Embrace Your Life: How to Find Joy When the Life You Have is Not the Life You Hoped For

All of us live with some sort of longing in our hearts-a gap between the life we want and the life we actually have. As we try to navigate this sense of longing and the circumstances we desperately wish would change, we try to hang on to the belief that God will fulfill our desires, while waiting to see the answers to our prayers realized.  For some, those prayers are answered. Yet for others, the longing persists, making us weary at best and debilitated at worst. Living this way leaves us asking the same questions: “How do I find God’s joy in this life when it isn’t the life I hoped for?” or “How do I deal with the gap between the life I want and the life I’ve been given?” In this powerful book, Bible teacher and fellow traveler down the well-worn road of unmet longings Elizabeth Woodson equips you for joyful living in that gap. As you walk with Elizabeth through some key biblical passages in the book of Joshua and beyond, you’ll learn to: Realize joy is possibleAvoid emotional escapism and naïve blindness to realityHave your eyes opened to what “biblical contentment” really meansEnjoy God’s unfailing presenceUnderstand your divine calling Through biblical wisdom, personal stories, and practical advice, Elizabeth shares life-changing truth that has the heart-healing power you’ve been searching for, and helps you walk through your current life situations from a new perspective-one that embraces actual, real, deep joy in the midst of the inevitable longings of life. Review “I have had the joy of knowing and ministering with Elizabeth Woodson for the better part of a decade. She lives what she writes in these pages. Each of us must come to terms with the distance between the life we pictured and the life we have. The wise Christ-follower navigates that gap with trustworthy disciplines that turn our hearts heavenward. Elizabeth offers up these tools not just as a faithful Bible teacher but as a faithful practitioner. Is longing your companion? Look here for help.”   -Jen Wilkin, Author and Bible Teacher   “In her book Embrace Your Life, Elizabeth is honest and transparent, writing as a friend, as she shares her own journey with longing and the biblical truth that helped her be an overcomer. Elizabeth's words are deeply rooted in Scripture and overflowing with practical wisdom. This book is a true gift and will encourage anyone of any age who is navigating a season of longing and disappointment.”   -Dr. Tony Evans President, The Urban Alternative Senior Pastor, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship     "How are we to navigate the inevitable disappointments of life in a fallen world? Those seasons when we become painfully aware that life hasn't gone the way we thought it would? I have found over the years that the best guides are the ones that have been there already-the ones who have become acquainted with heartbreak and frustration but have not given in to bitterness. The ones who know anger and despair but are still marked by that peace that passes understanding and the unwavering joy of knowing they belong to Jesus. Elizabeth Woodson is such a guide. She is steeped in the Scriptures but doesn't give in to the vague spiritual sentimentalism that is often dishonest about how much disappointment hurts. She's here to lift our heads, and she has had her head lifted by others. She is with us in this valley of longing, and writes with empathy and compassion while not being afraid to say what is true."   -Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor of The Village Church About the Author Elizabeth Woodson is a Bible teacher and author who is passionate about equipping believers to understand the rich theological truths of Scripture. She loves helping people internalize their faith and connect it practically to everyday life. She is contributing author for World on Fire: Walking in the Wisdom of Christ When Everyone's Fighting About Everything and a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary with a Masters in Christian Educ