by Lisa Whittle
When I picked up Lisa Whittle’s book, I expected a “yeah, yeah, yeah” read. You know the kind where every page tells you things you’ve heard a million times. I think the subtitle tricked me into thinking this book would rattle off the familiar mantra: we have a God-shaped hole in our lives that only He can fill. But I was wrong.
The beginning chapters didn’t rock my world. Her personal story spoke volumes about the way churches sometimes fail the people in them, especially those in leadership. Still, she didn’t give a clear, practical picture of what she meant by loving the church and yet not suffering from religious addiction.
Her chapters on the Hole of Roles and the Hole of Experiences, however, were real, vulnerable, and challenging. If you’ve ever wrapped up your identity in the roles you fill or allowed it to depend on your past experiences, this book will walk you through laying that down, as well as dealing with both failure and loss.
Lisa Whittle shares personal stories with more openness and honesty than most authors do, which makes this read compelling and personally relevant. While she undergirds her thoughts with an occasional Scripture verse, mostly the book is driven by her own story. I’d have liked a little more grounding in Bible study, but that doesn’t negate the powerful reminder to find freedom and wholeness in God’s presence.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
