. It’s another journey they never thought they’d be on. She asked the Dr. now what? She felt helpless. The Dr. said,” you grieve.”.

She did just that. She came before God “show me how to deal with this.” She asked him to help her accept the life she’d been given. She sensed the word “Surrender”.

She says, “My job was to surrender my expectations for the pregnancy and delivery we’d planned, and for the perfectly healthy son we’d imagined bringing home. It was to give those up for something I could hardly even begin to wrap my brain around, to make matters worse, I felt guilty for my heartbreak over the news. After all, other babies were still born, or had cancer, or deformities that surgery couldn’t fix. I would be handed a son with an imperfect face, yes. But he would be otherwise healthy, and the defect could be surgically repaired. Shouldn’t I just get over it and deal? …And I’m a Christian. A pretty public one, at that. Don’t Christians trust God in every situation and give him glory no matter what? They do. But they hurt too.”

I’m encouraged by how she keeps it real. She admits they don’t have it all figured out as she shares bible stories that inspired her. “God’s word is full of the testimonies of those who have struggled mightily with their in-between spaces on the journey from surrender to faith.

She says “Surrender the moment in front of you right now. Pray the prayer that’s on your heart today, this moment, even if you’re not sure of the words….Offer God the grief that’s eating at the edges of your heart today. It will only be bigger tomorrow.”…”Yes, we will take three steps forward and two steps back some days. No matter. Take the steps anyway. ..”

I liked the white flag prayers at the end of the chapters. Laura shares the nitty gritty of life and how. It’s hard to ask for help and then accept it. Laura wrote a bible study to go along with the book. I was encouraged by her testimony and how she brought bible stories to life. I look forward to doing the bible study.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com

What a personal viewpoint as you read about Laura Story and personal difficulties she and her family have experienced. But as you travel through the pages, you will be touched by her words, sharing of scripture, and uplifting thoughts. Her stories of her family will touch your heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was completely amazed by the depth of LauraStory’s music when I heard Blessings. Coming to know that it was inspired by her husband’s brain cancer made it l the more powerful. This book touches on that. The parts where she shares her personal struggles and howGod helped her through each hard season really spoke to me. This has been a hard walk for her. Her husband is still disabled and not driving and she has several children and a set of twins. I enjoyed reading her storytelling so much.

The part I had a hard time with was what felt lie regurgitated Sunday School lessons. It felt like a stretch to include these stories in the way they were told. The style changed. The storytelling stopped. It was awkward to me and I had a hard time getting through those sections. It was transference of facts.I wish she would have told it in the same way as the rest of the book. This was a huge chunk of it though.

Her story itself is worth reading. New Christians could get something from her sharing about the Bible stories.

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

These words penned by Laura Story left me in tears the first time I heard them. I was at a women's conference one weekend with ladies from all over our district. A dear international worker shared the mental health struggles her daughter was facing and that had brought them home early from the field. Then she sang this song and I was left speechless and tear-filled. At the time, I was facing my own hurts, my own health struggles, and questioning God's goodness in it all. Yes, He had seen me through, but why in the first place?

Fast forward several years. I had the opportunity to hear Laura Story speak at another women's conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the fall of 2018. This time it was not merely our district gathering, but women from across the nation. I had never heard her testimony nor realized the source of those beautiful lyrics. I listened as she candidly spoke about seeking God in the trials and all the ways He had taught her through her husband's brain tumor and the after effects of the trauma from surgery.

I was so excited to have the opportunity to read this part Bible study part biography part conversation with a friend over coffee. What struck me so deeply about Laura as she spoke was the genuineness of her faith and of who she is. She is honest and raw about things that are difficult to be honest and raw about. We want to hide and say everything is well, when it is not.

In reading this beautifully crafted work Laura Story easily weaves in and out of storytelling, first her own story, then a story from Scripture. This seamless intertwining drew me into read more.

While of course our paths are different, she has struggled with many of the same questions I have. How do you walk in complete surrender when you have lost control? How do I daily surrender in the face of the unknown for one I love deeply? For Laura it was her husband. For me it is my daughter. We have many unanswered questions regarding her health. Today she is stable and living a healthy active life, but we have an understanding there is something lurking beneath the surface and we do not know when it might rear up again. There are more questions than answers and the doctors are mystified. This particular book helped me to answer, "Yes," to the Lord in how I will choose to surrender to Him.

I highly, highly recommend this title to anyone who has ever gone through a struggle or thinks they might one day. It will be give to my children as they enter into adulthood. I plan to reread it myself when I'm once again struggling to surrender.

