This was such a captivating read. I really enjoyed reading something that wasn't fiction and helped uplift my thoughts!

I’ve yet to read a Ruth Chou Simons book that didn’t meet me exactly where I needed to be met! From unmet expectations and dreams to longings for “someday,” Ruth encourages us to press deeper into Jesus and reframe our thoughts on how God wants us to use and thrive in the less than ideal & often lonely waiting seasons we find ourselves in. A truly powerful and thought-provoking read!



*Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

I had not read Ruth Simons and was presently surprised to read such a beautiful and powerful message. Being in the moment sometimes is hard to understand but if look at our situations with God at the helm of our moments we can get through anything. I have found a new author to read.

Great reminder of what to do when in a season of uncertainty and discomfort! A lot of the themes Ruth went over are ones my husband and I have been talking about recently as we think about our future aspirations. I liked her inclusion of life stories and Bible stories to make it more applicable. Also the cover is stunning!

Great short book about waiting and God's perspective on it. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! It is so hard to be patient but this book sheds light on the beauty in waiting on God

This book was such a comforting read, full of encouragement and reminders of the gospel for those who are dealing with disappointments in life. I was recently hospitalized for major health complications and grappling with a painful recovery has been more trying than I expected. This book came to me at the exactly right time. I definitely recommend it

I loved this writing style, but the content wasn’t it for me. Felt very surface level and not as in depth as if like.

I found this book much more relatable and enjoyable than similar books. It wasn’t full of overly cheery and optimistic support. It held a nice tone to meet readers where they are and the reassurance they need if they are feeling unfulfilled. I gathered many quotes from this book to keep as a daily reminder. Thank you for allowing me to read this.

An excellent read for anyone who feels frustrated or stuck in their season of life. My type A, overachieving personality really resonated with Ruth's writing style, and I found this book to be very encouraging and convicting.

One of the many quotes I highlighted: "Feeling restless and unsatisfied is exactly where we need to be in order for God to shape us and take us where he wants us to go."

Ruth Chou Simons explores the difficult topic of disappointment and waiting with a Christian lens in a way that truly is beautiful and encouraging to those who read this book. The tension and struggles we face on this earth are not unique to Christians, but she makes a point to encourage us to face these experiences with a trust in God's goodness and faithfulness. The now and not yet principle helps to remind us that we must hold on to the hope of God's promises through all things, even when He feels far away. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me access to this book as an ARC on NetGalley.

For anyone waiting, wondering, hoping... Ruth gives a loving shoulder and Biblical truth to help you through!

Now and Not Yet is a heartfelt and inspiring read that really resonates! 💖 Ruth Chou Simons dives deep into the struggle many of us face when our present moment feels far from our dreams and aspirations. Instead of pushing us to ignore our current struggles, Ruth encourages us to embrace them, reminding us that it's okay to feel restless and dissatisfied.

With her signature blend of biblical truth and personal reflection, she shares how the challenges we face can actually be gifts from God, helping us grow and learn. ✨ Her practical guidance, including five transformative ways to change our perspective on tough seasons, is incredibly uplifting.

Through guided liturgies and compassionate insights, Ruth helps us understand that our "right now" matters and encourages us to lean into it rather than check out. If you’re feeling stuck or anxious about your future, this book is a beautiful reminder that you’re not alone and that God is present in every moment. A must-read for anyone seeking hope and encouragement in their current season! 📖🙏

This is my first time reading anything by Ruth Chou Simon’s and I can say, this book is amazing. I recommend this book to everyone, no matter their season. But I will say I’m in my wilderness right not and this book puts things in such great perspective!

You definitely can use this book like a devotional or with a book club. Don’t simply read it….. Apply it!

I am a young mom with a baby and a toddler, so I’m right in the season to read this book. Maybe it’s because I read a different book on contentment that resonated with me more, but to be honest I found this book to be a bit repetitive and lacking a certain amount of depth. Most moms need to read a book like this, but maybe this one isn’t a necessity in itself. It’s fine, and I appreciate the author putting herself out there. I personally just didn’t find it to be greatly helpful.

