Even This: Getting to the Place Where You Can Trust God With Anything

by Emily Belle Freeman

Even This invites readers to make room for daily personal experiences with God. From the very first page readers will walk down a spiritual path meant to remind each of us that God will meet us in the unexpected, bringing His goodness, giving us cause to trust, reminding us of His capacity. Filled with deeply personal stories about holding onto belief, daring to trust, and longing for understanding, Even This chronicles one woman's quest to find God in the everyday moments-with one of the most powerful experiences taking place as she searches for sea shells while walking on the beach-and provides many opportunities for individual introspection. -Yes, God is good and He can be trusted, - Freeman concludes, -and it is the daily discovery of these truths that has the potential to become the greatest journey of a life and lead us closer to Him.-

Ultimately, the author hopes Even This will encourage and motivate readers

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Lds, Inspirational, Self Help, Audiobook, Spirituality

176 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2017

About the author

Emily Freeman and Simon Dewey collaborated on the bestselling book The Ten Virgins. For nearly 20 years, Emily has addressed groups of women as a writer, songwriter, and motivational speaker. Her deep love of the scriptures comes from a strong desire to find their application in modern-day life. Emily and her husband, Greg, are the parents of four children and live in Lehi, Utah.

Reviews

[Erika B. (SOS BOOKS) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I realize that at the very root of all of this distrust is a desire to be in control. This is my life, I am in the trenches of it, I am living the reality of it, and I know what I need, what would be best. I know how things should work out. I already know. And it frustrates me to wait on God. I see how things should go--give me this promotion, let this doctor have the answer, remove this struggle from me, take away this illness, make it so that never happened, send the right person into my life. It would all be better, my life would be better, if He would just listen. If He would do it my way. I think I am in control, and I am blind because of it. It doesn't take long before I realize the truth. Maybe I am not looking for a God; maybe I want a butler. I stop dead in my tracks and I wonder about this. Do I really want an authentic relationship with God? Because that relationship will require defining our roles--knowing who God is and knowing who I am. The thought of it humbles me...In order to trust, I am going to have to let that go. There is something terrifying about letting God be God.

My belle--Emily Belle Freeman--has done it again! I consider her to be my spiritual guru because she tends to write exactly what I need to hear, or read, at just the right time. This book is about the things that we trust to God's care. Are we willing to let go of our need to micromanage our lives and let God be yoked to us? The most powerful question she poses, the one that has been rattling around in my brain since I read it, "What do you need God to be?" It is an intriguing twisting of words that I haven't ever considered before. It is not, "What do you need God to do?" which believe me, I feel as though that list is sometimes endless, but rather what do you need God to be in your life? Do you need him to be your friend, advocate, counselor, protector, wondrous, or simply there? I imagine I will be contemplating this question for awhile. Well done, Emily Belle!

I decide that for this relationship with God to be real, I can't look only for the times when everything worked out. I can't focus on only the miracles and the solutions that came packaged just the way I requested. I can't believe only in a God who gives exactly what I ask for. I will have to lean into the times when God let me down; I will have to remember the answers that never came. I won't ignore them. I will allow myself to consider all of it, and this time I won't keep score. Instead, I will sort through the moments carefully to remember how God is aware of the conditions and particulars of my life. How not knowing increases the necessity for faith. How falling is what forces me to reach out for grace. How letting God be God might lead me to answers I didn't ask for, but ones that He knows I need. I want to look for the times in my life when He got right down in the dirt with me, and I want to trace the goodness that I discover there. His goodness. Even in the hard things. I want to discover Him in the hard things, because a belief in a God that only provides happy things isn't real. And I want it to be real, this relationship I have with God. There, in the dirt, it is there that I will discover how an infinite God can also be intimate. When I find Him there in the mess, when I gather the memory of His goodness, it leads me to one truth that cannot be ignored: Someone who is willing to be there for you, walk through fire for you, dig through the dirt with you, fix the damage, enter the dark places, and the questioning places, and the aching places--the One who meets you in the most intimate places MUST love you.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one. What a positive and uplifting message. The author uses several biblical stories to show how we could trust in God more. This was inspiring and well thought out as she pieced these different stories together. It also wasn't at all preachy. I need to buy a copy for each of my children. LOVED this one!!

[Abby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a quick read about Emily's personal journey coming to trust in God. There are a couple of really nice one-liners and quotes that stood out to me and left me pondering - particularly when she talks about the importance of not giving God a to-do list but asking ourselves what we need Him to be for us, and then trusting He will do that for us. That way we are not demanding that God do things for us in our way and in our timing. It's about trust. So, I believe she accomplished what she wanted to accomplish for me. I pondered my trust in God and how I can improve it.

However, the story delivery didn't suit my tastes whatsoever.

