Joy by Lydia Brownback
Brownback, Lydia. Purity. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2010. 136 pp. $10.99. Purchase at Westminster for $7.80.
Introduction
Lydia Brownback is the author of the series “On-the-Go-Devotionals” written with the busy woman in mind. Lydia is a conference speaker as well as a book editor for a Christian publishing company.
Summary
Joy is one of those emotions, though Lydia makes the implicit case that joy is not an emotion but a lifestyle, that we all struggle with. In women, it may be a bit more difficult to cultivate given the daily duties as a wife, mom, and maybe professional. Beginning with joy in going forward in life, Lydia takes her readers on a journey of cultivating a lifestyle of joy in all things culminating in finding your joy in God’s love. Along the road, you will discover how to have joy in forgiving, letting go, being vulnerable, praying, trusting, and submission among many other areas of life.
Review
To find joy in every situation is tough. Sometimes, seeking for the joy can actually become idolatrous. What I mean by that is rather than looking to Christ, you seek the “silver lining” or the joy in every situation thus taking your focus from Christ. Lydia does a masterful job of guiding her readers to cultivating a biblical understanding of joy. Again, she does not write about joy as an emotion. Rather, she writes of joy as a lifestyle.
Each chapter is written in short, succinct messages allowing for more thought and meditation than simply reading and forgetting. These devotionals will stick with the reader throughout the day and hopefully throughout her life.
Recommendation
As with all of the “On-the-Go Devotions,” I highly recommend Joy to any woman looking to truly be joyous in every situation in life–even if that is in changing a diaper!
Sadly I was very disappointed with this book. I bought it as my name is Joy, and liked the small size for my handbag and how the bible quotes were displayed under the titles as a focus (rather than at the end of the text like so many other devotionals). However, after reading page I felt rather down … the opposite of being joyful, really. The books has a lecture style format, rather than a short anecdote to illustrate a meaning. I won’t be recommending it to anyone looking for a positive lift to their day unfortunately.