I Give Up
The Secret Joy of a Surrendered Life

by Laura Story

Thomas Nelson–W Publishing

Thomas Nelson

Christian

Pub Date 30 Jul 2019

I am reviewing a copy of I Give Up through Thomas Nelson Publishing and Netgalley:

Most of us long to be in control of our schedules, our relationships and our future.

Laura Story a newlywed, thought she had control over the great life she believed lay ahead of her. She followed Jesus after all and even had a promising new job as a worship leader. Why would God not want to fulfill her dreams?

When Laura and her husband, Martin, faced a brain tumor, infertility, as well as son’s birth defect, she realized she’d been looking for a happiness that comes from circumstances, rather than a deeper joy that comes from God. Laura came to realize that she had to surrender the vision for her life so she could embrace God’s vision for her life. Again and again even in the midst of shattered dreams she learned she could embrace God’s vision for her life. Laura learned God’s plan for her life would bring her greater joy than she could ever imagine.

I Give Up would be a great book for anyone wanting to know more about what it means to live A Surrendered Life!

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

I’ve enjoyed Laura Story’s music over the years. She has had lots of difficult life experiences that have given her opportunity to lean into God. And she has leaned into God.

If you’ve been a follower of Jesus for awhile, you will find this book quite basic. However, I think we all struggle with surrender. If Peter, a close friend and follower of Jesus struggled to surrender (he denied Jesus 3x), I’m certainly no better off in that regard. So this book is certainly worth reading for that reminder. I did find the content a bit dry and matter of fact, though there is definitely value to be found. In my opinion, the book will appeal to women more than men. Below I will highlight some of my favorite portions of the book.

Often, when we face problems, we erroneously look outward for a quick fix. Laura said, “The Israelites did what we sometimes do when things look bleak: They decided they needed new leadership and what they really needed was a renewed heart.” We often try every other remedy before we surrender. If we seek God first, we’d find that our problems grow dim in His presence.

Here are Laura’s thoughts on keeping a firm grip on her life: “If I were in control of my life, sitting on the “throne,” I might decree that no uncertainty, suffering, broken relationships, or conflict would exist. Maybe I’d issue a “royal order” to put an end to all pain and heartbreak, because really—who needs that stuff? I might even do away with waiting and struggle and confusion while I was at it. But if I did this—if I had my way—I wouldn’t make the world a better place or make myself a better person. How do I know? Because the things I’d eliminate are the very things God uses to draw me closer to him in trust and dependence, and to make me more like his beautiful Son. The things I’d do away with are the things he does good with!” If we rid ourselves of hardship, we rob ourselves of wisdom gained. If we truly love God, and being closer to Him, and knowing Him more deeply is our desire, the rewards of communion with God in the midst of the hardships will outweigh the pain.

The more we go out out on a limb to believe God, the more He will show His trustworthiness. It goes hand in hand with James 4:2b that says, “You have not because you ask not.” It’s risky to ask anything of God. When we are asking, we are certainly asking with some measure of belief. I agree with Laura on this, “We won’t ever experience the rewards of belief without the risk of belief.” Let’s not short change ourselves by neglecting to ask anything of our Heavenly Father who gives good gifts. Don’t be afraid of unanswered prayer. Unanswered prayer is a reason to pray all the more.

The last chapter was about worship. It was my favorite chapter. I think the American evangelical church generally has a narrow definition of worship. Many people think it’s singing songs on Sunday morning. Laura searched the Bible to gain a scriptural view of worship and she discovered, “When we surrender ourselves to God, we worship him. Surrendering doesn’t lead us into worship; our surrender is our worship.” Our emotions could be all over the place, but if we are honest in that space and we are postured toward Jesus, that’s worship. Being happy and clappy isn’t a requirement. Being strong and capable isn’t necessary. Neither is being good or right important. We don’t have to have it all together to worship. Psalm 51:17 says, “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God”. Brokenness and sorrow brought before God is worship. Other people are drawn to God through our honesty and brokenness.

I really want to give this book 4 stars, but I feel like a 3.5 is a more realistic number.

I was given an digital ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinions.

Loved this book! I read her first book and I feel like this picks up where that one left off. There is enough repeated info to remind the reader or get them up to speed, but not enough to ruin the personal stories from the first book. I love her perspective and how she talks about the challenges in her life and relates them to the bible and our lives. Would love to see her in person!

I think this would be a good read for my Christian book club. I found the concept of surrender and letting things go that we can’t control to be helpful. And I liked that they were backed up with verses.

I received a copy of this book through #netgalley, but I think I will likely buy "I Give Up" at some point since this is one that I will need to read and reread again. Surrender is never easy. But by referencing Scripture as well as her own "story," the words ooze with hope and with truth. This book confirmed to me that I really do want what God wants for my life even when the process is not easy.