Joy (and choosing it no matter the circumstance) has been a focus for me the last couple of years, so I immediately knew I had to read What If It’s Wonderful. I loved the book’s sequence, as Nicole revealed fears that may hold us back, broke down the roles that emotions can play in choosing joy and shared ways that can help on the path to more celebration. What I enjoy most about Nicole’s writing is how she can share her personal stories, tie in scriptural references, and then thoughtfully revisit her stories and express the feelings behind them so they’re relatable to the reader. Time and time again I found myself identifying with the feelings she would describe though my personal experiences are very different. She also provides plenty of practical exercises that help with reflection and can inspire personal growth. As someone that is often hesitant to celebrate, I was challenged, but I was also so encouraged because I see that there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate. Just like recent lessons in choosing joy, I need to kick aside fears and be more mindful of choosing celebration.
What If It's Wonderful?: Release Your Fears, Choose Joy, and Find the Courage to Celebrate
4.8 | 279 ratings
Price: 17.32
Last update: 07-29-2024
Top reviews from the United States
Tim H.
Choose Celebration!
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2022Liz Emerson
What a wonderful, instructive book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2022
Liz Emerson
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2022
Through a series of heartbreaks, (trigger warning: multiple miscarriages), Nicole recounts her disappointments, pain, and almost hopelessness as she longs for a child. But the purpose of the book isn’t to leave us there. She takes us on her life journey to describe how God began to meet her in her pain and inspire her to believe that there could be joy in the midst of pain, celebration in the midst of her sorrow, and that trust can be built and grow in a God who didn’t always “feel” as if He was near.
Nicole is such a gifted counselor. It is a rare gift to have a counselor be as vulnerable as she is in this book! She shares deeply from her life, her experience; and with amazing humility lets you learn from the hard won truths in life she has experienced. Reading her book is like having one of your best friends sit across from you at the coffee shop and pour out their heart to you. And in her sharing, she poured out life lessons that instructed my heart, as well.
To be honest, this book was not a quick read for me. The reason it took me time was because every chapter, many pages, and often sentences at a time were so instructive, so helpful for my life, that I had to stop, wipe away tears, and be in awe of God who is able to open up our eyes to see the good in life and situations even when we can’t see it ourselves. My mindset has changed to where I’m asking myself, “What if it IS Wonderful?” As you read it, you will be asking yourself that wonderful question, too.
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slg
An Inspiring Read
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2022