I enjoyed this book. It is a great read for anyone who feels the pull of feeling in the middle of their circumstances. Wanting more but not being there yet. Whether it’s longing for a family, a new place, a new job, or some other circumstance, this book will resonate with you. The practical application questions along with the prayers at the end of each chapter are helpful in applying the knowledge to your every day life.
Woven with stories of the Bible, as well as snippets from the authors own life, this book serves as a reminder that God is with us and is writing a story for our good, even if it is not the one you planned.

A wise book that really helps us to remember that God's promises are coming. She uses personal life experiences and biblical wisdom to teach this lessson.

“𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦.”

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for providing an advanced readers copy earlier this year! The audiobook is also narrated by Ruth Chou Simons. I am a huge fan of her. I love her art and her words, often deeply connecting with the messages she shares. This book is no different; it is so timely for me and the season of life I’ve been going through the last almost two years now.

“𝘋𝘰 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸? 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵?”

How often have you found yourself asking these? They become more and more frequent as the last two years have unfolded for me (I was diagnosed with cancer last April and exactly seven months later when I returned to work I was brutally assaulted, which has resulted in incurable conditions and chronic struggles and has ongoing legal issues with how everything has been handled). I want to skip this. I don’t want to be in constant pain, struggling, confused, isolated, and having to wait on people and entities who I don’t trust who have such huge says over my present and future. I want to feel healed and hopeful, to be purposeful in my days and have friends who aren’t going to vanish when things get hard. I want to be seen and known and loved and valued. I don’t want to coast by just trying to survive each day; I want to finally thrive.

Can you see why a book like this might be timely?

Ruth talks about restlessness, self-worth, challenges and difficulties, provision, perspective, being present, remaining rooted in the Word and with God, and more in such authentic and relatable ways while compassionately validating the dry and dark seasons we find ourselves in. Any believer will find comfort in her words and the Truth she simply reminds us of. So much was highlighted and jotted down!

I loved this book. I received a free copy of this from Net Galley post publication, and didn't allow enough time for myself to really sit and take in what RCS has written. I felt this book has so much that is applicable to people who are in a space of waiting, wanting or restless for more. With chapters titled "hidden doesn't mean forgotten", "someday is made up of thousands of right now" or "when it's not just a season" Ruth walks through with us why we think we shouldn't or can't be doing something, and then reminds us that we need to to be doing in the now.
I loved what RCS said in her introduction:
"I want to lead you to something more powerful: the truth about what God says about our unwanted and not-yet-wonderful circumstances and how he works in and through them, even now.
If we were having coffee (yep, if you know me, you know how much l'd rather share all these things during a coffee date), l'd tell you ...
It's okay not to like the right now you've been given.
You don't have to like it to lean into it.
Your right now really matters.
I've learned again and again, in season after season, that God is purposeful about what happens between today and tomorrow, between right now and someday. And I truly believe your current season is not wasted.
The journey we're entering together is an honest one. It will require facing the unwanted realities of right now and choosing to press in and not check out."
I loved that at the end of each chapter there is a truth to press into, and a liturgy for pressing in. I felt like I was having weekly mentoring sessions with Ruth where she walked me through how to flip the script on waiting, wanting or restless for more. This is a book that will be picked up time and time again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was so beautifully written. I was highlighting several verses and lines. Ruth is such a great Christian writer.

I was given an advanced copy of this from @netgalley past the publication date, so I had to squeeze it in. Plus, this type of book needs time and thought, to fully appreciate it!
I've only read one other @ruthchousimons book, but have followed her on social media for a long time. I'll definitely need a hard copy of this because I didn't get all the gorgeous artwork on the digital ARC.
This is a great book for anyone struggling with the season of life they are in, and honestly who isn't at some point! But anyone and everyone can get something out of it, learning to trust God and becoming content in all circumstances! I'm doing a study on both James and Hebrews and getting lots of meat (not milk), and this definitely worked well with both of those. It was meaty and had a lot of truth to learn from.
As stated I was approved after publication, so it's already available for you to purchase, for yourself, your friend, your neighbor, and anyone else you can think of! ☺️
#NetGalley #NowAndNotYet