If only the whole world or the whole Church would focus on the true hope and help that we have in Christ and not the self-help that the world promises...we would be much better off. In A Better Encouragement, Lindsey Carlson offers a better way then all the self-help offered. Ironic that self-help is so present in the Church since we can't save ourselves and need a savior. We can't make a way depending on ourselves, Jesus is the only way.

This book served it purpose at least for me as it did indeed give me encouragement when I did need it.

What an enjoyable and encouraging read. We all need to trade our "self-help" for TRUE HOPE. We all face or will face discouragement and wilderness times. Discouragement can affect what we believe and how we view or see the world. We are often swayed to things of this world when we are discouraged. There are so many excellent quotes and scriptures throughout the book. "Doubt often grows from small seeds of unbelief". "Better encouragement comforts us by the way of the cross". God encourages us to look to Him for his grace. God is our hope, salvation and joy. Nothing else in this world will ever give us the courage or comfort that only God can provide. God will not fail us! I can't wait to purchase a physical copy of this book for myself to reread!

Thank you Netgalley and Crossway Books for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this fantastic book.

Go to IG: @entre.mi.libro.y.yo to read the full review.

A big thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for gifting me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very interesting book, but I feel like some of it went a little over my head. I think some of it could have been explained a little further. I just think that I wasn't really the target audience, but it was still very interesting and I hope my brain has retained some of this information for when I want to give encouragement to a friend or family member.

Thanks again for the book!

We like encouragement so why don't we encourage others more? Carlson saw there was a lack of encouraging one another among Christians so decided to explore Scripture on the topic and write this book. It provides a Scripture foundation for encouraging one another as well as observations about the current culture. Encouragement is a learned skill, she says. This book provides the training.

I like how Carlson reminds us biblical encouragement is better than anything the world has to offer. She shows how the current popularity of self-esteem has dulled our view of the essential nature of biblical encouragement. She explores why we get discouraged and how we need to build ourselves up first so we can offer encouragement to others. She also helps readers understand the different forms of encouragement, such as hope and comfort.

Carlson includes personal stories and examples from Scripture to illustrate the principles of her teaching. Some of the information I thought was irrelevant, such as the critique of books by Glennon Doyle. I've never heard of her and found that part of the book unhelpful.

Biblical encouragement is the only form of encouragement that is effective and truly lasts, Carlson argues. This book helps readers get to a place where they are strong in the Lord, are able to encourage others and have the desire and skills to do so. Christians need to encourage one another. We are commanded in Scripture to do so. This book will give you the knowledge and motivation to be a person skillfully and lovingly building up others.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Do you feel encouraged? That odd the question posed by Lindsey Carlson at the beginning of this book. If the answer to that question is “no” or “I’m not sure”, then this is the book for you. In a world full of self-help approaches, this book of a bath of fresh air pointing the rest to the Lord and His word. This read left me feeling lighter and encouraged. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who needs encouragement or wants to know how to encourage others.

Thanks to Crossway for the free book. When there are so many self-help books out there, it can be hard to know which are useful and which are not. Can we even ‘self-help’? This is what Carlson tackles in her book, and I liked how she approached this topic. She consistently pointed the reader to the Bible and what it says about being encouraged. In every chapter, the reader is reminded about their need for Jesus and how he’s the ultimate encourager. I appreciated how all of her claims were backed up by scripture. She also structured the book to encourage the readers in multiple areas. It is one that I’ll come back to when I’m needing the reminder about where solid encouragement can be found.

I'm always amused when God brings books into my life at the perfect time, with messages that seem to hit me right between the eyes. "Okay, God...I get it." :)

This book is one such read--and a great one to read alongside Allie Beth Stuckey's "You're Not Enough" (and That's Okay)." Each goes deeper where the other might be a tad light, and vice versa.

It's a great reminder of where the self-help and self-love movement's center is--which, unfortunately, is not Christ--and directs the reader back to the true Source of All Wisdom. Filled with Scripture and powerful stories, the book will challenge (and indeed, encourage) readers at any phase/stage of life, as well as provide practical examples of how we can encourage our loved ones. It reminds the reader that we ourselves can't be both the "problem" and the "solution"; the latter must be outside of us, and frankly be Christ, in order to see true and lasting change.

A couple favorite quotes: "Followers of Christ are meant to be persuaded by the power of God's encouragement and his ability to provide his people with the clarity of biblically informed thinking." "You need regular encouragement that preaches the power of Christ over your salvation and your sanctification. You don't need to depend on your own positive thinking because the Spirit is renewing your heart and teaching you to have the mind of Christ. ... You can either be empowered to be a servant of Christ or a #girlboss. You can live in the light of God's truth, or you can live your truth."

Fantastic read. Convicting. I really liked a lot of the messaging in the many self-help books out there ... of course! It sounds great! But--it ultimately falls short. And I'm grateful for "A Better Encouragement" that points me back to Christ and his renewing of my mind and heart.

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

I was blessed to have been sent an advanced readers copy of A Better Encouragement in exchange for my honest review! The tagline immediately caught me with "trading self-help for true hope" and I just really love that because we are such a generation of "self care and help" that we lose sight of who we get our hope from. We don't need to rely on our self when we have a Father and this book did a great job of helping to lead us to that realization!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I picked up this book not realizing it was a religious tone, which I wasn’t mad about but also wasn’t expecting. It was an interesting read, and I appreciate the author’s sentiments.

A Better Encouragement
Trading Self-Help for True Hope
by Lindsey Carlson
Pub Date 07 Jun 2022 |
Crossway
Christian



I am reviewing a copy of A Better Encouragement through Crossway and Netgalley:



Are you a woman whose been weak or weary, A Better Encouragement is refreshing stream—the God of endurance and encouragement, who satisfies spiritual thirst through the better word of his son.



There are times when the words that are meant to encourage us, can have the opposite effect , but this book is a refreshing reminder of what true encouragement looks like, beyond the inspiring sayings you find on throw pillows or journal covers.


A Better Encouragement offers a compelling Biblical vision of encouragement.


I give A Better Encouragement five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!