PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
Grace Secures What Striving Cannot
In this hustling, image-forward age of opportunity, we feel more anxious than ever. Despite all the affirming memes and self-reflections that dominate social media feeds, approval and worth often seem assigned to what we do rather than who we are. And we end up constantly feeling like we’re behind, lacking, and failing—at home, at work, with friends, with God.
Ruth Chou Simons knows something about feeling measured by achievement, performance, and the approval of others. As a Taiwanese immigrant growing up between two cultures, Ruth was always on a mission to prove her worth, until she came to truly understand the one thing that changes everything: the extravagant, undeserved gift of grace from a merciful God. In When Strivings Cease, Ruth guides you on a journey to find freedom from the never-ending quest for self-improvement. She shows you how toconfront the ways you look to superficial means of acceptance and belonging; find relief in realizing self-help isn’t the answer because you can’t be so amazing that you won’t need grace; stop seeing God as someone to perform for and start finding delight in responding to his welcome; and let go of trying to rely on your own strength, your own abilities, and your own savvy by truly understanding the freedom Jesus purchased for you.With personal stories, biblical insights, practical applications, and touches of original artwork by Ruth, this transformational book helps you see the beautiful truth that God’s favor is the only currency you need—because in Christ you are enough.
My Review:
“If we believe Jesus is all we need, then why do we live our days worn out, fearful, and anxiously striving as if we are lacking and unable to measure up?(Quote by the author from the Introduction to the book.)
I was immediately drawn to read this book because of the title “When Strivings Cease—Replacing The Gospel Of Improvement With The Gospel of Life-Transforming Grace.” I believe that Ruth Chou Simons has identified a major problem that Christian women face today: “What must I do to be enough?” We accept with gratitude the fact that Jesus paid the price for our salvation, but work as if everything else depends on us and how much we achieve.
I appreciated how the author shared her own personal struggle of growing up between two cultures, Eastern and Western, and how that affected her own view of achievement. Her emphasis is on abiding in Christ and allowing His grace to work in our lives instead of relying on the “self improvement” movement that is so prevalent among women today. There’s fifteen chapters in this book, and I highlighted something in every one of them. I appreciated the scriptural principles presented on every page of the book.
Click here to purchase a copy:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZM9YCJR/ref=nodl_?_bbid=18312904&tag=individualbookpagesite-20
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ruth Chou Simons is a Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author of several books, including GraceLaced , Beholding and Becoming , and Foundations . Her first Bible study curriculum, TruthFilled , released in 2020. She is an artist, entrepreneur, and speaker who uses each of these platforms to spiritually sow the Word of God into people’s hearts. Through her online shoppe at GraceLaced.com and her social media community, Simons shares her journey of God’s grace intersecting daily life with word and art. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are grateful parents to six boys–their greatest adventure.