Member Reviews
I am excited Jamie is writing her story. It is difficult to read at times and to see her struggles. But, then to see her faith and determination brings a smile.
I loved reading this book! I found it very uplifting and inspiring. I liked how Jamie shared her struggles with Tourette's Syndrome, bullying, finding friends, finding herself, and finding a talent that fit her personality. I think these are subjects that everyone can relate to. I found her advice on finding the quiet in a noisy world very fitting for today's world. I was inspired by her faith and the scripture verses that spoke peace to her soul. I would recommend this book to anyone searching for quiet in their life.
Finding Quiet
My Journey to Peace in an Anxious World
by Jamie Grace
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 13 Oct 2020
I am reviewing a copy of Finding Quiet through Bethany House and Netgalley:
Jamie Grace grew up in the 1990’s at seven she fell in love with Jesus. She talks about the peace she felt when she
In Finding Quiet Jamie Grace goes on to remind us that God doesn’t move any more or less in rooms because of their volume or lack thereof.
Finding Quiet is not a book about learning how to tune out the sound, instead it is a book about finding quirky while the noise plays on.
We are also asked to think about these three things , why do we hide our brokenness? Why do we bury our pain? Why do we cover up our hurt? Jamie Grace goes on to point out that for many of us when we face pain everything shuts down.
At seven Jamie Grace gave her heart to Jesus, when she was eleven was diagnosed with anxiety (as well as Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). On a daily basis she experiences a great deal of anxiety, but she also experiences a great deal of Faith. She struggles with the fear of letting the other side win. It is Faith that tells her anything is possible. It reminds her to let the creators strength allow her to be made perfect in weakness.
In this book Jamie Grace goes on to point out that My earliest memories are loud, ambient, and full of racing and anxious thoughts. They are flooded with fear and insecurity. Low self-esteem. Significant self-doubt.
We are reminded too that God is the one who fixes things. In this book we discover what it means to find peace in the midst of all the noise? It asks if there’s a way to acknowledge the struggles we face and learn how to manage the stressors and voices that trigger us while believing in the promises and goodness of God?
I give Finding Quiet five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book, but I've been listening to Jamie Grace's music for years and so I decided to give it a try. I was overall very impressed. Jamie Grace offers a well-written treasure trove of encouragement, advice, and actionable tips which are targeted at her music's audience but also, in my humble opinion, transcends it. Stories are utilized in abundance, yet never take over the book, and it tackles some tough issues with honesty, yet remains a somewhat breezy read.
Unlike some of Jamie Grace's other material, such as her slightly scatterbrained podcast, Finding Quiet is thoughtfully structured, with strong, cohesive and concise points.
This book seems to have a solid Biblical basis, although scripture is sprinkled in rather than being the foundation of the book. It's more of a self-help book than one of spiritual guidance. I didn't notice any blinding contradictions or flaws in its underlying Christian worldview, but it's definitely something that should be kept in mind as you enjoy this book. And if you've read this review so far, I think it's likely that you will. Highly recommended to fans of Jamie Grace's music, and recommended to everyone else who struggles with anxiety or drama.
*I received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*
Jamie Grace (Who I've never heard of prior to reading this book)Tells her life story thus far. She talks about not only her career, but health challenges she has had to deal with. All the while trying to find the quite time to stay connected to God. It was a good and interesting read.
Our world is loud and crazy right now which makes finding a quiet moment very difficult. Jamie Grace delivers a wonderful addition to anyone’s library of little ways to find quiet when it seems impossible.
The world we live in today is loud. There is no getting around it, there is noise all around us, external and internal. How do we find quiet when we are constantly being bombarded with noise? Not only do we have outside noise but there is also so much anxiety we live with today. Jamie Grace is a singer, songwriter and storyteller with hits on the radio and breaks down what it’s like to conquer her own anxiety in this loud crazy world, all while living with Tourette Syndrome and ADHD. With these struggles, it has been even harder for Jamie Grace to find the quiet she needs to reset and recharge in order to survive and thrive in the world. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of her diagnoses and spiraling down a “woe is me” mentality, she remembers that God is leading her on this journey and uses each moment as a lesson to grow and work on herself and help others through her music and other platforms.
