It continually amazes me how a book can so align with the current circumstances in my life. God knows exactly what we need to read so that we stop, we grow, and take in His Word for change to occur.
And so it was when I opened the pages of Begin Again: The Brave Practice of Releasing Hurt & Receiving Rest by Leeana Tankersley.
The invitation fully opened and was embraced as the words were before me:
“You would be surprised how unaware you are of pain in your body until you take the time to acknowledge it.” (from page 50)
Having finally admitted I needed help with migraines, I had just returned with a prescription to relieve the pain I had been living with most days. The desire to begin again, to live without discomfort, had been recognized.
Leeana shares a quote by St. Benedict, “Always we begin again.” The moment we admit we need help, we need to let go, we need change – becomes the moment we begin again.
Every chapter is filled with experiences shared transparently and openly, extending God’s grace and truth. Leeana causes us to see God in every stress, every pain, and every failure. He is always at work in our lives making each day a day to begin again.
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23, NLT)
The book is a beautiful call to each of us to cease striving and to surrender to the call of God in our lives, which is as unique and individual as we.
This book breathed encouragement into my soul with each page turned. This life we have been given is a journey – a winding path – and our God journeys every step with us, alongside of us, and in us.
He calls to us to begin again each and every day.
Admitting we need help, much the way I accepted the help of a prescription for migraines, is the way we will discover St. Benedict was right when he wrote –
“Always we begin again.”
** A copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review which was my joy to share.
Today I am joining … Porch Stories and Tell His Story and Coffee For Your Heart and Woman to Woman and Booknificent Thursday .
Hi Joanne…the book is in my Kindle queue. Can’t wait to check it out!
It is a wonderfully encouraging book. Going through it a second time a little more slowly now.
Thanks for this, Joanne! This one’s going on the reading list!
You will be blessed for reading it, Stacey.
So glad you are seeking help with those migraines! Wise indeed, and so this was truly the right book at the right time for you!
Thank you, Michele. So grateful for the times He gives us to begin again and anew.
Joanne,
I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been struggling with Migraines. I don’t know if this has anything to do with it, but I’ve heard of more people struggling with severe headaches with these wacko weather patterns we’ve been having. Praying you get some relief. I can relate to your post as last year I felt like all I did was begin again. One surgery….begin again. Second surgery…begin again. Shingles….begin again. Pneumonia….begin again. Beginning again and again gets tiring, but so thankful God’s grace is sufficient when I just don’t feel like I’m up to the task.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev, you surely have experienced the process of beginning again. Friend, you have persevered and I am grateful for enduring spirit the Lord has placed in you. xo
The book sounds wonderful. If only I could manage to keep up with reading all the books I want to read. I think I’ve started 4 different ones recently. 🙂
But… I will have to add this to the list. I especially appreciated the quote in the image. Blessings to you, Joanne. I pray for relief from the migraines.
This is a beautiful and encouraging book. It truly spoke to my heart deeply. So good to know that I am not alone in starting multiple books 🙂
Definitely sounds like something I need to read. Thanks for sharing. And…just so grateful for the mercies that are new every morning!!
I am quite grateful His supply of mercies never runs dry!
This can apply to so many areas in our lives: “Always we begin again.†Becoming a grandmother for the first time this year, I’m finding lots of ways this is true. 🙂 Thanks Joanne.
Lisa, beginning the journey of a grandmother is exciting indeed! And a joyous one as well! May God bless you all!