Overcomer: Breaking Down the Walls of Shame and Rebuilding Your Soul

by Aubrey Sampson

Christian women have allowed shame to condemn and confine them for far too long. If you’re ready to turn things around, Aubrey Sampson—a pastor’s wife, and an advocate for at-risk women—invites you to become an unashamed woman.

 

Using the model of a house, “Sampson identifies eight major lies of shame such I’ll have more value when I change; I cannot experience freedom from shame; My past is unsalvageable; and Shame is only traumatic.

 

Written with a strong biblical theology and humorous authenticity, as well as true-life stories shared by women of all ages, Sampson equips readers with tools for an ongoing spiritual discipline of “shamelessness.” Sampson deals directly with the shame that comes from comical moments in life, as well as from sexual abuse, eating disorders, addiction, abandonment, and other real-life issues.  She also encourages women to transform their life’s story into ministry, creating ripple effects of hope and healing that can change the world.

 

Written for any woman whose self-worth has been stolen, Overcomer gives her the courage, in Jesus, to reclaim it.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Nonfiction

173 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 6, 2015

About the author

Aubrey Sampson is the author of Big Feelings Days: A Book about Hard Things, Heavy Emotions, and Jesus's Love, Known: How Believing Who God Says You Are Changes Everything, The Louder Song: Listening for Hope in the Midst of Lament (NavPress/Tyndale, 2015) and Overcomer: Breaking Down the Walls of Shame and Rebuilding Your Soul (Zondervan, 2015). She and her husband and three sons are church planters in the Chicago area. As a writer and speaker, Aubrey offers incredible perspective in the midst of trying experiences. Find and follow Aubrey @aubsamp and www.aubreysampson.com.

Reviews

[Tanya Searle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free kindle copy. I must admit I was a little unsure if I wanted to read this book. Even though I believe in God, I'm not an active follower of the bible or going to church and I didn't want to be preached to. I ended up quickly skimming through the parts on how God can take my shame away. However, I did enjoy all of the women's stories and their honesty. I can see how someone who is fighting with shame can use this book to help them. The one thing it did do was make me realise how much shame women live with and a lot of it comes back to the male perception of females. Maybe a book should be written for men and how God can take their shameful thoughts away.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though this may be an helpful and/or life changing book for many (and I hope it is, because struggling with shame is no joke!), this fell flat for me personally. Perhaps I'm just the wrong demographic. It was really hard to resonate with some of the evidences of shame (the weight of struggle with the wrinkle between her eyes) and the goal of not having a shouting match with a grocery store worker (in hopes that she had on cute jeans "the next time"), and the obsession with Disney (proudly letting her "Disney freak flag fly") and Real Housewives. I was uncomfortable with her flippant approach by turning everything into a joke that wasn't funny (everyone who doesn't like Cadbury creme eggs must "hate bunnies and children, too"), and her use of hip slang like uberfabulous, and tossed away reference points that she could have researched but she left hanging as a way of humor felt disingenuous. Or using putdowns/crudeness to make a point, such as when she criticizes a former teacher multiple times with rude references to her appearance, or tells the audience to "punch shame in the nuts."
Her journey away from the crippling weight of shame after sexual assault at a young age is her own, and nothing excuses the wrong done to her. I'm sorry that her weight of shame led her down roads that meant she got married without even telling her husband of these things (again, I'm just the wrong demographic---I laid my life bare before my husband and I got married and we knew we were married on equal and unhidden ground). The "jk haha" vibe I got from this book was not helpful to me in my current stage of life, but maybe the overall intention would help others who aren't far into their own journey from shame. It might have been helpful were I still a teenager/young woman, perhaps.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple yet effective book about overcoming shame. Shame has not been an overwhelming issue in my life but I still was moved by this book. The author uses her experience and one area of shame, but has testemonials at the end of every chapter from other women and their areas of shame, so it was easy to see multiple view points. Good discussion/reflective questions with each chapter.
This is a book that I will save in the thought of reading again

[Sharla Fritz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overcomer: Breaking Down the Walls of Shame and Rebuilding Your Soul helps readers experience victory over guilt, remorse, and feelings of not being good enough through Christ. She candidly talks about her own feelings of shame and how keeping the secrets of shame crippled her relationships and destroyed her peace. The book chronicles how learning to allow the expansive love of Christ fill her soul allowed her to overcome those feelings of shame.

While I was reading, I highlighted many passages as I'm sure I will want to review these truths over and over again. This book will help anyone who struggles with feeling: I am not enough. Author Aubrey Sampson lets you see that shame attacks us not only in big areas of our pasts but in everyday mistakes and failures. If we don't recognize shame's ugly pointing finger, we can't overcome it. However, when we do recognize it and go to the truth of God's Word to remember our identity in Christ, shame has no hold.