First, I don't care for the title of the book. I was confused for a while because I'd expected it to be some kind of self-help or instructional book about how I can build my trust in God (based on the title) and it ended up being short stories about her life with little to no application for my life. So, I felt like the title was misleading and should have been more along the lines of "How I Got to the Place Where I Could Trust God with Anything."

Second, the writing style was rough. Emily's personal stories jumped around a ton, some chapters were too short and seemed lacking to me, there wasn't a clear storyline/purpose throughout the book (just summed up in the end) so it was hard to follow or understand the point of certain stories, and the delivery was choppy. I believe if it'd been edited and smoothed out a few more times before being published it would have been a better book.

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book because it was so inspiring and insightful. Every day, I took a few minutes to read and it seemed that it was exactly what I needed to hear, to feel that day. I loved the deeper understanding Emily provided as she shared personal experiences and specific points from the Bible stories that I have loved since a child. There are so many points that I highlighted and words that I keep in my heart to remind me to trust God and His goodness. The author does an excellent job of sharing insight in a way that is conversational. As I read, I felt like I was talking to one of my best friends--the ones that know me down deep and understand what needs said. This book is a gem and I'm so grateful I was given the opportunity to read it. If you've ever come to a place in your life where you've questioned if you could make it through, if God was there to guide you, to pull you, to hear you...read this book, because He is there in all things, even this.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't glance at this review and decide to skim it. Read the whole thing.
Words just can't describe this book. I found it in our swim bag while I was at the pool (thanks for not cleaning the bag out after the beach Mom) and decided to start reading. Best choice I've made in a while. It's made me learn so much about God, and asks you questions you never would think about. She encourages you to ask yourself: "What do I need God to be right now?" and tells us to "learn to trust God" "Let God be God" "What if our trials is Heavenly Father trying to help us discover his will?"

[Brooklyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook with my Deseret Bookshelf app & LOVED it. It was exactly what my heart needed at this time. Emily Freeman shares some of her most personal trials she has experienced, and how in those trials, she found that God is good, and that He can be trusted. I cried along with her in some of her pain, and felt my testimony be strengthened as she shared hers. A beautiful audiobook & an easy read. I highly recommend for any Christian.

[Catherine Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

She is a powerful storyteller!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this one!

Quotes and thoughts to remember:

Fear has a way of minimizing God’s miracles, making it easy to walk away from belief. Trace his goodness throughout the journey.

Memories of goodness run deep- Prodigal Son

Let God be God

Infinite God can also be intimate God

The places where there are no answers become the catalyst for belief. … The place of deepest asking is where believing begins.

The only way through this is to trace God’s goodness through the good things and the hard things. The outcome may be uncertain, but the reality of his love is not.

Blindness- mapping out my own promised land, not trusting God, bitterness, my desire to be in control.

An authentic relationship with God requires knowing our roles. Knowing who God is, knowing who I am.

I am not willing to give up the learning.

I cannot rest on something I can’t trust. Matthew 11:28-30

We can’t begin to understand the majesty of God unless we are willing to meet Him in a place where it can be made manifest. Out of my comfort zone.

Maybe the trial isn’t always about God trying to prove us or build our character. What if He is trying to help us discover His? I wonder what He has allowed you to go through so you might understand Him better.

What do you need God to be? Great, generous, abundant
My relationship with God is different when I allow Him to be instead of dictating what I want Him to do. He has the capacity to be what I need today and what I need tomorrow. Lean into His capacity, not mine.

Instead of giving God a to-do list, ask for one.

Focus on what I need God to be. Lean into His capacity. Instead of a to-do list, a list of what I need God to be, based on who He already is. The healer. The deliverer. Sure. Merciful. Powerful. My refuge. Protection. Peace in asking God to be what I need in my life right now. Peace in the asking, encouraging, restoring, settling peace. Lean into peace and prepare to listen. After asking for what I need God to be, I ask what He would have me do. Trace His goodness, trust. Lean in to God’s capacity.

When I question “Is God good? Can He be trusted?” maybe it is a sign that my soul is longing to know Him better.

Invitation to discover the reality of God in an ordinary life.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really good! I'm definitely going to revisit this book which is something I don't do often. I felt like Emily really got me.... she understood where I was coming from and even though our trials aren't the same, our pleadings and our yearning for God was the same.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I needed right here, right now.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always buying books authored by members of the Church of Jeus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Most sit on my shelf for months or years, till I pick them up--and it is always a delight when it speaks to me perfectly at the point I am in my life. Emily Freeman teaches something that I have felt more and more as I get older: "Sometimes God leads us into the place we don't want to go because He knows that it is only within that place that His true capacity for our good will be revealed."

