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The Struggle Is Real: Getting Better at Life, Stronger in Faith, and Free from the Stuff Keeping You Stuck
“It just shouldn’t be this hard!”Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a day where everything that could go wrong does go wrong—you lock your keys in the car while it’s running, lose control with your kids, make a mistake at the office that results in hours more work. And just when you think not one more thing could possibly happen . . . well, fill in the blank.The struggle is real, friends. It may not be major stuff. Lives are not on the line here. But it makes us feel awful . . . and then we feel guilty for stressing when other people have “real” problems that are so much more serious.Yet the fact We live in a world that often feels harder than we think it should be. And so it can be easy to believe the stories we tell ourselves—that we’re doing it wrong, that we’ll be stuck in this place forever, that God doesn’t love us. We struggle to practice gratitude, to make godly choices, and to live our daily lives with confidence and contentment. So what can we do?Join popular Bible teacher and counselor Nicole Unice to discover why the struggle is real . . . and what to do about it. Nicole offers practical tools to help you navigate the daily ups and downs, and ways to rewrite your struggle into a new, God-centered life story. The Struggle Is Real is an invitation to take the hard, hurtful, and confusing moments and turn them into opportunities to grow in wisdom, strength, and joy.Includes access to free online video streaming for 90 days!
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2018
111 people are currently reading
838 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Unice
22 books104 followersNicole brings 20 years of leadership and counseling experience to her work as a coach and communicator. Nicole’s passion is facilitating environments of safety and vulnerability so that individuals and communities can courageously identify obstacles keeping them from maximum potential.
In her books and videos, Nicole is passionate about making transformation attainable and accessible to people in all stages of life. As a coach, Nicole brings clarity and courage for individuals and teams as they pursue a preferred future.
As a speaker, Nicole brings both wit and wisdom to the platform, with an honest and vulnerable approach that appeals to both faith and leadership environments alike.
Nicole works internationally but loves her home in Richmond, VA, which she shares with her husband and three teenagers. Nicole holds degrees from the College of William and Mary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and serves on the boards of East Mountain, an international leadership organization and CHAT, a local nonprofit focused on restorative work with young people in poverty.
Connect with Nicole online at her website (nicoleunice.com) or on any of these social media platforms:
Facebook.com/nicole.unice
Twitter.com/nicoleunice
Instagram.com/nicoleunice
See more at: http://www.nicoleunice.com/about
Her heart belongs to Hope Church in Richmond, Virginia, where she serves as ministry director and leads Praxis, a full-time ministry residency program for young leaders. Nicole holds degrees from the College of William and Mary and from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
In her books and videos, Nicole is passionate about making transformation attainable and accessible to people in all stages of life. As a coach, Nicole brings clarity and courage for individuals and teams as they pursue a preferred future.
As a speaker, Nicole brings both wit and wisdom to the platform, with an honest and vulnerable approach that appeals to both faith and leadership environments alike.
Nicole works internationally but loves her home in Richmond, VA, which she shares with her husband and three teenagers. Nicole holds degrees from the College of William and Mary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and serves on the boards of East Mountain, an international leadership organization and CHAT, a local nonprofit focused on restorative work with young people in poverty.
Connect with Nicole online at her website (nicoleunice.com) or on any of these social media platforms:
Facebook.com/nicole.unice
Twitter.com/nicoleunice
Instagram.com/nicoleunice
See more at: http://www.nicoleunice.com/about
Her heart belongs to Hope Church in Richmond, Virginia, where she serves as ministry director and leads Praxis, a full-time ministry residency program for young leaders. Nicole holds degrees from the College of William and Mary and from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 16, 2025
The struggle is real - now, THAT’s an understatement if I’ve ever heard one!
And you know what? Ms. Unice did a little research, and it’s the MOST POPULAR HASHTAG ON TWITTER right now.
There are a LOT of hurting people out there. And the solution HURTS too.
Much of the hurt comes from trying to live reasonably and peaceably in this harsh and vindictive world, and that’s what puts so MANY of us into a blue funk.
I knew an old-timer in management in the backbiting office I worked in, back in the seventies, who called this deep blue funk - my faithful Shadow in those days - my Brown Study.
It was a little nineteen fifty-ish pep talk for my sensitive soul!
Didn’t work. The Bad Guys were unbeatable.
Or so it seemed then.
But this book is a pep talk for those of us who have known those down-for-the-count blues, and it DOES work. Gets you up and running. And clears ‘em right out!
Because it goes to the root of ‘em.
Ms. Unice describes a business trip she recently took. She woke up on the wrong side of the bed the first day of it. Her mood was grim.
NOTHING felt right.
But - no excuses - she had to get tidy and dress up, spiffily, and pronto, cause she had to drive for miles in an unfamiliar state to get there.
Thankfully, she had her GPS! Has anyone else among you started to trust electronics IMPLICITLY?
Well, she did, and it just HAD to be wrong. Caput. She was lost - totally, utterly lost - and it was telling her to turn right down a narrow side street and keep driving for MANY MILES INTO NOWHERE.
But she did anyway.
And THEN her inner demons started to jump on her back and ride her like there was no tomorrow (where do they COME from, these monsters - and why do they always appear at absolutely the WORST moment???).
But then she heard that still silent Voice she knew so well - she is a pastor by calling - saying gently, ‘TRUST Me.’
And she started to relax.
Suddenly, she realized she was at the crest of a mountain, and the GPS told her to take a slow descent.
THE VIEW WAS BREATHTAKINGLY MAGNIFICENT. She was in AWE.
All her stress quickly evaporated. Peace descended like a Dove.
Why?
You see, don’t you, that a large part of all our horrible blue funk is UNNECESSARY? That it is our own mind, our OWN inner devils - our own, untrusting REACTION to stress - that is killing us?
Not the ugly situations we find ourselves in.
The DEVILS are not in the driver’s seat. Neither are we...
The Lord is! And who KNOWS what the next turn in our road will bring us?
It took me a long time to see this.
When I started reading this book I wasn’t actually here in our kitchen - I was in my own old and bitterly ugly Brown Study. In my embittered little mind...
It was February - cold, icy and miserable.
But Ms. Unice pulled me out of it, in no time.
I had to WORK with her in every page, every sentence.
But she did it.
Because she taught me to ignore all the loud, obstreperous voices outside and inside of me, and listen closely and attentively to the Still, Silent one inside me.
And, trust me - trusting the Big Guy Upstairs when he speaks to you so quietly can work MIRACLES.
Like it did for me when I read this beautiful book!
And you know what? Ms. Unice did a little research, and it’s the MOST POPULAR HASHTAG ON TWITTER right now.
There are a LOT of hurting people out there. And the solution HURTS too.
Much of the hurt comes from trying to live reasonably and peaceably in this harsh and vindictive world, and that’s what puts so MANY of us into a blue funk.
I knew an old-timer in management in the backbiting office I worked in, back in the seventies, who called this deep blue funk - my faithful Shadow in those days - my Brown Study.
It was a little nineteen fifty-ish pep talk for my sensitive soul!
Didn’t work. The Bad Guys were unbeatable.
Or so it seemed then.
But this book is a pep talk for those of us who have known those down-for-the-count blues, and it DOES work. Gets you up and running. And clears ‘em right out!
Because it goes to the root of ‘em.
Ms. Unice describes a business trip she recently took. She woke up on the wrong side of the bed the first day of it. Her mood was grim.
NOTHING felt right.
But - no excuses - she had to get tidy and dress up, spiffily, and pronto, cause she had to drive for miles in an unfamiliar state to get there.
Thankfully, she had her GPS! Has anyone else among you started to trust electronics IMPLICITLY?
Well, she did, and it just HAD to be wrong. Caput. She was lost - totally, utterly lost - and it was telling her to turn right down a narrow side street and keep driving for MANY MILES INTO NOWHERE.
But she did anyway.
And THEN her inner demons started to jump on her back and ride her like there was no tomorrow (where do they COME from, these monsters - and why do they always appear at absolutely the WORST moment???).
But then she heard that still silent Voice she knew so well - she is a pastor by calling - saying gently, ‘TRUST Me.’
And she started to relax.
Suddenly, she realized she was at the crest of a mountain, and the GPS told her to take a slow descent.
THE VIEW WAS BREATHTAKINGLY MAGNIFICENT. She was in AWE.
All her stress quickly evaporated. Peace descended like a Dove.
Why?
You see, don’t you, that a large part of all our horrible blue funk is UNNECESSARY? That it is our own mind, our OWN inner devils - our own, untrusting REACTION to stress - that is killing us?
Not the ugly situations we find ourselves in.
The DEVILS are not in the driver’s seat. Neither are we...
The Lord is! And who KNOWS what the next turn in our road will bring us?
It took me a long time to see this.
