Out of the Dark
My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God's Joy
by Mandisa
Pub Date 15 Mar 2022
K-LOVE Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles
Biographies & Memoirs | Christian | Religion & Spirituality


I am reviewing a copy of Out of the Dark through K-Love Books, Independent Publishers Association and Netgalley:



Out of the Dark is Mandisa’s exploration of the journey she’s taken from when she first became a Christian, it also speak of her rise as an American Idol finalist and receiving multiple Grammy and Dove Award nominations, as well as the dark and challenging times she experienced along the way.


In Out of the Darkness Mandissa tells her story with warmth and vulnerability, challenging us all to focus on God’s purpose for our lives. She calls readers to surround themselves with friends who will fight for and with them and to face life’s challenges with courage and faith.


While in the darkness Mandissa knew God was there — but she wondered if she could trust Him. Even at her lowest point where she saw no human way forward, God was at work, powerfully redeeming her story and calling her out of the dark.



I give Out of the Dark five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Wow, wow, wow...what inspiration. What a true raw story that Mandisa shares her life story for God's glory. So much in this book is where we live as Christians. Fighting the good fight of faith. Falling flat on our faces, but learning to get back up and turn back to God. I couldn't stop reading! Spell bound. This is my honest review for a book received from Netgalley.

I rarely read memoirs but then this was Mandisa so I jumped on the reading wagon.

Out of the dark is an honest moving memoir on Mandisa's rise to fame ,her battles ,her victories and her relationship with God. There were moments in the book I absolutely wanted to call her and tell her she wasn't alone.It is a moving poignant journey to 'light'

I received a complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are entirely my own

Out of the dark is a great look into the deep and dark parts of life that, as Christians, we tend to push down. Mandisa has been outspoken in mental health and how damaging it can be, this book follows that vein. Mandisa had me tearing up from the start. Her openness about her struggles was very relatable. I feel that anyone can read this book and walk away with a different feeling. But the underlying feeling I got was the love of God that Mandisa radiates.

I enjoyed reading Mandisa’s latest book, chronicling the ups and downs of her childhood, her time on American Idol, her career, her depression, and more. It’s always fun to read the behind-the-scenes stories of a celebrity’s life! I liked how each chapter starts with lyrics from one of her songs, and how those words ministered to her during particular seasons of her life. I appreciated her honesty, knowing much of what she wrote had to be difficult sharing publicly. God is faithful.

Simply loved this book. Mandisa is a transparent, honest writer that makes you feel like you are going through her experiences with her. So thankful to get to read this and highly recommend it!

Fans of Mandisa will love getting to know Mandisa a lot better. The stories behind her songs. This book felt like i was catching up with a friend on faith, insecurities and everything life has to bring

Out of the Dark by @mandisaofficial - I’m so thankful I received an ARC of this book! Mandisa is one of my top favorite Christian singers. I followed her on American Idol and have been a fan ever since. Mandisa gets very real with this book. She doesn’t hold back on her battle with depression, her struggle with her weight as well as the pandemic and racial issues. It’s all in here and it all points back to how God uses everything for His glory and good for us. We don’t always see it when we are going through it but God uses everything, good and bad, for our good. Thank you Mandisa for this book.

Please make sure you read this book when it releases March 15th!

5 stars!!

Readers will enjoy Mandisa’s openness and authenticity throughout the title. It is encouraging to see how her friends stuck by her side even when she was at her lowest. Readers will see how God worked through others to encourage Mandisa.

In, Out of the Dark, Mandisa openly shares her struggles with depression after the death of a very close friend. In this day and time, it’s fairly safe to say everyone has been affected by depression. This book is for anyone and everyone. Any believer in Jesus faced with unanswered prayers or disappointments in life will relate to Mandisa’s story of running from and then eventually facing and wrestling through those difficulties with God. In Mandisa’s case, she had prayed and believed that God would heal her friend from cancer. When He did not, she had to deal with the resulting pain and disappointments and reestablish her trust in Him.

You will also get a peek into how God led Mandisa into music which opened the door for her to sing with Beth Moore’s ministry and eventually led to her audition on American Idol.

In chapter 8, Mandisa explained how she visualizes taking her hurts to Jesus at the tomb. He places 7 colored scarves around her neck clothing her with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, and forgiveness. This was a beautiful depiction of God’s love and care in the midst of her hurts. She said, “This technique helps me make the choice to leave the heaviness that I often carry at the feet of Jesus.”

Jesus can always bring beauty from pain. Mandisa’s stories are a testament to His goodness in her life. When we surrender our lives into His hands, He does something beautiful. I love how Natalie Grant said it in the forward, “We don’t need a quick fix; we just need Jesus.”

I received an arc copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed Out of the Dark. I was not sure what to expect but I was drawn to the book because of my ties to Mandisa’s song, Only The World. I first heard that song during a stressful time and have loved it ever since.

Mandisa shares her journey through life, not just her American Idol story. It is raw and difficult but also optimistic. Learning of how her faith (and some amazing friends and family) pulled her out of the darkness was inspiring.

The chapters are introduced with lyrics from Mandisa’s songs which were great tie-ins and introduce readers to songs they may not know while guiding the conversation.

I would definitely recommend this book for fans of Mandisa’s music and anyone who may be dealing with difficulties that have challenged their faith.

I have been a Mandisa fan since watching her on American Idol. I was able to see her in concert one time and she did not disappoint I was really excited when NetGalley gave me an ARC of her new book.

The book was a quick read but had a lot of content. She shares her stories, her struggles and her pain within these pages. She also shares how with her faith and friends she was able to get out of the dark pit that she was in . She is truly an inspiration to many. This is definitely a book that I will buy and read several times over. I recommend purchasing a copy so you can highlight and take notes. She has a lot of wisdom contained in this book. Thank you Mandisa for sharing your story and struggles with us. You are definitely helping to make the world a better place! .

