Een teken van hoop

by Karen Kingsbury, Marian Muusse (Translator)

Zo op het oog leidt Maggie Stovall een gelukkig leven: ze is getrouwd met een geweldige man, is pleegmoeder van twee veelbelovende jongens, en heeft een boeiende baan. Maar Maggie draagt een geheim met zich mee, dat haar dreigt te verstikken. Jarenlang heeft ze haar verdriet verborgen achter een masker. Nu houdt ze het niet langer vol. Ze belandt in een diepe depressie en laat zich opnemen. Haar echtgenoot Ben wil ze niet zien of spreken. Als hij de waarheid over haar te weten komt, zal hun huwelijk immers voorbij zijn... Ben blijft in grote onzekerheid achter. Wat is er misgegaan in hun relatie? Hoe kan hij Maggie helpen? Wat is het geheim dat zo op haar drukt? Ben volgt het spoor terug naar Maggies verleden en is diep geschokt door de ontdekkingen die hij doet. Hoe kan hij haar ooit vergeven?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Romance, Audiobook, Adult Fiction, Christian Romance

511 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books are being developed into a TV series slated for major network viewing sometime in the next year. Karen is also an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University. In 2001 she and her husband, Don, adopted three boys from Haiti, doubling their family in a matter of months. Today the couple has joined the ranks of empty nesters, living in Tennessee near five of their adult children.

See more at: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/K...

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

As an adoptive and foster parent (who has stuggled with depression) I thought this book would be very relative to me. Unfortunately, it was unrealistic on every level. It was truly one of the worst books I have ever read. The self-condemnation the main character experienced was so overblown for the sin she committed. The ongoing internal thoughts were repetitive, and the book was geneally preachy. Even so, maybe the foster/adoptive portrayals could have been on target. They weren't. Sorry Karen Kingsbury, but you shouldn't write about things you don't know much about...

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great for two reasons. It tells the story of a christian woman who deals with a real life issue: depression. Maggie believed that just because she was a woman of faith that she wouldn't ever have to deal with things like depression or self doubt and when she did she had a breakdown because she felt like somehow she wasn't strong enough to deal with life. Woman of every walk of life put too much pressure on themselves to be perfect: mothers, homemakers, wives, people and are putting on a mask over what they really feel. Most have depression issues: because reality is this no one is perfect all the time and can't be. Some may even turn the responsiblity for feeling that they have to be perfect onto others,(like maggie did) but our choices and consequences of those choices rest on our own shoulders. The other issue addressed is giving babies up for adoption and the after effects for the mother and the child. Some are good stories but others don't end so good. Birth mothers live with the guilt and the what if's. Children sometimes get good homes and sometimes they are place in foster care where more harm is done that good. This book addresses it all. It was hard to put down. Life doesn't always turn out happily ever after, but this story does and maggie is able to understand her depression and her feelings and work through them enabling her to forgive and be honest with her husband about her daughter that she gave up at birth 8 years earlier and her desire to make contact with her and also admit that her decision to give her up was her own. This story really made me think about becoming a foster parent even if for a temperary time. We are all so blessed and others are in need.

[LadyCalico · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is really poor. The portrayal of the kid is so unrealistic--Come on, an abused foster kid who's an absolute angel without any acting out or attachment issues. What planet does she live on? For soap opera fanatics only. I have since read other Kingsbury books that were much better, so I think this may have been an early book and she's improved with age. I would definitely consider this one among the worst-written Kingsbury books.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to reading this, I hadn't read any Karen Kingsbury in a while; now, I'm ready for more! An epic story with plenty of twists and turns; admirable heroes and a villain you just want to punch in the face...what's not to like? It's easy to see why this author continues to be beloved by readers worldwide.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book but keep in mind this is fiction and though it deals with depression and child abuse it is not meant to counsel anyone going through such.

I love Karen's books and the way her characters come alive although I must warn you this is a graphic novel and can be upsetting.