When I started reading this book I wasn’t actually here in our kitchen - I was in my own old and bitterly ugly Brown Study. In my embittered little mind...
It was February - cold, icy and miserable.
But Ms. Unice pulled me out of it, in no time.
I had to WORK with her in every page, every sentence.
But she did it.
Because she taught me to ignore all the loud, obstreperous voices outside and inside of me, and listen closely and attentively to the Still, Silent one inside me.
And, trust me - trusting the Big Guy Upstairs when he speaks to you so quietly can work MIRACLES.
Like it did for me when I read this beautiful book!
September 25, 2018
It is in the honest reflection of our struggles that we will finally ask the most important question of our lives: ‘Where is Jesus in my story?'”
I use the hashtag #thestruggleisreal most often when joking about which book – out of the copious possible titles – to read next. But in all honesty the struggle IS real and it’s usually much more serious than just playing Jenga with my TBR pile. The Struggle for all of us, as Nicole Unice puts it, is “the frustrating place between who I want to be and who I actually am“. The way we resolve the Struggle is by allowing God “to rewrite our stories with Jesus as the main character”, to allow Him to take that very real Struggle and use it for our good by transforming it into a transfigured story. One where everything we understood before is “reinterpreted in the light of His presence” and everything we expect for the future is “rewritten because of His love.”
Unice writes in a warm, witty, and personal style that instantly helps readers feel at home on the pages – with truth that wraps gently around our hearts while still stepping on our toes a few times (in the best possible way). I loved the way she relates these truths to the concept of story, an idea I can certainly embrace and easily understand. Unice uses plenty of Scripture to illustrate her points, and there were many times while reading that I saw familiar texts in new ways. This is a great book to use in personal devotional time, to read straight through, or to use in small group study. The ‘Keeping It Real’ section at the end of each chapter really helps us begin to immediately apply what she is teaching.
Bottom Line: The Struggle Is Real admits out loud what so many of us try to keep to ourselves – who we are isn’t who we want to be – and then clearly shows us how to bridge that frustrating gap. Pointing to Scripture and our Savior, Unice’s writing style and teaching points are easy to relate to, understand, and apply. The journey isn’t easy, nor will be the work of honestly reflecting on our struggle and turning it over to Jesus to be transformed. But Unice helps it feel not only attainable but absolutely worth it.
In every moment, between every line, may your new story point to Jesus, who holds every hardship and orchestrates every joy.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
I use the hashtag #thestruggleisreal most often when joking about which book – out of the copious possible titles – to read next. But in all honesty the struggle IS real and it’s usually much more serious than just playing Jenga with my TBR pile. The Struggle for all of us, as Nicole Unice puts it, is “the frustrating place between who I want to be and who I actually am“. The way we resolve the Struggle is by allowing God “to rewrite our stories with Jesus as the main character”, to allow Him to take that very real Struggle and use it for our good by transforming it into a transfigured story. One where everything we understood before is “reinterpreted in the light of His presence” and everything we expect for the future is “rewritten because of His love.”
Unice writes in a warm, witty, and personal style that instantly helps readers feel at home on the pages – with truth that wraps gently around our hearts while still stepping on our toes a few times (in the best possible way). I loved the way she relates these truths to the concept of story, an idea I can certainly embrace and easily understand. Unice uses plenty of Scripture to illustrate her points, and there were many times while reading that I saw familiar texts in new ways. This is a great book to use in personal devotional time, to read straight through, or to use in small group study. The ‘Keeping It Real’ section at the end of each chapter really helps us begin to immediately apply what she is teaching.
Bottom Line: The Struggle Is Real admits out loud what so many of us try to keep to ourselves – who we are isn’t who we want to be – and then clearly shows us how to bridge that frustrating gap. Pointing to Scripture and our Savior, Unice’s writing style and teaching points are easy to relate to, understand, and apply. The journey isn’t easy, nor will be the work of honestly reflecting on our struggle and turning it over to Jesus to be transformed. But Unice helps it feel not only attainable but absolutely worth it.
In every moment, between every line, may your new story point to Jesus, who holds every hardship and orchestrates every joy.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
September 3, 2018
“Fiddle Sticks”, “Shucks”, “Oh,Phooey”! These are the phrases that come out of my mouth when #thestruggleisreal . Ice cream falling off the cone like the cover, welcome to my world. I told a friend the moment this book showed up that it was truly a book about my life. Granted, I didn’t write it and it isn’t fiction but it is right there with me.
I found myself nodding, saying “yeah”, and thinking “this is me” through the book. First read, went this way, I was focused on how it correlated with my world. Second read, I was ready to try and apply. I was taking note on details and suggestions. Want to know a hint? It is so easy! The struggle bus won’t be chugging up the hill for you as hard after reading this book. I feel as though many will read this book and be ready to cheer “I can do this!” because it really makes sense and it is easier than picking up fallen ice cream from the floor. So eat your ice cream sundae, pick up this book and find out how to make the struggle a bit better.
August 25, 2018
It's all in the title - the struggle IS real. I don't know about you, but I find myself having daily struggles, and each day is different. It could be home, work, praying, making the time to spend with the Lord, and keeping the enemy's nasty little voice away from me. Nicole Unice gets that. Nicole Unice understands me, like really understands me. This book is not only filled with lots of great bible verses we can look up, questions to make us think, and sound advice; it also contains personal stories. Nothing makes me connect more to an author than personal stories. AS I was reading them, I could easily see myself in her shoes. This is what made the book real for me."The Voices" chapter was what resonated with me the most. I have voices in my head everyday (and no, not those kind of voices). The voices that tell me I'm not good enough, that I need to change, and that my faith isn't strong enough. Those are just voices of the enemy, and I really liked the author's take on them in this chapter.
Friends, I don't advocate for a lot of non-fiction books like this, but this book......yeah I'm definitely advocating for it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and can myself reading it again in the future as a reminder that the struggle is real, and I am not alone in it. Plus, it has a really cute cover ;) I encourage you to read it, ponder what's inside, and know that you are not alone in this. I think it'll open your eyes to so many things. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Friends, I don't advocate for a lot of non-fiction books like this, but this book......yeah I'm definitely advocating for it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and can myself reading it again in the future as a reminder that the struggle is real, and I am not alone in it. Plus, it has a really cute cover ;) I encourage you to read it, ponder what's inside, and know that you are not alone in this. I think it'll open your eyes to so many things. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 29, 2018
Let’s face it: life can be a struggle. And that’s true for everyone, whether we face big tragedies or just everyday stresses that add up over time. This is a sinful world, and thus none of us is getting out of here without some struggle.
That’s the issue Nicole Unice addresses in her new book, The Struggle is Real. Nicole is a counselor and this really shows in her writing. I enjoyed her combination of Biblical truth and counseling wisdom in this book. For instance, she discusses how our struggles tend to lead to disappointment, yet when viewed through a heavenly perspective, just the opposite is true: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment” (Romans 5: 3-5). “The deeper the struggle, the deeper the person.”
She goes on to mention the verse in James exhorting us to consider it all joy when we face struggles, since these lead to the strengthening of our faith.
Unice speaks about hard times in her own life, and about how she hesitated to mention them because they weren’t “awful” — no one died, no one had an incurable disease. It seemed wrong somehow to label her problems as “suffering.” But struggles do not have to be visible or big to others in order for us to feel them and suffer from them. It can help to admit this to ourselves. In the midst of hard times, Unice has benefited from repeating this mantra to herself: “God is greatest, and He knows best.” She also mentioned cutting up an apple each day and eating it — something concrete that she could do to focus on living in a healthy way and taking care of herself in a small way, the way God cares for us in the midst of our daily struggles.
Nicole puts a lot of emphasis on our thinking, and of changing our thoughts in order to change our perspective on what goes on in our lives. I agree that this is a powerful tool. One example she gave was of a woman who felt guilty about her relatives’ many problems. The woman felt that, as a Christian, she should have been able to help these people more. But Unice cautioned her that this type of thinking actually revealed a type of pride, of putting herself in God’s place. We must love those in our lives, but leave the consequences to God. He is the one who is truly in charge.
That’s the issue Nicole Unice addresses in her new book, The Struggle is Real. Nicole is a counselor and this really shows in her writing. I enjoyed her combination of Biblical truth and counseling wisdom in this book. For instance, she discusses how our struggles tend to lead to disappointment, yet when viewed through a heavenly perspective, just the opposite is true: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment” (Romans 5: 3-5). “The deeper the struggle, the deeper the person.”
She goes on to mention the verse in James exhorting us to consider it all joy when we face struggles, since these lead to the strengthening of our faith.