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was lovely. I appreciate Freeman’s blunt acknowledgement that life is ROUGH and unexplainable a lot of times. It is difficult to reconcile belief in a God that is good, while witnessing the hurt in the world. In this book she attempts the wrestle! She had a good blend of refreshing Old Testament retellings and relatable, real personal experiences. I love a quick pick me up inspirational text. I just don’t know if this one was the right one for my headspace right now, but it could be at a different point in my life, and could very well could be for you in your wrestle with the difficult in the world.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You can spend your whole life learning, studying - going to church, listening to the sermon, studying the Word, you might even take notes. But at what point does the learning part transition into the living part? When does what you believe turn into what you will become?"

Wow. This is right on point. I would hedge a guess most of us that claim some connection to a religious existence would say we are pretty good at the first part. Its become part of our psyche even. We attend what we need to attend. Fulfil all our commitments at church. Take well intentioned notes during the lessons. We are pretty skilled in going through the motions. We may even be convinced we are doing a good job at sticking with it. Making good choices, being great people. But have we, actually, being able to successfully transition what we are listening to each week, or reading in our study into real life change?

This book posed new thought processes to me on almost every single page. Emily skillfully teaches as she goes with clear, simple to understand but descriptive text, using her own life experiences or those close to her - along with scriptures to validate the point. I usually chose a inspiration book with the mind that I'll keep it close by as a resource. Snag a few moments from the day to read a section or two. Before you know it you will have read much more than you planned. This book is so easy to relate to its hard to put down.

Gorgeous cover, this would make a great gift for anyone in your life that you want to help lift. Those with questions, those looking for comfort or peace. Or even those who just want to try out a new release. This would be the book for you. I was able to read this in its digital format, but I think this is one I would love to buy and have on my shelf.

Thanks to Shadow Mountain & Netgalley for the complimentary eARC. This is my honest review.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All in all I loved this book and it is definitely a 5 star book because it made me think and ponder and feel things. It's a book that leaves you wanting more and wanting to be better. It opened me up to the possibility of having more than I do which was the point of it.

That said at times I was also very frustrated while reading it because of the way it was written. At times it feels very choppy and it jumps around a lot. Some chapters were very short and ended before I got the full story and all the answers I wanted. Emily shares her struggles which are very personal and sometimes shares details and other times doesn't. I wanted the details instead of vagueness. And yet they were her own very personal struggles and trials so I also understood why sometimes I didn't get all that I wanted from a chapter.

This is a great book that I will keep and pull out again which is something that speaks volumes to how good this book is because I rarely keep a book I have already read.

[Ashley Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to read more spiritually uplifting books like this. Emily is very inspirational and I love her thoughts. This book is raw and honest. She doesn’t shy away from telling hard, personal stories, which makes it relatable and applicable to everyone. I’ve already recommended this many times. I love the premise of “even this”. Can I trust God with “even this”? Does God care about everything in my life- small things too- “even thins”? Is God big enough to help with big trials, “even this”? So many applications. I’m not going through any particular trials at the moment (maybe I shouldn’t announce that publicly 😉) so I wasn’t sure if it was the read I needed right now. But it was. Everyone needs this perspective and her thoughts. So read this!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lady, Emily Belle Freeman, speaks to my soul. This book resonated with me as she shared her journey with having a family member with type 1 diabetes, pregnancy bedrest, miscarriages, etc. All things that, I too, have experienced. Her ability to turn to the scriptures and apply them to her life, to listen, and follow the spirit is inspiring. She does an online study group entitled, "Don't Miss This", with David Butler that is excellent. Through my study of the New Testament they have been my study-buddies this year. ;-)

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE Emily Freeman's works and read everything from her!
I was really intrigued with the thought on the cover --
"GETTING TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN TRUST GOD WITH ANYTHING"

Are you like me???
Do you want to be in charge of your life?
Do you want to be in control of how it should play out?
Are you afraid to trust for fear of what He will do with your life?
If so-- then you, like me, need this book!
Learn to "LET GO" and "HAVE FAITH"

LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. THIS BOOK!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am just drawn to Emily Belle Freeman. I love the way she communicates, her experiences and her perspective on life. This was just what I needed to read. Talks about hard things in life and how she learned to trust God in all things. I read it and now I am listening to it because I loved it so much. So excited for her new calling

[Stephanie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of promise and peace that He knows each of us individually, our hearts and our heartbreaks. One of my favorite books this year and one I will read again and again. ❤️

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, look at the beauty of this cover. It's just magical to me. Second, this is a religious book written by and LDS Author. Having said this, I think this book would be good for anyone who is trying to find a way to trust God.

When I was asked to review this I was excited. I have to admit when I got the book in the mail, I was a little sad because I thought it was going to be a self-help book. I don't like self-help books because they always feel like they are written for me and what I am doing wrong ;).

