When I went to She Speaks 2017, Chrystal Evans Hurst was the keynote speaker for the Friday night session. Proverbs 31 Ministries was gracious enough to live stream the event through the First 5 app, and I enjoyed her message from the quiet comfort of my hotel room (this introvert needed a break from the big party). She is a powerful storyteller, and her strong voice carries through in her new book, She’s Still There.
Chrystal understands how life gets in the way of the girl still inside each woman. She has faced the trials of teenage pregnancy, financial difficulty, and the normal struggles of “diapers, dishes, and laundry” which every mother knows. She lost sight of her original freedom, passions, and faith, and this book is a story of how she found her way back with God’s help.
Chrystal is a gifted storyteller, and each chapter has an interesting story from her personal experiences. She writes with real-world grit and humor, and her powerful voice shines through. She doesn’t shy away from the truth, yet she speaks it with love about habits we must change if we want to recapture the girl inside.
I like this book’s convenient format. The chapters are brief, about 10 pages in length. Each chapter is followed by a reflection page with questions and scripture references. Since the book has 30 chapters, this book is perfect for a month-long personal or group study.
Here’s a sampling of the powerful quotes:
- You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress simultaneously. Your life matters. The girl of your dreams matters. No matter how far you think you’ve drifted away from her, she’s still there.
- It takes one brave chick to admit that her life is not quite shaping up to be the life she envisioned. It takes courage to pause and assess your disappointment, realize where you’ve been disenchanted, and identify the source of your distress.
- Your discomfort is a signal that something needs to change. It is the call of the girl inside asking you to not give up and to fight for her.
- Even in that place where you feel most alone, most rejected, most powerless and without hope, that’s where the love of God can be felt the deepest, experienced the most fully, and understood in the most beautifully unexpected way.
I’m excited to tell you about how you can get more out of this book. Chrystal Evans Hurst is the featured guest on the Grit N’ Grace Girls podcast this week. I am honored to be the graphic design intern for the podcast this year! Click on the image below to navigate to the podcast. You’ll find other resources, like a coloring page, discussion guide, and transcript if you prefer reading to listening.
Disclosure: By clicking on the links above to purchase a book, I receive a small affiliate bonus at NO additional cost to you. Thank you in advance for helping me offset the costs of my writing ministry!
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