Unice speaks about hard times in her own life, and about how she hesitated to mention them because they weren’t “awful” — no one died, no one had an incurable disease. It seemed wrong somehow to label her problems as “suffering.” But struggles do not have to be visible or big to others in order for us to feel them and suffer from them. It can help to admit this to ourselves. In the midst of hard times, Unice has benefited from repeating this mantra to herself: “God is greatest, and He knows best.” She also mentioned cutting up an apple each day and eating it — something concrete that she could do to focus on living in a healthy way and taking care of herself in a small way, the way God cares for us in the midst of our daily struggles.
Nicole puts a lot of emphasis on our thinking, and of changing our thoughts in order to change our perspective on what goes on in our lives. I agree that this is a powerful tool. One example she gave was of a woman who felt guilty about her relatives’ many problems. The woman felt that, as a Christian, she should have been able to help these people more. But Unice cautioned her that this type of thinking actually revealed a type of pride, of putting herself in God’s place. We must love those in our lives, but leave the consequences to God. He is the one who is truly in charge.
August 30, 2018
First World Problems according to the Urban Dictionary: Problems from living in a wealthy, industrialized nation that third-worlders would probably roll their eyes at. Here in the US, we have no idea. As Christians, we have no idea how hard it can be. Yes, people may laugh at us, because we love Jesus. Some may lose promotions, because they won’t compromise their Christianity. But few are beaten, imprisoned, or executed for following Christ.
In the light of this, I started reading The Struggle is Real. I thought it started out trite and a bit light, but Nicole Unice brings it deeper as she moves along in the book, helping you examine the deeper aspects of the “surface-y problems”. I like the quote that she provides in the 10th Chapter: “The unexamined life is not worth living” Socrates (ha … can’t help but hear Bill and Ted’s voices saying “Soh-Crates” 😊 ) The Psalmist says “Search me, O God.” The implication is that, not only will God search us, but He will reveal to us the sins in our lives that harm our relationship with Him, and with others. I think this book can be used as a tool to stir up some of the stuff in our lives that causes us to struggle and leads us to deeper sins. When you read this book, be sure to use God’s Word as your final authority.
One quibble I have with the book is the use of The Message. This is a paraphrase – in The Message style – It’s some dude’s idea of what the Bible is sayin’. The biggest problem is most times, the verses in The Message, don’t say and/or don’t mean what the actual translations say and mean. This is a huge danger in using The Message for teaching purposes. I looked up the verses in the English Standard Version, if they said something completely different, which they often did, I disregarded what the author said after it, because I could not take it seriously. Basically, the thought didn’t have a strong foundation, so I didn’t bother giving it much consideration. Thankfully, it was not always used throughout the book.
Overall, I found the book to be beneficial and could be a blessing to many.
DISCLAIMER: I received this book as a gift. The opinions I express are provided without obligation for a positive review. I receive no compensation for the review, other than a good read.
In the light of this, I started reading The Struggle is Real. I thought it started out trite and a bit light, but Nicole Unice brings it deeper as she moves along in the book, helping you examine the deeper aspects of the “surface-y problems”. I like the quote that she provides in the 10th Chapter: “The unexamined life is not worth living” Socrates (ha … can’t help but hear Bill and Ted’s voices saying “Soh-Crates” 😊 ) The Psalmist says “Search me, O God.” The implication is that, not only will God search us, but He will reveal to us the sins in our lives that harm our relationship with Him, and with others. I think this book can be used as a tool to stir up some of the stuff in our lives that causes us to struggle and leads us to deeper sins. When you read this book, be sure to use God’s Word as your final authority.
One quibble I have with the book is the use of The Message. This is a paraphrase – in The Message style – It’s some dude’s idea of what the Bible is sayin’. The biggest problem is most times, the verses in The Message, don’t say and/or don’t mean what the actual translations say and mean. This is a huge danger in using The Message for teaching purposes. I looked up the verses in the English Standard Version, if they said something completely different, which they often did, I disregarded what the author said after it, because I could not take it seriously. Basically, the thought didn’t have a strong foundation, so I didn’t bother giving it much consideration. Thankfully, it was not always used throughout the book.
Overall, I found the book to be beneficial and could be a blessing to many.
DISCLAIMER: I received this book as a gift. The opinions I express are provided without obligation for a positive review. I receive no compensation for the review, other than a good read.
August 25, 2018
This is a good book for Christians who want to understand why life is hard. Unice reminds us that God has provided the way for us to grow stronger and smarter by going through difficult experiences. God desires to transform us and obstacles are what He uses. That may not be welcome truth but Unice helps us understand it with the heart of a counselor.
I like that Unice challenges us to look at life from God's perspective. She also challenges us to be self aware and to recognize the life God intended for us. In the section on our stories, I was again reminded how important our childhood is in influencing our adult life. She encourages us to live out a freedom cycle as we move into a new story. There are many stories included from Unices' own life and from the Bible to illustrate her teaching. She has also included questions for thought at the end of each chapter.
I recommend this thought provoking book to Christians who feel overwhelmed with life. You'll be challenged to think biblically and to live out your new story in God's love.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book though Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.
I like that Unice challenges us to look at life from God's perspective. She also challenges us to be self aware and to recognize the life God intended for us. In the section on our stories, I was again reminded how important our childhood is in influencing our adult life. She encourages us to live out a freedom cycle as we move into a new story. There are many stories included from Unices' own life and from the Bible to illustrate her teaching. She has also included questions for thought at the end of each chapter.
I recommend this thought provoking book to Christians who feel overwhelmed with life. You'll be challenged to think biblically and to live out your new story in God's love.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book though Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.
October 1, 2018
I highly recommend taking on the self-reflection called upon by this author. Embrace the struggle of surrender to a Christ-centered life. Expect the pain and rejoice in the peace of knowing that God is great and He knows best. This book shook me, challenged me, and liberated parts of me that were coasting through my faith. I will read sections of this book frequently for the necessary reminder to live my "new story" that God lovingly writes for me.
April 21, 2019
Sometimes we love to hear new truths: a better organization system; a new way to fold socks; exotic recipes; hot dating tips for long married couples. This book might enlighten but the ideas and truths are not new. They are tried, tested and trustworthy. However, Ms Unice presentation is fresh, relevant and timely. I rarely reread but before I finished it I knew I would enjoy it even more the second time through. Everything true is new again.
March 19, 2022
I listened to/read this audiobook in just a few days. I am looking forward to breaking this book down into 6 sessions with my women’s bible study group on Monday nights. Such great insights by the author and I can’t wait to discuss topic in more depth. Highly recommend his one and it is FREE with your Audible membership!
October 8, 2018
A very good book to read. Good Points.
December 22, 2018
Not a bad book. Just wasnt what I was looking for. Could be a great group book read for those who don't feel like they are really living out their faith.
August 22, 2018
Hits all the emotions and makes you really take inventory of your heart and mind....a wonderfully written, scripture-based book that feels like the most worthwhile and productive counseling session I’ve ever had! Thank you to Nicole for sharing her experiences, faith and wisdom with us.
September 5, 2018
The Struggle is real
The Struggle is Real. I read this book and many sections resonated with my journey.
The theme of this book is realizing that "GOD IS GREATEST. HE ALSO KNOWS BEST."
During my life, I felt confused and lost. I questioned why? Why did my parents divorce? Why did my Dad die so young? Why did I have to go through a divorce? Yes, THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.
My relationship with GOD has grown as I accepted that he knew best. He was there for me. He would not forsake me. A couple of sentences in the book state that if you follow the Lord, he will work it out. I know this is true. I trusted that everything would be ok. GOD knows what he is doing.
About the Book
Title: The Struggle is RealThe Struggle is Real cover
Author:Nicole Unice
Genre:Non-fiction, Christian life, spiritual Growth
Release date: August 21, 2018
“It just shouldn’t be this hard!”
Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a day where everything that could go wrong does go wrong—you lock your keys in the car while it’s running, lose control with your kids, make a mistake at the office that results in hours more work. And just when you think not one more thing could possibly happen . . . well, fill in the blank.
The struggle is real, friends. It may not be major stuff. Lives are not on the line here. But it makes us feel awful . . . and then we feel guilty for stressing when other people have “real” problems that are so much more serious.
Yet the fact remains: We live in a world that often feels harder than we think it should be. And so it can be easy to believe the stories we tell ourselves—that we’re doing it wrong, that we’ll be stuck in this place forever, that God doesn’t love us. We struggle to practice gratitude, to make godly choices, and to live our daily lives with confidence and contentment. So what can we do?
Join popular Bible teacher and counselor Nicole Unice to discover why the struggle is real . . . and what to do about it. Nicole offers practical tools to help you navigate the daily ups and downs, and ways to rewrite your struggle into a new, God-centered life story. The Struggle Is Realis an invitation to take the hard, hurtful, and confusing moments and turn them into opportunities to grow in wisdom, strength, and joy.
Click here to purchase your copy!