I am happy to say that this book did not feel like a self-help book at all. It was written by a wife and mother who has faced her own struggles in life and questions "Why" and "Where is God". We journey with this mother and the way she finds how to trust God, and his timing.

So many things in this book I feel were written just for me, but in a good way. I think that no matter what religion you are it is important to find a relationship with God. Whatever that may look like to you as an individual. Sharing the same religion as the author though it did add a little more insight to things I can do to increase my faith and trust in God.

This book is beautifully written, and never made me feel as though I was doing something wrong. Quite the opposite. It helped me to see that another person has gone through hard times in her life and has also questioned "why" things are happening. It helped me understand that God answers prayers on his own time, and not ours. It was just beautiful.

Source: I was given this book as part of a tour in return for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way for this review. These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving this book five stars because this is now one of my favorite books ever on how to develop faith. However, her writing style is all in the present tense, no matter when things happened to her, and that was kind of hard to follow at times. But I got passed it because I learned so much. Here are quotes I want to remember:

You can spend your whole life learning, studying--going to church, listening to the sermon, studying the Word, you might even take notes. But at what point does the learning part transition into the living part? When does what you believe turn into who you will become? When does it penetrate the heart? When does the soaking in take place?

I have heard the story a thousand times; sometimes it feels as if I am becoming story about tethering, about tracing God’s goodness, about choosing whether or not to give a heart to God. You have heard it told. How the baby’s mother places him, tiny and helpless, into the handwoven sweet grass basket, how his sister stands at the brink to watch him float down the river alone, how the daughter of Pharaoh comes down at just the right time and lifts him out. The daughter who was unknowingly sent to bring about God’s goodness—God was aware of even this.

Did I want a butler or a God?

Would I trade what I had been through, given all I had learned?

It is during our waiting that God is orchestrating a bigger miracle.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more like a compilation of thoughts, feelings and lessons learned. Emily describes challenges she has faced and questions she has found herself asking God and herself because of those challenges. Each one has provided an opportunity to learn and grow. She has a beautiful and very emotional style of writing. It draws out your own feelings and helps you apply what she has learned to your own life. There are several passages that I found so profound and thought- provoking, but I can’t write them because I feel I am taking them out of context or they are just too long. But a couple great quotes:
“Maybe when I question, it is simply a sign that my soul is longing to understand Him better.”
“What will my journey look like if I trust God with my whole heart? What if I don’t approach life by leaning on my own understanding? Is it possible that God holds in His hands blessings I can’t even begin to anticipate? That he is patiently waiting for me to ask for the miracle He has designed rather than the one I have?”
“I want to discover God in the hard things, because a belief in a God that only provides happy things isn’t real. And I want it to be real, this relationship I have with God.”
Loved this book!

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This type of book normally isn’t my thing, so I had pretty low expectations for it. Wow! Am I glad I listened to this. It helped me think about my relationship with God in a new way. Part of me wishes I had the hard copy as I’m sure I would have made notes or stopped and thought about things a bit more; however, at the same time, maybe I enjoyed it so much because I sped through it and it gave me a lot to think about (albeit a bit jumbled since I listened to it so fast). Either way, I think I would recommend this book to someone that is looking for a spiritual boost, or even those that aren’t actively seeking a spiritual boost, but aren’t opposed to learning about someone else’s relationship with God.

[Brianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book so much I read it twice in a few weeks. First time through I just read and enjoyed every minute, and then the second time I took some notes. Definitely gave me things to think about. This was the first Emily Freeman book that I've read and I love her writing. I bought this book because it is one I know I will need to revisit from time to time.

[Brittany Sale · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When it seems heaven is silent, that is when the grandest orchestration is taking place.”

Quick, uniquely written read that allows you to see yourself and your own struggles in the stories the author relays from her own life and scripture.

Beautiful reminder that we are not alone in our waiting, wanting or worrying.

[Katherine Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short and very sweet read. I've only heard Emily Belle Freeman speak in General Conference, so the stories in this book were more casual and personal. I teared up multiple times at the relatability and am so grateful for her faith and the wisdom she's gained through trials. I think I am at a place where I needed this book, so it just hit home. I'd recommend it to anyone who is wondering why they are going through hard things, or if God can be trusted.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really was touched and inspired by some of her stories. Othes were just okay. It is a very interesting book. She writes well.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. ❤️ It's not going back on my bookshelf any time soon. I want/need to read it again and again.

[Shannon Symonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio. I loved this book. It is a soul soother, spiritually uplifting and healing. As someone who has worked with trauma survivors professionally, if you believe in Jesus Christ, this book is for you. Actually, this book is for everyone. I am a new fan of this author due to this book.

[Michelegg · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite reads this year, by one of my most loved authors. Emily just speaks to my soul. I loved every page, and savored every word.