[The Mammalo Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aubrey is insightful and gracious in her therapeutic unraveling of “the guilt ridden life” some of us were brought up in. Whether it was guilt for not being enough, what someone wanted or decided we should be or the guilt we put on ourselves as our own worst critics. As a result of heavy feelings of failure and not measuring up, shame becomes a constant companion. I loved this book and it’s ability to assist in my very adult level (long overdue) need to weed through the amount of shame I felt growing up as a daughter of strict, conservative parents, as a mother and stepmother that never measured up in my own eyes and why that specific brand of labeling was not always the case or not always about me. Loved this book and have reread several times to remind myself how grace is so very necessary to get and give.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably every woman should read this, because I don’t know a single person who doesn’t have some struggle with a form of shame. This was helpful for my own personal recovery from broken areas. Some areas I read about I rejoiced because I can see where I’ve overcome. Other areas I can see I need some healing…and I still rejoiced, because I see where the hope is in places I hadn’t thought of previously. I’m thankful the Lord led me to this book! I will probably hang on to it awhile in case I need to return to it.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shame is something I have written & spoken about over the last few years. It's an issue that many women never overcome.
This was a quick read filled with some tools & guidelines to overcome shame. I like that it was real without all the "Christianese". I will likely read this again with a group of friends to dive deeper into the root of our personal shame. I believe this book is a great tool to journey together to an "overcoming shame identity".

[Lauren Brinser · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers excellent strategies for those who struggle with shame. For someone who is past the internal battle and knows how to beat Satan at his dirty game...skip this book.... BUT do Keep it in mind for loved ones who may not know scriptural truth and have lousy self esteem.

[Michele Winger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with lots of good thought provoking conversation. Must read for anyone struggling with guilt or shame.

[Kim Bayon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book for anyone struggling with guilt and shame. Very good ideas on how to rid yourself of shame from your past and on a daily basis.

[Dorothy Greco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overcomer: Breaking Down the Walls of Shame and Rebuilding Your Soul is Sampson's story of finding freedom from shame. By vulnerably sharing her experiences, she helps readers understand how shame wraps itself around us and conceals our true God-given identity.

If you struggle with shame and like Brené Brown’s work, I encourage you to sit down with Overcomer. Toward the end of her book, Sampson writes, “The Son of God does not invite his followers into a life of platitudes. No, instead He changes our paradigm. He renews all things, including us.”

To read a full review, go to my site: http://www.dorothygreco.com/book-revi...

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knew this book was geared toward Christian women, but wanted to read it because I'd met the author and really enjoyed talking with her. This book is well written, easy to read, and truly invites the reader to unpack a lot of heavy emotional baggage, if you're willing. While some of the anecdotes didn't connect with me as much as they might with a Christian woman, I was surprised at how much my struggle with depression felt described by the authors reflection on her shame. Overall, glad I read this. More than anything, her treatment of and discussion of shame regarding sex is the best I've read from any contemporary Christian material.

[Catherine McNiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful for this book. Aubrey draws you in on page one with her storytelling, then keeps you reading with her hip and hilarious voice of wisdom. With one foot in our real, everyday world of kids, old boyfriends, and celebrities and the other foot in God's never-changing truth, Aubrey takes the reader on a journey of shame demolition and rebuilding. I recommend this to any woman of faith, or anyone who has battled with shame and identity.

[Afton Rorvik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, Overcomer: Breaking Down the Walls of Shame and Rebuilding Your Soul made me laugh and cry and think and pray. Written by a delightful young woman and sister Redbud writer, this book takes on a topic that can be hard to talk about—shame related to sexual abuse. Aubrey Sampson does it with such grace and humor and compassion. And she doesn’t do it from an academic distance; she writes courageously about her own up-and-down battle.

[Beverly A Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never knew. I have asked forgiveness over and over, but never thought of the shame I continued to carry. No wonder I never felt forgiven. I thank you & praise God for his total love for me. Every woman needs this book.


I was touched by the stories, found myself in your place. I truly feel free at last.
I know for certain God loves me more than any man could ever..

[KATHY · Rating 2 out of 5]

Purchased for group, did not finish. A lot of good information, but being a Zondervan publication it was too much effort to translate the strong Christian alsnt into a more open minded spirituality. Sometimes we just have to let things that do have some thing go.

[Sarah K · Rating 5 out of 5]

it seems paradoxical to call a book about shame hopeful, but that is truly what this is. aubrey sampson's personal stories and experiences with shame are gently woven with the truth about God and the truth in scripture to remind us that in Christ, we don't have to experience shame.

[Jamie Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I will be writing a review to be posted this week on my blog. STay tuned.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shame is powerful, but a woman who's story is redeemed and overcomes, is life giving and transformative to all who read it. Aubrey writes from a place of authenticity, passion and freedom in giving women the position to experience Biblical truth from the places in their lives where shame has lived for too long. This book is a great resource for those who work in ministry or who counsel. This book would be great for women to read as a book club to help one another work through the things that our society shames women and for them to be vulnerable with one another. This book is encouraging and will help women break down walls that have been up for years. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever dealt with identity, shame or feeling like she wasn't worth something. This book is told from a personal perspective and doesn't have research behind it, but I love the Biblical perspective, which is something that I think is imperative. I give this book 5/5 stars. Thank you to Wynn Wynn Media for providing me a complimentary copy for review. A favorable review was not required.