About the Author
Nicole UniceNicole Unice is a Bible teacher, author, and passionate communicator who delights in bringing God’s Word to life in a personal and relevant way. Her training as a counselor informs her work, as she emphasizes the importance of facing our own reality and embracing the transforming power of God’s grace.
Her heart belongs to Hope Church in Richmond, Virginia, where she serves as ministry director, leading discipleship and Praxis, a full-time ministry residency program for young leaders. In addition, Nicole co-hosts Hope Cast, a podcast on spiritual formation, leadership, and relationships.
Nicole’s invitations to speak have taken her across the world, and her books come to life through her popular video curriculum series found on RightNow Media. Her first book, She’s Got Issues, released in May 2012 and speaks to a fundamental question of faith: Is being a Christian supposed to change me? Also available is a companion curriculum, She’s Got Issues DVD Group Experience, a six-session journey that includes interviews, questions, and teaching expanding on the book. Her subsequent titles—Brave Enough and The Struggle Is Real—help people distill the complicated stuff of life into a simple and clear path to Jesus.
Nicole holds degrees from the College of William and Mary and from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She loves creating a space for ministry and spiritual formation in the everyday rhythms of life with three children, two pups, one husband, and a whole community of twentysomethings who regularly raid her fridge.
Nicole is known for making friends in all corners of the world, especially via social media. Connect with her on Instagram, YouTube, or at nicoleunice.com—and hopefully face-to-face at one of her upcoming events.
Guest Post from Nicole Unice
There’s a question we throw around that I bet means a whole lot more than we would expect. How many times a week—or a day!–are you asked:
“How are you?”
I don’t know about you, but the answer I hear and give the most is something like …. ”fine”, or —“busy but good!”? It’s kind of the socially acceptable answer, right?
A friend asked me this question just this week as I walked into work. I was multitasking as usual while knee deep into a cell phone conversation about yet another problem. I didn’t answer her, because if I did—if I really stopped and answered—I might have started crying, right there on the spot. My lips formed the word “fine” when in reality, I was anything but—at least not in that moment. And life doesn’t always stop long enough to give a real answer….
But isn’t “fine” the socially accepted answer because it works….or does it?
The reality is, we are all struggling, to different degrees and complexity levels, each and every day. The Struggle IS Real, and when you add up both the little and big daily struggles, it’s easy to understand why this hashtag social media rockstar exists—over 3 million deep at #thestruggleisreal.
But if we dig a little deeper into this common complaint, we might discover a much more sinister root—and real help toward freedom and wisdom in Christ.
In my newest book, The Struggle is Real, that’s what I’ve done. I address issues like:
Life is much harder than I thought it would be, and I feel bad saying it.
There are some things about myself that I can’t change…it’s just how I am, and it frustrates me.
I really don’t know if God is interested in my life, and even if He is, I don’t know how to hear from Him.
(and if you are wondering how real your struggle is, I’ve included a Good Life Inventory on p. 14!)
I wrote this book because I know how real the struggle truly is—and I want us to discover the true source of the answer to these age-old problems. My hope is to take my readers through a journey into this gap between our “just fine” lives and the truly good lives we are seeking and are hungry for. To offer hope that we can live the best life we can, this side of heaven.
Yep, the struggle is definitely real. But the struggle can also start the story. It can motivate us to rewrite our lives into a new story. The struggles can lead us to a new source of hope and freedom, and somehow, even the worst of life can become a place of strength and growth. The struggle is real. And the struggle can be good.
Blog Stops
A Baker’s Perspective, August 25
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 25
Bibliophile Reviews, August 26
Reading Is My SuperPower, August 27
Texas Book-aholic, August 28
All-of-a-kind Mom, August 29
Girls in White Dresses, August 29
Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, August 29
Carpe Diem, August 30
Multifarious, August 31
Janices book reviews, September 1
Inklings and Notions, September 2
Book by Book, September 3
Mary Hake, September 3
proud to be an autism mom, September 4
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 4
Margaret Kazmierczak, September 5
Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 6
Godly Book Reviews, September 7
Bigreadersite, September 7
Giveaway
9138bfbb-b4a6-4808-a026-99dce89f9cfb
To celebrate her tour, Nicole is giving away a grand prize of a “The Struggle is Real” T-Shirt!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d19c/the-s...
The Struggle is Real. I read this book and many sections resonated with my journey.
The theme of this book is realizing that "GOD IS GREATEST. HE ALSO KNOWS BEST."
During my life, I felt confused and lost. I questioned why? Why did my parents divorce? Why did my Dad die so young? Why did I have to go through a divorce? Yes, THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.
My relationship with GOD has grown as I accepted that he knew best. He was there for me. He would not forsake me. A couple of sentences in the book state that if you follow the Lord, he will work it out. I know this is true. I trusted that everything would be ok. GOD knows what he is doing.
About the Book
Title: The Struggle is RealThe Struggle is Real cover
Author:Nicole Unice
Genre:Non-fiction, Christian life, spiritual Growth
Release date: August 21, 2018
“It just shouldn’t be this hard!”
Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a day where everything that could go wrong does go wrong—you lock your keys in the car while it’s running, lose control with your kids, make a mistake at the office that results in hours more work. And just when you think not one more thing could possibly happen . . . well, fill in the blank.
The struggle is real, friends. It may not be major stuff. Lives are not on the line here. But it makes us feel awful . . . and then we feel guilty for stressing when other people have “real” problems that are so much more serious.
Yet the fact remains: We live in a world that often feels harder than we think it should be. And so it can be easy to believe the stories we tell ourselves—that we’re doing it wrong, that we’ll be stuck in this place forever, that God doesn’t love us. We struggle to practice gratitude, to make godly choices, and to live our daily lives with confidence and contentment. So what can we do?
Join popular Bible teacher and counselor Nicole Unice to discover why the struggle is real . . . and what to do about it. Nicole offers practical tools to help you navigate the daily ups and downs, and ways to rewrite your struggle into a new, God-centered life story. The Struggle Is Realis an invitation to take the hard, hurtful, and confusing moments and turn them into opportunities to grow in wisdom, strength, and joy.
Click here to purchase your copy!
About the Author
Nicole UniceNicole Unice is a Bible teacher, author, and passionate communicator who delights in bringing God’s Word to life in a personal and relevant way. Her training as a counselor informs her work, as she emphasizes the importance of facing our own reality and embracing the transforming power of God’s grace.
Her heart belongs to Hope Church in Richmond, Virginia, where she serves as ministry director, leading discipleship and Praxis, a full-time ministry residency program for young leaders. In addition, Nicole co-hosts Hope Cast, a podcast on spiritual formation, leadership, and relationships.
Nicole’s invitations to speak have taken her across the world, and her books come to life through her popular video curriculum series found on RightNow Media. Her first book, She’s Got Issues, released in May 2012 and speaks to a fundamental question of faith: Is being a Christian supposed to change me? Also available is a companion curriculum, She’s Got Issues DVD Group Experience, a six-session journey that includes interviews, questions, and teaching expanding on the book. Her subsequent titles—Brave Enough and The Struggle Is Real—help people distill the complicated stuff of life into a simple and clear path to Jesus.
Nicole holds degrees from the College of William and Mary and from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She loves creating a space for ministry and spiritual formation in the everyday rhythms of life with three children, two pups, one husband, and a whole community of twentysomethings who regularly raid her fridge.
Nicole is known for making friends in all corners of the world, especially via social media. Connect with her on Instagram, YouTube, or at nicoleunice.com—and hopefully face-to-face at one of her upcoming events.
Guest Post from Nicole Unice
There’s a question we throw around that I bet means a whole lot more than we would expect. How many times a week—or a day!–are you asked:
“How are you?”
I don’t know about you, but the answer I hear and give the most is something like …. ”fine”, or —“busy but good!”? It’s kind of the socially acceptable answer, right?
A friend asked me this question just this week as I walked into work. I was multitasking as usual while knee deep into a cell phone conversation about yet another problem. I didn’t answer her, because if I did—if I really stopped and answered—I might have started crying, right there on the spot. My lips formed the word “fine” when in reality, I was anything but—at least not in that moment. And life doesn’t always stop long enough to give a real answer….
But isn’t “fine” the socially accepted answer because it works….or does it?
The reality is, we are all struggling, to different degrees and complexity levels, each and every day. The Struggle IS Real, and when you add up both the little and big daily struggles, it’s easy to understand why this hashtag social media rockstar exists—over 3 million deep at #thestruggleisreal.
But if we dig a little deeper into this common complaint, we might discover a much more sinister root—and real help toward freedom and wisdom in Christ.
In my newest book, The Struggle is Real, that’s what I’ve done. I address issues like:
Life is much harder than I thought it would be, and I feel bad saying it.
There are some things about myself that I can’t change…it’s just how I am, and it frustrates me.
I really don’t know if God is interested in my life, and even if He is, I don’t know how to hear from Him.