I'd say that Mandisa is first and foremost a great woman of faith in Jesus Christ and cherishes her relationship with Him. This she articulates in her songs, several of which, are co-authored with others. Her song lyrics have a very "Psalms" feel to them and have great potential for touching the heart in deep places.

Being able to read the background from which Mandisa's songs spring, helps give a reality check for "getting real" with God and relationships with others, even for the listener, reader and singer of her songs. I found this Out of the Dark author to be very honest and believe her testimony is exactly what many of us need to hear. Those faltering in their faith because of trauma, health issues, or those struggling with mental health should all find Mandisa's memoir of great value.

I really appreciated that this singer-songwriter and book author has chosen to illustrate her thoughts with Bible stories and verses, assisting her readers to connect at premium, meaningfulness as she drives her meaning home with greater impact, understanding and insight.

Being a person who prefers the more staid, traditonal music, this new-to-me, avenue of song took me by surprize. As each song was introduced, I went and listened to it. Although some of the music was not my preferred genre, I did love "Good Morning" and " Bleed the Same". In fact, this latter one really hits in the gut especially knowing the background of events that most of us would, not so long ago, have seen or heard of in the news, if not experienced firsthand on the street.

No matter how dark our lives my get, Mandisa tells of her survival, and of the mercies of her Lord and Heavenly Father of compassion, which are new every morning. Herein, lies hope.

At the end of each book chapter is a section called, "Get Real" where pertinent "think about it" questions are delineated for the reader to ask his or herself. Take action however and wherever necessary to bring yourself out of the dark with Jesus' help and with those He puts in your life community to be as "real" and whole as possible this side of Heaven.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
December 2021

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

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I've been a fan of Mandisa's since American Idol, so I was excited to read this one. The book is heartfelt, and Mandisa is transparent about her struggles with depression and food addiction. She is relatable, which isn't always the case with celebrities. Her struggles will likely resonate with many readers. I like the fact there are discussions questions, which could make this book a good option for a small group study.

I had never heard of Mandisa until she was on American Idol. I don't watch the show, but I heard about her response of forgiveness when Simon made fun of her weight. I've heard a few of her songs on the radio since then, but I've never known much about her as a person until I read Out of the Dark.

What an inspirational story she has! From a regular girl struggling to find her identity and place in the world to American Idol fame and a recording contract only to fall into depression and doubt at the height (so far) of her fame. Mandisa tells her story with honesty but not scandal. The questions she wrestles with are the same questions everyone struggles to answer. Mandisa is a Christian, but she doesn't throw out platitudes about the difficulties she faces and doesn't back away when life circumstances cause doubt. I really enjoyed this book.

There are discussion questions at the end of each chapter that would make this book an excellent choice for a book club or for members of a bible study to read together.

Appropriate for all readers.

Reader Review: Out of the Dark by Mandisa ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: March 15, 2022

Mandisa’s memoir Out of the Dark - My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy is an honest, heartfelt and powerful story about her struggle with depression, food addiction, and how she found her joy and freedom again.
Memoirs are my favorite book genre so I was very excited to read Out of the Dark. Thank you to K-LOVE Books and #NetGalley for this #gifted ARC.

I was fortunate enough to see Mandisa in concert a few years ago. One of my favorite parts of a live concert is when the artist tells the background story of a song. So I was absolutely captivated from the first chapter where Mandisa shares about her friend Kisha who was the inspiration for the song “Overcomer.” I will think about this story every time I hear the song from now on. It made the song’s message so much more powerful to me.

I really liked that each chapter’s heading is a Mandisa song title that helps set the stage for her story. The section titled “Getting Real” has questions for the reader to contemplate about themselves, their relationships with others and with God. This was such a unique addition at the end of each chapter.

Mandisa shares stories from her early years in California, her growth as a Christian, her time on American Idol (including her encounters with Simon), and her struggle with God during a very dark time in her life. She is so transparent and honest in sharing the truth about that time in her life. One of my favorite passages is regarding her friends who were unrelenting in their presence during this time in her life.
“Maybe you have a friend or a loved one who is dealing with depression or
anxiety, and you wonder if your calls and texts make a difference. I want to tell
you, they do.”
As someone who has experienced this, I can wholeheartedly agree with her statement. You really never know what others are going through and how much a call, text or kind word can impact their lives.

Out of the Dark is a great book for anyone who is a Mandisa fan, loves a powerful memoir, or just needs the encouragement of hope even in times of darkness.

I've followed Mandisa off and on since her _Women of Faith_ days, and got really excited when I saw she was publishing a book! She's shared some of her story on social media, but I appreciated the opportunity to read it in full/chronologically in this new release.

Knowing the bits and pieces I did, I was a bit concerned at how much detail the book might (or might not) go into; sometimes it did in fact seem on the lighter side, but I also kind of appreciate that in retrospect. Not all the details need to be shared in order to get a point across; sometimes it's best to simply stick to "just the facts, ma'am," and Mandisa does that admirably. She's been on _such_ a journey--and still is! Just like all of us!!--and I appreciate her honesty, forthrightness, and courage. She knows and shares how she's a work in progress, and the future is just that (and we don't know what all it will entail, including about the things we have ongoing struggles with now).

I also really appreciated her sharing about her experiences as a black female in the CCM industry (and in general). Of course, she touches on many recent events--from the pandemic to George Floyd--and had some helpful, thoughtful insights in the book, in addition to steps she's taken to spark conversation in the radio, music, and other industries, not to mention simply with each other!

Readers will also find helpful the questions at the end of each chapter, to really dive into each topic and apply it to life.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Couldn't wait to read this book. Powerful book. Wonderful testimony. Enjoyed every page.

Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.