she’s got issues [a book review]

I don’t think of myself as a control freak. I don’t feel like I’m stressed out about life all of the time. Overall, I like to think that I have it mostly under control. (ha. Control.)

I have my issues, don’t get me wrong. I have a list of insecurities and fears long enough to keep two people busy, and I’m not immune to stress.

But when this book arrived in the mail, I really didn’t think I’d like it very much. The cover didn’t appeal to me at all, and I didn’t know if it would be relevant to me. That’s why I hadn’t requested it from Tyndale when I had the chance. That’s why I wasn’t sure I was excited when She’s Got Issues showed up on my door step anyway.

I decided to read it anyway. After all, I already had it and hadn’t started anything else yet. And I have to say, once again, you just can’t judge a book by its cover. I think God might have orchestrated this little computer glitch just for me.

I had to read this one at a much faster pace than I wanted to, but I gleaned so many tidbits that hit me square on the head of my own “ordinary issues”. I realized maybe I was a little more of a control freak than I thought I was, and that perhaps I wasn’t as stress free as I wanted to believe. I was reminded how easy it is to put on a face and to act like “everything is normal” and play Christian, and yet not have victory in the small areas of our lives. Looking good, and being good are two different things. Pride can put on a great act, but at the end of the day does all the acting get us anywhere? Nicole came straight to the point when she asked the question: “Am I changed because of Jesus?”

She’s Got issues talks about plastic women—the women we tend to try to be, and about the real and beautiful woman that God wants to make us. She gives a real, candid look at the 5 1/2 “issues” that we likely all deal with every day. She speaks courage, and strength that trying to “fix it” ourselves will never bring us. And that’s the grace of God and His power to transform us, right down to our most ordinary issues.

In short, I came away from my reading inspired, convicted and encouraged to keep letting God peel away the plastic me, and keep molding the real version.

Each chapter ends with questions for personal evaluation, and a link to a video clip you can view online and hear Nicole share some of her personal greatest issues and the changes God is doing in her life. It almost feels like you are sharing the journey with her.

I’m now reading the book through at a little slower pace. Hopefully I’ll assimilate more and come away with a deeper feel for what all the book is getting at.

But I’m glad that I “accidentally” got a copy. I’m glad that I read it. I’m glad that no matter how messy  and deeply rooted our “ordinary issues” are, God already has a solution, and the way to real joy and peace mapped out for us. And I’m thankful that He chose to remind me how much I need Him through this book this month.

If you are looking for some inspiration and encouragement to step out of the comfort zone of excuses and want to take a good look at your own issues, consider picking up a copy of She’s Got Issues. I’m pretty sure you’ll be glad you did.

Oh, one more thing: If one of you wants to get a hold of a copy of She’s got Issues and read it along with me and go through the end-of-chapter questions, I’m looking for a reading partner. Let me know?