(and if you are wondering how real your struggle is, I’ve included a Good Life Inventory on p. 14!)
I wrote this book because I know how real the struggle truly is—and I want us to discover the true source of the answer to these age-old problems. My hope is to take my readers through a journey into this gap between our “just fine” lives and the truly good lives we are seeking and are hungry for. To offer hope that we can live the best life we can, this side of heaven.
Yep, the struggle is definitely real. But the struggle can also start the story. It can motivate us to rewrite our lives into a new story. The struggles can lead us to a new source of hope and freedom, and somehow, even the worst of life can become a place of strength and growth. The struggle is real. And the struggle can be good.
Blog Stops
A Baker’s Perspective, August 25
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 25
Bibliophile Reviews, August 26
Reading Is My SuperPower, August 27
Texas Book-aholic, August 28
All-of-a-kind Mom, August 29
Girls in White Dresses, August 29
Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, August 29
Carpe Diem, August 30
Multifarious, August 31
Janices book reviews, September 1
Inklings and Notions, September 2
Book by Book, September 3
Mary Hake, September 3
proud to be an autism mom, September 4
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 4
Margaret Kazmierczak, September 5
Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 6
Godly Book Reviews, September 7
Bigreadersite, September 7
Giveaway
9138bfbb-b4a6-4808-a026-99dce89f9cfb
To celebrate her tour, Nicole is giving away a grand prize of a “The Struggle is Real” T-Shirt!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d19c/the-s...
August 28, 2018
What a day I have had. The washer goes out, my son needs money, and the house is a mess. I go to the store and am focused on getting what I need and getting home. I had to laugh as I started the book because I am that person where everything goes wrong at once. It is like an avalanche that won't stop. Do you really think I want to chat with the cashier at the store? The lady was polite and asked the dreaded question, "How are you?" Now I wanted to say , "Since you asked, my day is going down hill fast. I am at the end of my rope and if one more thing happens I will scream." Of course I smiled and said what everyone says, "I'm fine." We do this because we don't want to share and we want everyone to think we have it all together.
I'm pretty sure the author had me in mind when she wrote this book. I do feel alone and empty inside. I appreciate how open the author is with her own struggles. I can understand her frustration at the carpool lane. I found it ironic that she was on the phone explaining to someone about grace while berating the poor lady directing the traffic. The not so funny part of this story is that we can all relate to her. I believe God places us in situations to show us where we lack grace, forgiveness and compassion.
We all get to make choices in how we handle things. I choose to keep everything inside, shut out the world and suffer silently. That certainly isn't what God wants for me. He wants me to come to Him, trust Him and have a relationship with Him. Of course we will have struggles, but if we continue to shut Him out we are going to dig the hole deeper. " The greatest challenge in life will be the challenge of choice."
I liked how the author speaks from her heart and talks about subjects that can help heal you from emotional pain. It is true that I don't have any really close friends. I have been like that my entire life. There is a boundary that I won't allow people to wander into to get close to me. I know it's about trust and I struggle with that a lot. When the author talked about having a relationship with God but still struggle with bitterness , anger and other emotions that keep me bound up I knew what was coming next. How can I be growing in my relationship with God, if I still struggle with the very things He wants to heal me from? As adults we seem to think we have it all together and fool ourselves and those around us into believing we are happy. The author makes good points about having a real relationship with God. I sure want that and I tell myself I am a work in progress.
We struggle with things everyday, but if we allow ourselves to stay there and let them pile up on us, we are missing out on the joy that God has for us. The concept that God loves us unconditionally blows my mind sometimes. How can He love someone like me who lives on the edge and feels like jumping off ? The good news is that "He will never leave us, nor forsake us." I love that scripture and know with all my heart that there is someone near who watches over me and loves me so deep that I may never comprehend how much. The one thing I took away from this book the most was how important our relationship with God is. He desires to talk to us and for us to spend time in His word.
The author includes a section at the end of every chapter called. "Keeping It Real." I encourage readers to participate in the questions which help you better understand the chapter and also dig deep into yourself. We all struggle with everyday life, but some of us have struggled for years from trauma, hurt, loss and other things. The book has helped me to look at my relationship with God and realize that I still have a barrier up. We will always have some kind of struggle, but how we deal with it can make the difference between staying in a place of bitterness, or coming through it with joy and a deeper relationship with God and others. It's time for us to reach out to each other and be the hands and feet God called us to be.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
I'm pretty sure the author had me in mind when she wrote this book. I do feel alone and empty inside. I appreciate how open the author is with her own struggles. I can understand her frustration at the carpool lane. I found it ironic that she was on the phone explaining to someone about grace while berating the poor lady directing the traffic. The not so funny part of this story is that we can all relate to her. I believe God places us in situations to show us where we lack grace, forgiveness and compassion.
We all get to make choices in how we handle things. I choose to keep everything inside, shut out the world and suffer silently. That certainly isn't what God wants for me. He wants me to come to Him, trust Him and have a relationship with Him. Of course we will have struggles, but if we continue to shut Him out we are going to dig the hole deeper. " The greatest challenge in life will be the challenge of choice."
I liked how the author speaks from her heart and talks about subjects that can help heal you from emotional pain. It is true that I don't have any really close friends. I have been like that my entire life. There is a boundary that I won't allow people to wander into to get close to me. I know it's about trust and I struggle with that a lot. When the author talked about having a relationship with God but still struggle with bitterness , anger and other emotions that keep me bound up I knew what was coming next. How can I be growing in my relationship with God, if I still struggle with the very things He wants to heal me from? As adults we seem to think we have it all together and fool ourselves and those around us into believing we are happy. The author makes good points about having a real relationship with God. I sure want that and I tell myself I am a work in progress.
We struggle with things everyday, but if we allow ourselves to stay there and let them pile up on us, we are missing out on the joy that God has for us. The concept that God loves us unconditionally blows my mind sometimes. How can He love someone like me who lives on the edge and feels like jumping off ? The good news is that "He will never leave us, nor forsake us." I love that scripture and know with all my heart that there is someone near who watches over me and loves me so deep that I may never comprehend how much. The one thing I took away from this book the most was how important our relationship with God is. He desires to talk to us and for us to spend time in His word.
The author includes a section at the end of every chapter called. "Keeping It Real." I encourage readers to participate in the questions which help you better understand the chapter and also dig deep into yourself. We all struggle with everyday life, but some of us have struggled for years from trauma, hurt, loss and other things. The book has helped me to look at my relationship with God and realize that I still have a barrier up. We will always have some kind of struggle, but how we deal with it can make the difference between staying in a place of bitterness, or coming through it with joy and a deeper relationship with God and others. It's time for us to reach out to each other and be the hands and feet God called us to be.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
August 29, 2018
Deep sigh. This is one of those reviews where I’m not quite sure where to start and where to stop. Mostly because, as I read this book, I feel as though the author must have been speaking directly to me! She gets where I’m coming from, where I’m at (totally a God thing!).
With the type of childhood that I had, I think it was ingrained in me that I shouldn’t ever admit when things are hard. You hide your feelings. You try to cover up the bad things in life that you’re facing, and you put on a good front. You at least make an attempt at making it look like you have your act together, and life is all good. Which means I’m not allowed to be real, or to admit that life is hard, and I’m struggling!
Today I was reading a chapter titled “Reality”. Um…WOW…talk about stomping on my toes really hard. Yeah, this did it!
Okay folks. I admit it. I am in a season of suffering. Somedays it feels much more intense than others. Somedays I hardly think of it at all. I think it is hard to admit, because it does make it feel a whole lot more real. It is easier to tell myself, “Oh, what I am going through is really nothing! Come on! Get over it! Other people have real struggles and suffering, stop being ridiculous!!” Which means I am not allowing myself to really process my true thoughts and feelings.
The author goes on to point out that we are told in the Bible that we WILL have struggles and suffering. And this is how God forms us into the person He wants us to become. (But why does it actually have to hurt?! 😦 )
Here is one powerful quote, right from this book:
“The struggle can never be real if we don’t get real about the struggle.”
Maybe you begin to see why I think this book is a hard one. Yet it is so very relevant. I think it is probably relevant to all of us.
How can I let God work in my heart, through my struggles? Let Him use them to help me become who He wants me to be. I think it means embracing them head on, with His help. And WOW–does that ever seem hard.
I know one of my struggles is seeing God for who He really is, and then along with that, seeing myself as He sees me. I think, once I can begin to grasp those realities just a tiny bit more (I mean, how can we as humans ever really comprehend who God is?! He’s way beyond our comprehension or imagination!) I can truly start to live as He wants.
