Just as it sounds, Not Part of the Plan gives you an inside look at Kristin’s and Bethany’s lives and how things didn’t turn out the way they expected. If I had to sum up the book in a single word, it would be encouraging. They encourage you to face your battles (whether it’s trusting God with your singleness, letting go of your worries and anxieties, or wondering if God is really good) with the truth of Scripture.

I loved this book and will definitely be reading it again! One thing I will note, the format of the book and the voicing sounds a little like it was written for younger girls, but the message is still solid. Definitely recommend, whether you’re a teen girl, 30 year old, or even 80 year old!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of publishing an honest review, but bought my own copy. All opinions are my own! The authors specifically instructed that we were *not* required to leave a five star review.

Kristen and Bethany are always consistent with their writing. I love their approach to story telling in all their books. This one was no different. They delivered a captivating retelling of their lives and numerous lessons to be learnt. I thoroughly enjoyed this one just like I did the others. Looking forward to whatever they release next.

I wasn't fully sure of what to expect when I first heard about the book.

At the time when I became aware of it, I was in the midst of still dealing with disappointment. I figured, "Well, since I'm in this season right now, why not learn a bit more about trust?" And you know, I'm so glad that the Lord allowed me to be apart of the launch team so that I could read the book. I can tell you up-front that it's a book every young woman needs on her shelf.

Let's first talk about the personal stories they included.

In Not Part of the Plan, Kristen and Bethany talk about how we can trust God Biblically through various trials. They share many stories from their personal lives and how they've had to learn to trust God.

I love it when people share about personal experiences; it makes me feel like I know the person on a deeper level. So, I very much enjoyed that aspect of the book. You can laugh with them, cry with them, and just get all the feels of learning more about that.

But also, these stories clearly show that even though the Lord is using them to encourage other young woman in their walk with the Lord, they are still flawed. They still make mistakes and will not trust God even when they know they should.

They were brutally honest about the struggles they have faced and how they dealt with it. That encouraged me to want to let the Lord work in me while I'm facing trials and to desire to be in His presence during those tough times.

Next, let's talk about the Biblical aspect.

Don't you just love it when people back up what they're saying with Scripture?

Well, Bethany and Kristen did just that in this book.

It's one thing to encourage others, but it's another thing to encourage them with Scripture.

Encouraging with Scripture will allow you to point others back to Christ and for them to see where you're coming from.

What I also love about that is that there are verses that I'm even more aware of that I can memorize and mediate on during various trials. Isn't that just awesome?

That's another reason why I love the verse cards that I got so much. Not only are they adorable, but they'll encourage me of what God's Word says.
Now, it's time to "dig deeper."

I was trying to do a pun, but I'm not sure if that worked out greatly. Either way, I enjoyed the 'dig deeper' section at the end of each chapter.

This part honestly made the book interactive and it was perfect for me because I like to journal.

There was a series of at least 5-6 questions along with something to do to take action of what was discussed in the chapter. Talk about applying what you've learned. ;)

I don't know what else I should say about this section, aside from the fact I enjoyed it a lot.

Final Thoughts

There are so many great things about this book that it was almost hard to write this review. Goodness, I had no idea how much the Lord would use this book to help me grow.

I was not force in anyway way to give this book 5 stars or even a positive review, but I did because it's a fantastic and encouraging read.

Please by all means check this book out. There's so much to learn about trust, a lot of food for thought, and application; don't miss out.

*I was given a free copy from the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I think this book is great ( I would highly recommend it to senior high-school girls) because it presents the reality of any girls life. When I finished high-school I had a total different view of how my life would turn out! Not that anyone expects only good things, but there are always things that you think will never happen to you. This book is a shout out that you are not alone. We are not experiencing the same circumstances but all of us get a detour in our life. This book brings hope, not just a reality check. It helps you realize there is a bigger picture and a God involved in all the aspects of our life.
If you have a friend that is graduating, this would make a great gift!

Not Part of the Plan by Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal refreshed and inspired me. I relate to it because life rarely goes the way I plan. However, it was encouraging to be reminded that no matter how crazy life seems, God is still writing my story. This book gave me renewed hope as I continue to trust the Lord even when things seem upside down. God works all things together according to His perfect plan. I am so thankful for a faithful God who walks with me through every aspect of life. This book gives a beautiful glimpse inside Kristen’s and Bethany’s journey of trusting the Lord and leaving their life in His hands. Not only was the book full of solid truth, but I also especially enjoyed the quotes, questions, and reflection area at the end of each chapter. I highly recommend Not Part of the Plan to everyone, young and old. God has a purpose, and I believe He will use this book in your life as He has in mine. Huge thank you to Girl Defined Ministries for faithfully serving the Lord and encouraging other women in the faith. Order your book today!!

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

The authors of Not Part of the Plan first introduce their disappointments as a guide to have readers reflect on their disappointments. They provide their key points both in the margins and at the end of the chapter. Each chapter offers a chance for small groups and discussion to happen based on what they learned based on that particular topic. Throughout the book, they discuss how they handled their disappointments in a Biblical view.

Reading this book, I can honestly say I related to Bethany as a single woman who sees her younger friends get married. Her story about the wedding dress reminds me not to manipulate God’s plans for my life; instead, I should trust in him. While some critics may view Bethany as a villain for buying a wedding dress, the story she provided was her advice to readers not to have your life planned in haste.

My favorite section in this book was from Kristen, where she discussed enjoying the journey. While I may be single, I have seen some fun journeys of being a camp counselor, someone who served our frontline workers so their children can have a safe space, a mentor for my sorority, and as a new teacher. One thing that made me reflect on singleness was when Kristen mentioned Romans 12:15 and how I can celebrate others while weeping over my disappointments. Overall, I would suggest this book to women of all stages.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review*

In their book Not Part of the Plan, authors Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal dive deep into helping their readers navigate the twists and turns of their story while trusting God fully. Kristen and Bethany open up in a way they never have before about their stories not going according to plan. Through Bethany’s years of unfulfilling longings for marriage and Kristen’s years of struggling with infertility, they discovered that even when life doesn’t go according to plan, God is good, ever-present, and can bring us hope and peace amid heartache and disappointment. Pairing their stories with Scriptural and practical truth, this book is designed to help young women to work through past and present detours in their stories. Each chapter includes prayers, reflection questions, and challenges to help them dive deeper. This book is honest and real in a time in history when everyone has faced challenges due to changes from a worldwide pandemic. This is a book that every young woman needs to read. Get your copy today!