Maggie fell in love and due to circumstances beyond her control was separated from the guy (Ben) she loved for a long time. During this time Maggie hung out with the wrong crowd and did things that she never thought was would ever do as a christian girl. These things changed her life completely and caused her to live a lie in order to appear all that Ben wanted her to be and fulfill her dream of marrying him. But it did not stop there, could Maggie live a happy life married to the man of her dreams and not think about the past or would her past cause her to completely loose her mind?

A story full of deception, lies, hate and fear turns to honesty, forgiveness, love and trust.

you won't be able to put it down another masterpiece by Karen Kingsbury.

[Anita]

The story centers around the theme of depression. The book opens with the central character wrestling with the misconception that Christians (which is what she is) are not supposed to get depressed, for it draws the extension that one's faith is weak, or that one is not a good enough believer, or that one is a 'bad person'.

Being trapped in the darkness of one's mind is still predominantly perceived as a taboo subject and a shameful admission. So the victims suffer quietly behind masks, some really struggling to get through day-to-day living, trying their best to hold onto the vestiges of normalcy, so as not to be judged by others.

Bottom line: Extend compassion to everyone you meet, for you do not know what they are battling with -- it might either be an ailment of the body or mind, but a listening ear and a caring heart, goes a long way in working wonders. And if you, or anyone you know, is battling an unseen phantom of the mind -- do reach out and seek help.

[Carol Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I liked this book, it did have a few glaring flaws. It was a bit unrealistic in the way Ben and Maggie kept "hearing" from God. Also Maggie repeatedly had visions of the daughter she had given up for adoption at birth. After Ben and Maggie began dating, they were separated for about a year. During this time Maggie became pregnant. When Ben finally called her again, Maggie was nearing the time to give birth. She knew Ben would reject her if he found out about the baby because he was a Christian saving himself for marriage and expected the same from the woman he would marry. So Maggie lied to him and told him she was going as an exchange student to Israel and would be gone for a while. After the baby was born they reconnected and were soon married with Ben thinking he was marrying a virgin. I think that Mrs. Kingsbury didn't think this through completely. Ben believed all of Maggie's lies, but it seems to me that he would have asked about her trip and wanted to see pictures. Yet this whole time period was simply skipped over. Seriously? I mean, wouldn't YOU have asked about a trip to Israel?!!! I sure would have!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

JULY 2025 - This is 3.5 stars rounded up. I got really tired of the expectations placed on Maggie, of the narrative that went through Maggie’s and Ben’s minds. It was so repetitive. Maggie was going insane. The visions of her daughter, and her daughter’s visions of her? Not realistic. I’m a solid Christian, and God doesn’t put Bible verses in my head all the time. I wish He did, but He doesn’t. It was just unrealistic.

[Ginger Mcclintick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this author her books getting better and better every book love this book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea how realistic this book is, since it wades into unfamiliar waters for me, but it was an emotional read that held my attention.

[Nicole Salto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story! Great story about God’s faithfulness to us ❤️

[Ruth Aguilar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story about a christian dealing with depression and adopting.

[Donna Hamrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was fantastic! I couldn’t put it down!

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Joy Came to Stay, written by Karen Kingsbury, turned out to be a heartwarming read. The book tells the heart-wrenching story of seven-year-old Amanda Joy whose life has been anything but a fairytale. The young girl's life consists of moving from foster home to foster home. As soon as circumstances begin to become suitable, another situation rips her from a peaceful life.
The story is told from the eyes of not only Amanda but Maggie and Ben Stovall. From Maggie dealing with depression and Ben trying to understand his own heart, the reader gets a glimpse of how the two deal with life-changing situations.
Overall, I did enjoy When Joy Came to Stay. However, at times, I did find it difficult to read due to the slow moving plot. Though it felt as if it was slow moving, the prominent moments truly did engage the reader and kept you reading line to line. I would rate this book a four out of five and would recommend it for teenagers and adults. The book does touch on depression, suicidal thoughts, child abuse, drugs, and other sensitive topics. Furthermore, Karen Kingsbury is very good about helping the reader understand the seriousness of those matters.
If you are looking for a book that will tug at your heartstrings and, additionally, touch on real-life issues, this is the read for you. This book brings you through many different situations that are sure to make you think a bit about your own life. There is no doubt that this book is an eye-opener and should definitely be put on your reading wishlist!

