Finding Faith in Difficult Times

by Iyanla Vanzant

Iyanla Vanzant knows hard times, and how to work through them using the power of faith. Before writing five New York Times bestsellers, she had a troubled childhood followed by teen pregnancy, two abusive marriages, and welfare. How did she manage to turn her life around? Finding Faith in Difficult Times shares Vanzant's most cherished collection of the insights, prayers, and meditations she developed to work through those years of personal struggles. Here, you will learn how to cultivate faith and determination, build inner strength, and find lasting peace in even the most challenging moments of life.

Genres: Spirituality, Self Help, Religion, Christian, Audiobook, Nonfiction

Audio CD

First published March 1, 2004

About the author

In Peace From Broken Pieces New York Times best-selling author Iyanla Vanzant she recounts the last decade of her life and the spiritual lessons learnedfrom the price of success during her meteoric rise as a TV celebrity on Oprah, the Iyanla TV show (produced by Barbara Walters), to the dissolution of her marriage and her daughters 15 months of illness and death on Christmas day. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Iyanla shares why everything we need to learn is reflected in our relationships and the strength and wisdom she has gained by supporting others in their journeys to make sense out of the puzzle pieces of their lives.
"

Reviews

[Beth E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully centering and a wonderful refocusing on a faith the moves past religon and into the personal sense of faith that provides the solid foundation of our personality and our lives. Loved it.

[Terri Light · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the analogy at the end of this book about a night without power. People do not know what kind of mess they make when they are in the dark. So very true. That is an image I am going to carry with me for a long time.

[Lamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great experience. I listened to the audio book and finished feeling inspired and reflective. I really enjoyed the breathing exercises and music. I wish it was longer.

[James Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

pure nonsense

[Dawn Vance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for self awareness

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 40 min audiobook with some meditation and short story. I especially enjoyed the one where Iyanla recalls the mess made in her house when electricity went out in a party and how she had estimated a clean up of 5 hours when it only took 1.5 hours. How often do I overestimate the task and underestimate my abilities? Things are not as scary as they appear in my mind.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend listening when you can be alone and still for at least 15 minutes. It's ok to listen in sections or the whole hour through one sitting. For meditation and mindfulness, it's a good guide, but some of it is difficult to hear. She asks you to face certain aspects of your feelings and focus on internal questions that need a lot more time to develop answers.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

One star off for 1 hour length (not really comparable on this too short scale). But this is good! Equivalent to 5 stars so far in quality.

I like the questions she asks us. To engage us. And to let us decide some of these things.

Not that I agree in all. But that it is thought provoking. And spoken in faith. Which is something.

5 stars for the narrator also, I think. She exudes faith, love, and confidence. I wonder if she is the author? I think she is. She has a wonderful classic high culture African American accent. Evocative of the era of Martin Luther King—which is a very specific set of attributes. Educated, cultured, faith-filled, and still a bit southern (a soft transatlantic r, reminiscent of Ozzie and Ruby____? a bit is less than MLK’s). . .

Faith is to “Feel as if the thing has happened”

She also agrees with my friend SE that it is trust. Trust in God.

What else?

Then she has exercises —
I like these!

Faith is a function of focus.
Compared to a laser. That cuts thru.
As you move toward a desired experience.

So many times we think we don’t have faith
When in fact we disburse it over too many things and people.

—what is your faith in?
—is it feeling as if it has already happened
—faith is knowing something is going to happen and sticking around to wait on it to happen
—what ever it takes for you to grow in faith — what is it? Only to can determine
***
Faith assessment
Hands set to receive
Ask for your faith to be placed in your hands. About like a ball
What is the size,
Density, color, mood, expansive or restricted? Flicker? Fragile? Sturdy?
Hold it and allow yourself to receive the messages of your faith

***
Listened again
Nov 10, 2023

[Maurya · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was only ok for me - and it's mainly my fault for not realising it was mostly meditations and not really a book on finding faith in difficult times.

If you want a meditation, it's probably pretty good.

[Madlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to read.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith..in the darkness, as a shield against negative thoughts. Use Focus to achieve the desired feelings of Integrity and Harmony.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of a meditation exercise than a book but I still enjoyed it. I will probably come back to re read it in the future

[Christopher Sherrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith is having focus focus intensifies energy. Focus on what you desire rather than what you fear. Focus on yourself not others.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Nothing new or profound here

[Paul Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book for mediations.

[Trisha Roberson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short self-help book with useful meditations for exploring yourself, emotions in your body, faith, and finding a path forward. 

[Rotosca Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love receiving spiritual wisdom from Iyanla!