So many of the things written in this book resonated with me. It can be really hard to take the time to just sit and be quiet. With so many avenues of entertainment and connectivity around us, we are rarely able to find that quiet. Smart phones and technology are a great thing, when used right. However, we can find ourselves going down a rabbit hole on social media and instead of enjoying ourselves we become depressed by what we see and hear and compare ourselves to these images. It can be a very detrimental thing to our mental health. At one point, Grace talks about taking an intentional break from social media and how good that can be for all of us. I loved the way she pours so much of her life experiences onto the pages and helps readers see that no matter your struggles it is okay to step back, take a minute for yourself and make sure you are okay before moving on. That moment of quiet, inner reflection can do better than almost anything else, and it is seldom taken advantage of like it should. Whether you are an introvert, or an extrovert, quiet time is essential to enjoy all other moments of your life. Readers that have enjoyed Jamie Grace’s music and even those that have never heard of her but are looking for thoughts on helping deal with an anxious heart would benefit from reading this. I recommend readers to take the time to work through this book and let it work for them as it is meant to.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
I've enjoyed Jamie Grace's music for some time, so I was excited to know she had a book out. She's funny, encouraging, and inspiring, and so is her book. Grace's vulnerability is relatable, and this book will likely connect with most readers. It's nice to have the reminder that what you're feeling is not uncommon and you're not alone. The author's conversational tone make it feel like you're chatting with a good friend.
Grace discusses her journey, including comparison, relationships, finding purpose, and letting go. She candidly shares her experience with dealing with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and Tourette syndrome. She talks about the challenges of marriage, being a new mom, and finding balance between those and a music career.
If you're struggling find a bit of peace amid the chaotic times we're currently in, this would be a great book to add to your TBR pile. It's thought-=provoking and encouraging.
Some of my favorite quotes:
-“We will talk through the lows of pain and self-doubt and tackle the lies we hear from others and the ones we tell ourselves. We won’t tiptoe around our insecurities, but instead we will face them head on as we press into tangible action steps toward knowing and living in freedom.”
- “Simultaneously, I will actively seek quiet. I will embrace the moments that make me feel weak and allow my mind to be pursued by the One who does His best work in my weakness.”
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
Jamie Grace has become a familiar person to me. Not because of her music, but because of the show I watch she's been on: Better Together. On this show, she briefly opened up at her medical diagnoses. As I was listening to her tell how she deals with life I kept thinking that I'd love to hear her story more in depth. I was excited for this book because that's what it's supposed to be. I just knew inspiration was going to be found within these pages.
I wasn't wrong. Jamie gave a deeper look at her life with Tourette Syndrome. Not being very familiar with this condition, I was appreciative for this. I had no idea how dangerous the ticks are. Not to mention the side effects that some with fighting them. I loved getting more educated about Tourette's from someone living it. The strength she had to not just give up on her dreams was an inspiration. She also gave you a front row seat in her mind for how her anxiety plays out in her life. As you read the words she wrote, you see the battle her anxiety wages. She lays it bare for you.
To see the things Jamie has gone on to accomplish despite having these medical issues is inspiring to the reader. From a young age, she has been doing what few her age did. Seeing how she relies on God through it all- on a daily basis- reminds you how powerful a relationship with Him is. How impactful it can be. The courage Jamie showed in giving you a look into her life, and all it's complications, is what many people in this world need. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we can still pursue, and achieve, our dreams even if the road to them is difficult. Jamie, I thank you for sharing your story. I pray it blesses every reader.