[Jen Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Joy Is a seven year old girl who knows that Jesus loves her and will protect her. She knows that her real mother is out there somewhere.
Maggie Stovall is the perfect suburban Christian wife, but lately she seemed very distracted and unable to concentrate. She feels she is falling into the shadows of evil.
Ben and Maggie have been married for seven years and have been unsuccessful at having children. Instead the couple have become foster parents.

This story is a wonderful reminder to Christians that peace and joy can be found in our Savior, and that bad things do happen to good people.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a powerful book about love, loss, faith, forgiveness, depression, adoption...well, this book covers just about everything.
I really had a hard time putting it down because I really loved the characters and wanted to know what happened to them.
This book, while fiction, makes some important points that really made me think about secrets in relationships, motivation, and forgiveness.
Karen Kingsbury is one of my favorite authors! I love that her main characters are Christian people who are trying to make good decisions.

[Amy Wykes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent as are all of Kingsbury's books. It was a more difficult read because of the content. This is a book that addresses the issue of child abuse and not for the faint of heart. It probably isn't as realistic as it could be because very few real stories end as well as this one did. It was a gripping read and I would highly recommend it.

[Carol C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't really read much Christian fiction. While this was an enjoyable and satisfying story, I was troubled by the fact that every non-Christian character in the book was totally devoid of morals. The plotline was extremely predictable.

[Anne Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

the idea is not bad, but the book is a pain with what is called Christian. It is weird, as KK does not sound catholic -but what she preaches does not belong to other Christian communities, except the born again, maybe?
Take away the religious part, or 80% of it, and it would be better.

[Stephany G · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't my favorite by this author. I had a huge issue with the logic of the main character throughout the story.

[Ian Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Stovall is trapped inside a person she’s spent years carefully crafting. Now the truth about who she is—and what she’s done—is bursting to the surface and sending Maggie into a spiral of despair. Will she walk away from everything, or can Maggie allow God to take her to a place of ultimate honesty—before it’s too late?

Maggie Stovall.

One of the golden people. She has it all together. At least on the surface…

Ben Stovall.

Godly husband. Successful attorney. Has no idea of the darkness about to overtake his life…

Amanda Joy.

Child of society. Abused, broken, thrown away. But her trust in God is still alive…


When Joy Came to Stay is the heart-wrenching story of one woman’s descent into the shadows of depression, her husband’s search for understanding, and a precious child’s unwavering faith.



"Kingsbury’s poignant tale of a lost and broken family and how they experience God’s
miraculous healing is a sure guarantee to bring hope and joy to her readers."
—Melody Carlson, bestselling author, Diary of a Teenage Girl series


"A thought-provoking account of the battle of depression in a believer’s life. It leaves
no doubt that God is loving, merciful, and faithful."
—Nancy Moser, author, The Mustard Seed series


Story Behind the Book

“Each of my novels is a piece of my heart. Where Yesterday Lives was my first-ever novel, and as such it is somewhat autobiographical. The childhood story of Ellen Barrett, her love for her parents and siblings, is my story—though her current story and struggles are fictional. On Every Side sheds light on the struggle for religious freedom in today’s climate; something I am passionate about. Finally, When Joy Came to Stay is the story of one woman’s battle against depression and the secrets of her past.”
—Karen Kingsbury

My comments

I loved this book, I read it a number of years a go however had never reviewed it so thought i'd do a reread so I could give a review.