What is so very comforting is that where God is at in my life has absolutely nothing to do with my feelings. Even though I can’t feel Him, He’s with me each step of the way. He’s there in the midst of painful relationships. And even when I feel alone, He is there and He understands. He never leaves me. He wants me to desperately cry out to Him. And realize that He is my only strength.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
With the type of childhood that I had, I think it was ingrained in me that I shouldn’t ever admit when things are hard. You hide your feelings. You try to cover up the bad things in life that you’re facing, and you put on a good front. You at least make an attempt at making it look like you have your act together, and life is all good. Which means I’m not allowed to be real, or to admit that life is hard, and I’m struggling!
Today I was reading a chapter titled “Reality”. Um…WOW…talk about stomping on my toes really hard. Yeah, this did it!
Okay folks. I admit it. I am in a season of suffering. Somedays it feels much more intense than others. Somedays I hardly think of it at all. I think it is hard to admit, because it does make it feel a whole lot more real. It is easier to tell myself, “Oh, what I am going through is really nothing! Come on! Get over it! Other people have real struggles and suffering, stop being ridiculous!!” Which means I am not allowing myself to really process my true thoughts and feelings.
The author goes on to point out that we are told in the Bible that we WILL have struggles and suffering. And this is how God forms us into the person He wants us to become. (But why does it actually have to hurt?! 😦 )
Here is one powerful quote, right from this book:
“The struggle can never be real if we don’t get real about the struggle.”
Maybe you begin to see why I think this book is a hard one. Yet it is so very relevant. I think it is probably relevant to all of us.
How can I let God work in my heart, through my struggles? Let Him use them to help me become who He wants me to be. I think it means embracing them head on, with His help. And WOW–does that ever seem hard.
I know one of my struggles is seeing God for who He really is, and then along with that, seeing myself as He sees me. I think, once I can begin to grasp those realities just a tiny bit more (I mean, how can we as humans ever really comprehend who God is?! He’s way beyond our comprehension or imagination!) I can truly start to live as He wants.
What is so very comforting is that where God is at in my life has absolutely nothing to do with my feelings. Even though I can’t feel Him, He’s with me each step of the way. He’s there in the midst of painful relationships. And even when I feel alone, He is there and He understands. He never leaves me. He wants me to desperately cry out to Him. And realize that He is my only strength.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
September 5, 2018
My Penny’s Worth
Can a book help you change the story of your life? Will it transform how you live today and move you forward to tomorrow? Are you willing to commit your sin-sick soul to God to be transformed? Do you tell people you are fine even when you’re not?
“The struggle is about the disconnect between what I believe and how I act, how I understand the promises of God and my actual experiences with God. The who I want to be or who I actually am. We don’t need to resolve the struggle alone.” Excerpt from the Struggle is Real.
What I like about the book
Nicole Unice says that we all have struggles and it is through them that we learn who God is and the story He wants to write in our lives. So this book is about being honest with ourselves and taking the steps and responsibility to rewrite our stories for a better outcome. It requires work on our behalf and a belief that “God is greatest, and He knows best.” Through this book, you get to address issues, if you want, from the past to change the storyline for today and tomorrow. Intrigued? What do I like about this? The fact that we can change our story and we don’t have to do it on our own. If you doubt this is possible then read this book.
Easy to read
The Struggle is Real is easy to read, but it is not a book to pick up and rush through. It needs time to digest, to act upon and accept the challenges it raises. It does provide answers. However, you need to be prepared to do some work to get to the answers.
Difficult issues
Life is a struggle with many complicated problems that range from our past and present attitude. Nicole Unice confirms this and draws attention to the areas that we need to work on and change. I have pages of notes and quotes from her book too long to post here! There is so much good stuff in it along with examples from the Bible. And I love the “perm story.” Those difficult issues we all have, need to be viewed through God ’s understanding rather than our own.
Have you heard of a “good desperation”? If not it is time to find out more.
Who would benefit from reading this book?
If you have a broken relationship with God, yourself, with others or the world, then this is the book for you. It will help rewrite your story and deepen your roots in God who, if you take Him at His Word will change your life.
Many thanks, Nicole Unice for writing this thought-provoking self-help book.
*I received this book for free. No compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.*
Can a book help you change the story of your life? Will it transform how you live today and move you forward to tomorrow? Are you willing to commit your sin-sick soul to God to be transformed? Do you tell people you are fine even when you’re not?
“The struggle is about the disconnect between what I believe and how I act, how I understand the promises of God and my actual experiences with God. The who I want to be or who I actually am. We don’t need to resolve the struggle alone.” Excerpt from the Struggle is Real.
What I like about the book
Nicole Unice says that we all have struggles and it is through them that we learn who God is and the story He wants to write in our lives. So this book is about being honest with ourselves and taking the steps and responsibility to rewrite our stories for a better outcome. It requires work on our behalf and a belief that “God is greatest, and He knows best.” Through this book, you get to address issues, if you want, from the past to change the storyline for today and tomorrow. Intrigued? What do I like about this? The fact that we can change our story and we don’t have to do it on our own. If you doubt this is possible then read this book.
Easy to read
The Struggle is Real is easy to read, but it is not a book to pick up and rush through. It needs time to digest, to act upon and accept the challenges it raises. It does provide answers. However, you need to be prepared to do some work to get to the answers.
Difficult issues
Life is a struggle with many complicated problems that range from our past and present attitude. Nicole Unice confirms this and draws attention to the areas that we need to work on and change. I have pages of notes and quotes from her book too long to post here! There is so much good stuff in it along with examples from the Bible. And I love the “perm story.” Those difficult issues we all have, need to be viewed through God ’s understanding rather than our own.
Have you heard of a “good desperation”? If not it is time to find out more.
Who would benefit from reading this book?
If you have a broken relationship with God, yourself, with others or the world, then this is the book for you. It will help rewrite your story and deepen your roots in God who, if you take Him at His Word will change your life.
Many thanks, Nicole Unice for writing this thought-provoking self-help book.
*I received this book for free. No compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.*
August 28, 2018
As kids we long to be adults for it seems life is so much easier for them. Once adults, we realize life is harder than we could have ever imagined.
In her latest book, The Struggle is Real, Nicole Unice brings a practical and applicable word for us all. Each page is filled with encouragement to keep us moving forward, getting stronger in our faith and free from the stuff that keeps us stuck and entangled.
In the introduction, she brings the challenge:
“I hope we will resolve to believe the struggle is real and the struggle is good.”
Along life’s journey we face disappointments, frustrations, and challenges which set our insides in a tailspin. Yet we often fail to recognize they point to something bigger in our souls:
“The little struggles are often related to something much more important: Let’s call that the Struggle. The Struggle is about something much deeper that the everyday challenges. It’s about the disconnect between what I believe and how I act, how I understand the promises of God and my actual experience with God. The Struggle is the frustrating place between who I want to be and who I actually am.” (from page 8)
The Struggle is to bring us to the place of authentic transformation and purpose. It is good because it serves a purpose beyond the immediate, deeper than what our eyes can see, or our hearts understand. The Struggle helps us to believe in God’s promises, see ourselves through the lens of our identity, and quiet the voices in our head.
The Struggle equips us to live our story.
The real story.
The one written by God.
The book is broken down into two parts:
Part One: The Struggle between the Stories
Part Two: Living Into the New and True Story
Each chapter includes a “Keeping It Real” section where the author provides thought provoking questions to engage the reader in conversation (prayer) with God. The questions are designed to make us think more deeply about each chapter, applying what we read.
The book delivers encouragement and hope in each chapter. Nicole brings us back to the truth that God is good and all He does is good.
“In every moment, between every line,
may your new story point to Jesus,
who holds every hardship and orchestrates every joy.”
*I was provided a copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers for review. All opinions are honest and my own.
In her latest book, The Struggle is Real, Nicole Unice brings a practical and applicable word for us all. Each page is filled with encouragement to keep us moving forward, getting stronger in our faith and free from the stuff that keeps us stuck and entangled.
In the introduction, she brings the challenge:
“I hope we will resolve to believe the struggle is real and the struggle is good.”
Along life’s journey we face disappointments, frustrations, and challenges which set our insides in a tailspin. Yet we often fail to recognize they point to something bigger in our souls:
“The little struggles are often related to something much more important: Let’s call that the Struggle. The Struggle is about something much deeper that the everyday challenges. It’s about the disconnect between what I believe and how I act, how I understand the promises of God and my actual experience with God. The Struggle is the frustrating place between who I want to be and who I actually am.” (from page 8)
The Struggle is to bring us to the place of authentic transformation and purpose. It is good because it serves a purpose beyond the immediate, deeper than what our eyes can see, or our hearts understand. The Struggle helps us to believe in God’s promises, see ourselves through the lens of our identity, and quiet the voices in our head.
The Struggle equips us to live our story.
The real story.
The one written by God.
The book is broken down into two parts:
Part One: The Struggle between the Stories
Part Two: Living Into the New and True Story
Each chapter includes a “Keeping It Real” section where the author provides thought provoking questions to engage the reader in conversation (prayer) with God. The questions are designed to make us think more deeply about each chapter, applying what we read.