What a timely book for all that is going on in the world today! With a pandemic, election, hurricane season and so much more, it is increasingly difficult to find quiet. This is something that Jamie Grace knows something about, especially in a field where she gets paid to be loud. I had only known of Jamie as a singer, but really enjoyed learning more about her through her writing of this book. One of the things that Jamie said that really struck me is that, "So many times we have the opportunity to face our pain, but we choose to allow noise to cover it instead." Instead of choosing noise to cover the pain, we need to embrace the quiet and see what God wants us to learn from that season, or experience. Another thought that she expressed was the freedom to "allow yourself to feel." Some of the chapters had questions at the end for journaling and reflection, taking the book beyond simply reading, to a more thought-provoking read, encouraging you to process and learn from what you are reading. As Jamie is encouraging us to find quiet, she is also giving glimpses into what inspired some of her songs. This is an easy book to read, with lots of nuggets of good information, and sprinkled with appropriate Scripture throughout. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is struggling to find quiet in the midst of chaos.
Honest, heartfelt and beautiful. My daughters have loved Jamie Grace's music for years, and now they were able to read some of her behind-the-scenes of her personal struggles. I appreciate that she is so upfront with her struggles and I think many people will be able to relate to her.
Thanks to Net Galley for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Jamie Grace's music and personal journey is a breath of fresh air. I was inspired by this amazing lady who is an overcomer and an old soul in a young body. She writes, “It’s never truly quiet. Whether I’m in the studio, attending an event or a meeting, performing, or doing an interview, it’s rare that I find myself embracing quiet, and for more than ten years this has been my reality.”
The author shares the day-to-day of finding quiet. She describes her journey in learning how to let go, dealing with friendships, comparison, relationships, purpose and more. She says, “We will talk through the lows of pain and self-doubt and tackle the lies we hear from others and the ones we tell ourselves. We won’t tiptoe around our insecurities, but instead we will face them head on as we press into tangible action steps toward knowing and living in freedom.”
I like how this author shares her experiences growing up, dealing with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and Tourette syndrome, diagnosed when she was 11 years old. She talks about marriage, being a new mom and the challenge to juggle that and her career in music.
Jamie says, “Simultaneously, I will actively seek quiet. I will embrace the moments that make me feel weak and allow my mind to be pursued by the One who does His best work in my weakness.”
This is a thought-provoking, encouraging book you do not want to miss.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. 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!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org
This book captured my interest immediately , because if there’s anything I struggled with this year , it’s finding my peace . I’m naturally quite anxious , so all of the unexpected of this year has put me in quite a state . I struggles with staying rooted in Christ , but I thank God for his grace and my community that’s keeping my anchored . I i thanks God for this books thats so timely and necessary.
I loved the cover. I love that this author fully embraces her love for God. I love the idea of this book...finding quiet when you have anxiety.
I started and stopped this book multiple times. I didn't find myself in a rythm. I kept thinking 'where is the advice? The take-away ideas?'
Her connection to Bible passages was spot on. This woman knows her stuff.
It felt like there were SO. MANY. WORDS and yet no message.
I hate that I feel that and really hate to write that. This felt disjointed for me.
Finding Quiet by Jamie Grace is a book that tackles how to silence the noise in our daily life through a Christian lens. The author has a unique perspective to bring to this topic as someone with Tourette Syndrome, ADHD, and anxiety, which can amplify the difficulties of finding peace and quiet in daily life. The author poses that we can find quiet with God in our daily life even in the presence of noise, which I found interesting as someone who struggles with silence. It was valuable to learn about the author's experience when she reached her own breaking point and how she was able to overcome that. I found the writing style easy to read, humorous, but also vulnerable. The chapters are interspersed with various readings throughout which were helpful. I think this book is very valuable for those who struggle to find peace in the midst of chaos and noise, and that needs some reassurance that it is okay to be trying the best you can in that journey.
Many thanks to the publisher Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Our world is noisy, we all need time to be quiet and still
to be with God, time with our Bible reflecting with God.
Anxious since childhood. Need to find quiet.
Use the Bible's wisdom and counsel. It is okay to feel.
Make a daily choice to embrace you and your uniqueness.