I loved the story of Maggie and how she had to battle through her depression and face up to the lies she'd told and embrace honesty. It was also wonderful to see Ben's point of view change throughout the story and how he came to realise his mistakes also. This was a really tough book to read as what Maggie went through was horrible however it's a very powerful story and from the first read of this book it stayed with me. The verse from proverbs chapter 3 verse 5 trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding stayed with me from the first time I read this book and at the time I was not a practicing christian. What I love about this authors work is the religion is present however accessible to people who are non-religious as it's handled suttaly and not in a forceful way giving the reader chance to think about where they stand. This was a story of hope and facing up to previous mistakes and it's a book i'd highly recommend.

[Deb F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS A MUST READ!! I will be reading every book Karen Kingsbury will EVER WRITE!!!
That is how exceptionally excellent read this was. I could have sat down and read it all in one sitting if I could have!! Anyone who has battled depression or has wondered about your growing number of down days- this is a must read book. It will have you questioning your life & the many decisions you have made over the years and if you are a real faithful believer you might find some answers to questions you have struggled with and it will bring to mind those most important verses that you have learned and need to apply to your life. Karen is a verytrue believer and it comes out from the very first pages of this book , all the way through the lives of Ben and Maggie and a sweet little abused girl in the ward of the court system.. who loves her case worker so very much and that caseworker has taught her about faith in the Lord, at the darkest times He is always with you. Maggie and Ben are the picture perfect couple. Very involved with each other & their Church. A secret note that gets to the Woman's Prayer Group Asking for Prayer from Maggie. THIS Sets off a whole entire book dealing with seven years of Maggie's hidden life while she and Ben were on a "break" eight years ago before their marriage. Will this tear them apart forever, can she get Ben to see the real her? Can she find the real her? After one summer not living her life as God had taught her to live...can she forgive herself and Ben? What's little Amanda the poor little ward of the state have to do with any of this??
Karen has brilliantly woven it all together that it speaks to your heart in a way that makes you question your own faith and life...in a good way.
Read this PLEASE!!. IT MAY just be that answer for nmquestions you have been searching a lifetime for..
May God be with you throughout the moving, deep, positive story of love & faith!!♥️


Maggie & Ben have a storybook marriage- or do they.

[M.C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie Stovall has it all—a loving husband, a successful job, and two adorable foster boys to take care of. But while she seems perfect on the outside, her inner world is crumbling. Almost before she realizes what’s happening, she finds herself a patient at a psychiatric hospital and awaiting a divorce. Secrets from her past have become too much, and it seems there’s no way to save her marriage or her way of life. God has never seemed so far away...
This was a really good story! This was my first Karen Kingsbury book, but I’ve heard a good deal about her and knew I could expect something good. I was definitely not disappointed! The characters were excellently portrayed, far from perfect and dealing with very real struggles. I loved every one of them (except, of course, for the ones we weren’t supposed to root for). It was unlike anything I’ve read before, what with the main character suffering from depression and another character living in the foster system. It was a very interesting and enlightening read.
Personally, though, I wasn’t a big fan of the random POV characters that appeared for one scene apiece. I realize that they were essential to the story, but I would have preferred to stick with the original characters. Also, I didn’t like how some of the characters were left with open endings. These are just preferences, however, and they didn’t really detract from my enjoyment of the book. I didn’t want to put it down, and I enjoyed learning more about depression and foster care. This was a very good read, with a poignant message about the strength of God’s love, and I would recommend it to just about anyone.

[Rebecca Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is rare for me to finish a book in one day . . . even a novel. It has to be a special novel to capture my attention so.

This book is about a woman with a huge secret, suffering from depression,troubled in her marriage who takes the step of checking herself into a psychiatric hospital. Her husband is left with no real clues as to why she has left, but we is desperate to figure the mystery out. Throughout it all, the story of a seven year old foster child named Amanda Joy is woven.

I'm not going to reveal more of the plot because, quite frankly the plot is very predictable. I figured out what was going on and how the story would end within the first 75 pages. Sometimes Kingsbury's stories are very predictable, and I almost removed a star just for that!