The book delivers encouragement and hope in each chapter. Nicole brings us back to the truth that God is good and all He does is good.
“In every moment, between every line,
may your new story point to Jesus,
who holds every hardship and orchestrates every joy.”
*I was provided a copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers for review. All opinions are honest and my own.
September 6, 2018
It just shouldn’t be this hard!”
Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a day where everything that could go wrong does go wrong—you lock your keys in the car while it’s running, lose control with your kids, make a mistake at the office that results in hours more work. And just when you think not one more thing could possibly happen . . . well, fill in the blank. The struggle is real, friends. It may not be major stuff. Lives are not on the line here. But it makes us feel awful . . . and then we feel guilty for stressing when other people have “real” problems that are so much more serious. Yet the fact remains: We live in a world that often feels harder than we think it should be. And so it can be easy to believe the stories we tell ourselves—that we’re doing it wrong, that we’ll be stuck in this place forever, that God doesn’t love us. We struggle to practice gratitude, to make godly choices, and to live our daily lives with confidence and contentment. So what can we do? Join popular Bible teacher and counselor Nicole Unice to discover why the struggle is real . . . and what to do about it. Nicole offers practical tools to help you navigate the daily ups and downs, and ways to rewrite your struggle into a new, God-centered life story. The Struggle Is Real is an invitation to take the hard, hurtful, and confusing moments and turn them into opportunities to grow in wisdom, strength, and joy.
My Thoughts: We all have days that seem to go wrong; sometimes life just seems to be a struggle. Where do we turn? Nicole Unice teaches us to turn to God and to understand why these days happen to us and how to deal with them. She shows us how to make "Godly" choices that will help us, rather than make us feel joyless.
This is a wonderful book, that I encourage all to read. I know we all have had a period of time in our lives when every day is difficult, a day when we say "Why Me?". This book will help us understand why life seems like a struggle, why we respond the way we do in some situations. This book will prepare you and help you. We need to remember that God is greatest, and He knows best. In other words, trials form us, shape our character, make us stronger and God is in control!
This is an exellent read and highly recommended.
Cli
Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a day where everything that could go wrong does go wrong—you lock your keys in the car while it’s running, lose control with your kids, make a mistake at the office that results in hours more work. And just when you think not one more thing could possibly happen . . . well, fill in the blank. The struggle is real, friends. It may not be major stuff. Lives are not on the line here. But it makes us feel awful . . . and then we feel guilty for stressing when other people have “real” problems that are so much more serious. Yet the fact remains: We live in a world that often feels harder than we think it should be. And so it can be easy to believe the stories we tell ourselves—that we’re doing it wrong, that we’ll be stuck in this place forever, that God doesn’t love us. We struggle to practice gratitude, to make godly choices, and to live our daily lives with confidence and contentment. So what can we do? Join popular Bible teacher and counselor Nicole Unice to discover why the struggle is real . . . and what to do about it. Nicole offers practical tools to help you navigate the daily ups and downs, and ways to rewrite your struggle into a new, God-centered life story. The Struggle Is Real is an invitation to take the hard, hurtful, and confusing moments and turn them into opportunities to grow in wisdom, strength, and joy.
My Thoughts: We all have days that seem to go wrong; sometimes life just seems to be a struggle. Where do we turn? Nicole Unice teaches us to turn to God and to understand why these days happen to us and how to deal with them. She shows us how to make "Godly" choices that will help us, rather than make us feel joyless.
This is a wonderful book, that I encourage all to read. I know we all have had a period of time in our lives when every day is difficult, a day when we say "Why Me?". This book will help us understand why life seems like a struggle, why we respond the way we do in some situations. This book will prepare you and help you. We need to remember that God is greatest, and He knows best. In other words, trials form us, shape our character, make us stronger and God is in control!
This is an exellent read and highly recommended.
Cli
September 4, 2018
"The Struggle is Real"by Nicole Unice is a wonderful book. I am having a hard time writing this review, because I want to share so much that I have underlined and going to copy in my journal. I can't share all that because then you won't have to read the book. So I am just going to say Read this book! , if you are struggling and have suffering in your life, AND WHO DOESN'T ?
At the end of each chapter is a question, prayer or comment to help you understand more fully what is said in the chapter. say "
The author states that the struggle is real but we can use it for God's glory and it can be Good for us.
I think the theme of the book could be in every struggle "God is greatest, and He knows best."
This book was another book that I had no idea what the book was about before reading it, I like not knowing what books are about when I am going to write a review on them, that way it gives me no preconceived idea of the book. I am glad I didn't know. I really thought when I seen the cover it was going to be a funny and cute story about motherhood. I mean look at the cover, melted ice cream. The title is exactly what the book is about.
God knew I would need this book because I am in some real struggles right now in my life and I need to be reminded that "God is greatest, and He knows best."
I won't tell you what the author states is the real struggle, because you really need to read this book for yourself. This book doesn't contain alot of technical talk that you can't understand unless you are a scholar, THIS BOOK IS FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON LIKE YOU AND ME.
I think every christian counselor and pastor should read this and have copies available to loan to people who come to them for help with their struggles.
I am not saying a book ends the struggling but this book can help start the healing process.
I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own.
At the end of each chapter is a question, prayer or comment to help you understand more fully what is said in the chapter. say "
The author states that the struggle is real but we can use it for God's glory and it can be Good for us.
I think the theme of the book could be in every struggle "God is greatest, and He knows best."
This book was another book that I had no idea what the book was about before reading it, I like not knowing what books are about when I am going to write a review on them, that way it gives me no preconceived idea of the book. I am glad I didn't know. I really thought when I seen the cover it was going to be a funny and cute story about motherhood. I mean look at the cover, melted ice cream. The title is exactly what the book is about.
God knew I would need this book because I am in some real struggles right now in my life and I need to be reminded that "God is greatest, and He knows best."
I won't tell you what the author states is the real struggle, because you really need to read this book for yourself. This book doesn't contain alot of technical talk that you can't understand unless you are a scholar, THIS BOOK IS FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON LIKE YOU AND ME.
I think every christian counselor and pastor should read this and have copies available to loan to people who come to them for help with their struggles.
I am not saying a book ends the struggling but this book can help start the healing process.
I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own.
August 28, 2018
Yes, my friends, the struggle is real. We struggle at work, at home, with family and friends. How are we coping? Do we sit and wonder why we are struggling? The author Nicole Unice states it so clearly when she says “Our struggles are the training ground for wisdom”. Yes, God uses our struggles to teach us wisdom, to teach us patience and humbleness. Nicole shares her struggles and stories in such a beautiful way that you feel you are sitting with her at your kitchen table and are finally seeing the light for the first time. Things start to become crystal clear. We are not alone, God is with us. Our struggles are what make us who we are. We can take down the façade of pretending as Nicole says “that our particular circumstances are harder than we deserve, but outwardly pretending we are too spiritual to get worked up about them”. She keeps it “real”, everyday real, real life “real”.
I found this book refreshing. I let down my guard and searched deep within to face my reality and to gain wisdom. The fog of pretending was disappearing and life was making sense again. There are many layers left to peel away, but I found this book soul searching and it makes you want to open up and see what lies beneath all the layers we have been hiding behind. A solid five stars for this book. Thank you to Tyndale House for an advanced copy of the book to review.
I found this book refreshing. I let down my guard and searched deep within to face my reality and to gain wisdom. The fog of pretending was disappearing and life was making sense again. There are many layers left to peel away, but I found this book soul searching and it makes you want to open up and see what lies beneath all the layers we have been hiding behind. A solid five stars for this book. Thank you to Tyndale House for an advanced copy of the book to review.
August 29, 2018
Honest, real, refreshing, convicting, encouraging, soul-stirring and do-able! Nicole Unice has an earnest style of communicating that bypasses the brain’s tune-it-out-cuz-it’s-too-much place and gets right to the heart of the I-gotta-believe-and-do this place. Here is a book designed to hold you close and show you how to read and understand your own life story. Then give you the path and encouragement necessary for working through the transforming heart-and-mind work of a new God-led life.
Each chapter contains much for consideration and opportunities for loving self-examination. The Struggle is Real is not a fluffy, quick or hurried read, but is well worth the time it takes to truly digest every word, and follow through the process to a truly free, God-transformed life.
Here’s just one of the many memorable and motivating quotes from this (highly-recommended) book: “Yes, it’s true: ‘God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to His eyes.’ And He’ll rewrite yours, too.”
Two simple statements sum up this book: “Choose to believe the Bible is the ultimate source of reality for your life.” And “God is greatest and He knows best.”
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A favorable review was not required, no compensation was received, and all views expressed are my own.