However, the human element of the story is really weighty. A wife, feeling like it is unchristian to suffer from depression. A husband who starts out the story incredibly self-righteous and needing so much to change. A little girl who still has hope in Jesus and joy in her heart but finds that life is fading it fast.

Reading the book made me consider issues of Christian self-righteousness, our conservative purity culture, the foster care system, and the shame of mental illnesses in evangelical circles. All in all, that is a lot of heavy consideration for one very "fluffy" style book.

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I come from a family that did foster care in my formative years of growing up, primarily for infants. I know firsthand and have seen the pain and destruction that the system can cause to the little ones. I appreciated how this book showed that it’s not necessarily the workers’ faults but a problem with the legal system.

I also think that many people tend to be on the side of “with Christ everything is possible“ and they do tend to look down on mental illness as a sin issue rather than a biological issue. This book did an appropriate job of dispelling that myth and showing that, while for some people they can simply overcome things, for other people there are deficiencies, or they need a boost to cement their ability to function normally. In a perfect world, yes, no medication is needed, but our bodies have been degraded by the fall and subsequent generations and we no longer have bodies that function as they were designed to.

I appreciate the way Karen tackles these issues and brings light and understanding into difficult realms.

[Diane Shearer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story. I couldn’t relate to it personally, but the truths here are universal. Honesty and forgiveness bless us. Deceit, lies, and hypocrisy destroy us. Prayer works. God heals. We can forgive as we have been forgiven and love as our Father in Heaven loves us. What I could relate to is the damage caused to children by the law’s focus on reunification rather than adoption, and on refusing to place minority children in white families. We were foster parents for six years and saw it from the inside. We desperately wanted to adopt older children. Either they were too damaged for us to keep or the parents wouldn’t give them up. We gave up on a system that made it almost impossible to save kids. I don’t know what the answer is, but what we’re doing doesn’t work. This book was written a long time ago and things have only gotten worse. If you read this book I hope you will consider supporting a charity that supports foster children, or possibly adopting yourself. God bless.

[Darleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked how mental health wasn’t brushed under the rug with “praying more” and “giving it all to God”. There were some parts that made me cringe as a foster/adoptive mom. No matter what a child does she does not deserve abuse of any kind. The focus of the book was on forgiveness and mental health acceptance and help. I’d love to see a book written, much like my life and so many other adoptive parents where impulse control is a min by min challenge and big feelings rule their thoughts and flipping their lid (brain talk) is a constant. The beautiful story of a parents love and dedication to their children that have to deal with some big demons, no fault of their own.

This book, though, was still a good read imo.

[Della Tingle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Kingsbury writes the most wonderful stories! This book centers around depression and forgiveness and is set within the foster care system, and here are some of my favorite parts.

“...depression often comes from lies we tell ourselves.”

“...depression isn’t something strange or unusual, that people who love God very much can suffer in the pit of darkness and still be believers.”

“I just want to tell you that whatever you’re going through, whatever thing you’re up against today, give it to God. Seek him with all your heart...”

I can always find something to take to heart when I read a Kingsbury novel!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to love these Christian fiction stories, but I have very mixed feelings about them. They make me want to be a better Christian, but I also find them frustrating. Life always seems to end up perfect in these stories; everyone basically hears God exactly when they need to, the story ends so perfectly happy, people are thankful even when life is awful. I gave the book 3 stars because I really did enjoy it, but every time I read a book like this, I am left wondering if there is something wrong with me because I don't have verses thrown into my head exactly when I need them. I just found this book to be unrealistic.

[Lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main topic of the book covers children in the foster care system and adoption. I unfortunately felt like this was pretty unrealistic. Children that have spent time in abusive foster homes often have an intense amount of baggage after trauma, which Amanda never seems to show. She is portrayed as somewhat broken over not having a family, but near perfect. For those that might be looking to adopt or foster, I think this story may be misleading. Not to mention that there was a lot of over the top drama, and Maggie was a hot mess from the beginning of the story. Overall unsatisfying, but I know Kingsbury had good intent.