Each chapter contains much for consideration and opportunities for loving self-examination. The Struggle is Real is not a fluffy, quick or hurried read, but is well worth the time it takes to truly digest every word, and follow through the process to a truly free, God-transformed life.
Here’s just one of the many memorable and motivating quotes from this (highly-recommended) book: “Yes, it’s true: ‘God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to His eyes.’ And He’ll rewrite yours, too.”
Two simple statements sum up this book: “Choose to believe the Bible is the ultimate source of reality for your life.” And “God is greatest and He knows best.”
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A favorable review was not required, no compensation was received, and all views expressed are my own.
December 6, 2018
4 stars
“Join popular Bible teacher and counselor Nicole Unice to discover why the struggle is real and what to do about it. Nicole offers practical tools to help you navigate the daily ups and downs, and ways to rewrite your struggle into a new, God-centered life story. The Struggle Is Real is an invitation to take the hard, hurtful, and confusing moments and turn them into opportunities to grow in wisdom, strength, and joy.”
There is so much to like about this book. Unice shares personal struggles and how to rid yourself of the negative inner dialogue and enjoy the life Jesus died to give us. She is incredibly Biblically based and theologically on point, so that alone is a HUGE benefit! I can easily see myself re-reading this book on a regular basis just to refresh on the points she makes within these pages.
The only reason I am giving this book four stars instead of five is because she references and quotes Beth Moore. I would recommend this book for any Christian who is trying to gain freedom from the negative self-talk.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own. #TheStruggleIsReal #NetGalley #TyndaleHousePublishers
“Join popular Bible teacher and counselor Nicole Unice to discover why the struggle is real and what to do about it. Nicole offers practical tools to help you navigate the daily ups and downs, and ways to rewrite your struggle into a new, God-centered life story. The Struggle Is Real is an invitation to take the hard, hurtful, and confusing moments and turn them into opportunities to grow in wisdom, strength, and joy.”
There is so much to like about this book. Unice shares personal struggles and how to rid yourself of the negative inner dialogue and enjoy the life Jesus died to give us. She is incredibly Biblically based and theologically on point, so that alone is a HUGE benefit! I can easily see myself re-reading this book on a regular basis just to refresh on the points she makes within these pages.
The only reason I am giving this book four stars instead of five is because she references and quotes Beth Moore. I would recommend this book for any Christian who is trying to gain freedom from the negative self-talk.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own. #TheStruggleIsReal #NetGalley #TyndaleHousePublishers
September 6, 2018
Unice has down-to-earth practical advice about life and how to live the new one we find in Christ. By her own example, as well as from people she knows through her ministry, she shows us how to go forward in the new, and not turn around and embrace the old. I am suitably impressed with her insight and articulation as I have not heard of her so obviously this is the first of her books I have read. Her website says she is a pastor/teacher/counselor and I can certainly see the counseling aspect in The Struggle is Real. I gained some insight into my own past experiences that will help me in my future walk with Christ.
I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling and might not be ready to talk to someone face-to-face. The words of inspiration and truth in this book can help you in your faith journey and point you to who Jesus is and how he has bestowed his grace in your life.
I was provided a print copy of the book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. No compensation has been received.
I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling and might not be ready to talk to someone face-to-face. The words of inspiration and truth in this book can help you in your faith journey and point you to who Jesus is and how he has bestowed his grace in your life.
I was provided a print copy of the book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. No compensation has been received.
August 31, 2018
Don't have time to read the book? There is a DVD version as well!
Through a combined use of Biblical wisdom and her own life experiences, the author talks about real-life struggles and how to overcome them. She addresses how these are often rooted in past issues, discusses ways we can face them head-on (either alone or as part of a group), and offers a future of hope and freedom from struggle. Written with both pop psychology and scripture, each chapter features prayers, introductory questions, and commentary to help you get real about your own life and its challenges. Also available for purchase is a supplemental six-week workbook program to accompany the book for use in a book group or Bible study class. P!nk said, "Change the voices in your head, make them like you instead," and that's a summary of what this book is saying, too. Re-write your past history, move forward from it, and stare your future in the face.
Through a combined use of Biblical wisdom and her own life experiences, the author talks about real-life struggles and how to overcome them. She addresses how these are often rooted in past issues, discusses ways we can face them head-on (either alone or as part of a group), and offers a future of hope and freedom from struggle. Written with both pop psychology and scripture, each chapter features prayers, introductory questions, and commentary to help you get real about your own life and its challenges. Also available for purchase is a supplemental six-week workbook program to accompany the book for use in a book group or Bible study class. P!nk said, "Change the voices in your head, make them like you instead," and that's a summary of what this book is saying, too. Re-write your past history, move forward from it, and stare your future in the face.
September 6, 2018
My Review
The Struggle is Real is a Christian self help type book is how I would describe it. I would recommend to have a notebook to take notes cause this book packs a lot in it. Everyone in life will have struggles at some point or another - whether they come to you as a big or or lots of little ones. So if we cannot avoid struggles then one of the best things we can do is prepare ourselves on how to better deal with the struggles in our lives. If you are not a Christian the struggles can really drag you out but if you have God on your side then you can have faith that you will overcome the struggles in your life. So many of the little lessons in this book really hit me and was something I needed. I am sure this book could be a help to many. Good read and one to keep to reread for sure. Disclaimer: I was given a complimentary copy of this book but all thoughts and opinions are my own honest ones.
The Struggle is Real is a Christian self help type book is how I would describe it. I would recommend to have a notebook to take notes cause this book packs a lot in it. Everyone in life will have struggles at some point or another - whether they come to you as a big or or lots of little ones. So if we cannot avoid struggles then one of the best things we can do is prepare ourselves on how to better deal with the struggles in our lives. If you are not a Christian the struggles can really drag you out but if you have God on your side then you can have faith that you will overcome the struggles in your life. So many of the little lessons in this book really hit me and was something I needed. I am sure this book could be a help to many. Good read and one to keep to reread for sure. Disclaimer: I was given a complimentary copy of this book but all thoughts and opinions are my own honest ones.
September 3, 2018
A helpful and encouraging book, especially for women, The Struggle Is Real discusses the trials we face in life and offers ways to turn them around so we grow rather than despair. Its ten chapters share personal stories of the author and others and how they overcame hardships, with the help of God. She believes we can find beauty in all of life, including our struggles. Why do we expect things to go well when so often the opposite holds true? I felt this book dealt with our unrealistic expectations in a sound way. The author’s approachability, honesty, and vulnerability make the text easily accessible. I especially like “The Rewrite” chapter, which teaches how to rewrite our stories by following “the Freedom Cycle.” Changing our mind-set can set us free from the bondage and burdens of our everyday troubles. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. all opinions are my own.
April 30, 2020
I enjoyed the writing style as well as the ongoing theme: "God is greatest and He knows best." Unice ties this theme into each chapter. I love that this book is grace-lined - it isn't about shaming you for feeling like you have struggles, but instead encourages you to acknowledge the struggle and all that comes with it - all forms of suffering that are part of living in a broken world. Unice shares her own story and those of others in a relatable, accessible way. I spent time journaling the questions (they got really deep!) and learned a lot from the Freedom Cycle and how to break out of the guilt and shame I hold inside. I read this with the accompanying YouVersion Bible study which allowed me to meditate on the Scriptures she highlights throughout the book. Would recommend, would reread.
September 1, 2018
The Struggle is Real
The Struggle through life is real, most of the time we go through life pretending to others that are fine. The book has some good points in it. I like the sections after the chapters that have you think and reflect. The chapter about listening was really good. That is what we need to do more of, most of all listening to God. One thing in the stood out to me about things in life being temporary. That is one thing I always tell myself.
Being a nonfiction book I would recommend reading a little at a time to learn from it better. Also read more than once to really more benefit of it.
I received an complementary copy of the book from the publisher and Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review.
The Struggle through life is real, most of the time we go through life pretending to others that are fine. The book has some good points in it. I like the sections after the chapters that have you think and reflect. The chapter about listening was really good. That is what we need to do more of, most of all listening to God. One thing in the stood out to me about things in life being temporary. That is one thing I always tell myself.
Being a nonfiction book I would recommend reading a little at a time to learn from it better. Also read more than once to really more benefit of it.
I received an complementary copy of the book from the publisher and Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review.
August 22, 2018
I consider a good book one that escorts me into the arms of Jesus to the point where I have to stop reading and talk to Him. The Struggle is Real by Nicole Unice did just that. In every chapter, I found Jesus whispering to my heart exactly what I needed to hear from Him. The struggle IS real--and He can be found in it. If you're in a hard place (or have ever been in a hard place or will ever be in a hard place), I encourage you to pick up a copy and let Nicole write the words your heart needs to hear.
(I received a free copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. And I bought a copy for a friend).
(I received a free copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. And I bought a copy for a friend).
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