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The Right Kind of Strong: Surprisingly Simple Habits of a Spiritually Strong Woman

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Award-winning author Mary Kassian provides readers a biblical guide to becoming the strong, resilient, capable women God created them to be. Our culture teaches us that it's important for women to be strong. The Bible agrees. Unfortunately, culture's idea of what makes a woman strong doesn't always align with the Bible's. As a result, Christians often have a skewed view of what constitutes strength. In The Right Kind of Strong , Mary Kassian delves into Paul's exhortation in 2 Timothy about the women of the church in Ephesus and uncovers warnings and truths about seven habits that can sap women's strength. She helps readers avoid these pitfalls by She reveals how, by implementing these seven habits, Christian women can walk in freedom and grow to be strong God's way.

224 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2019

146 people are currently reading
1450 people want to read

About the author

Mary A. Kassian

33 books93 followers
Mary Kassian is an award winning author, popular speaker, and a distinguished professor of women’s studies at Southern Baptist Seminary. She has published several books, Bible studies and videos, including: Girls Gone Wise, In My Father’s House: Finding Your Heart’s True Home, Conversation Peace, Vertically Inclined, and the Feminist Mistake.

Mary graduated from the faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine from the University of Alberta, Canada and has studied systematic theology at the doctoral level. She has taught courses at seminaries across North America She is a popular conference speaker and has ministered to women’s groups internationally. Mary has appeared on numerous radio and television shows, including Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, and Marriage Uncensored.

Mary was born and raised in Edmonton, Canada. She and her husband, Brent, have three adult sons and one daughter-in-law. Mary has mastered the art of cheering after spending countless hours in rinks, arenas, and gyms: her husband is chaplain for a professional football team, her two older sons play ice hockey, and her youngest, volleyball. The Kassians enjoy biking, hiking, snorkeling (when they can find some warm water!), music, board games, mountains, campfires, and their family pets: Miss Kitty and black lab, General Beau.

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5 stars
285 (53%)
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165 (30%)
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65 (12%)
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14 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Profile Image for Erica.
614 reviews14 followers
August 5, 2020
4.5 🌠
This book had great biblical principles,much scripture was used as it was definitely convicting.
11 reviews1 follower
September 4, 2019
One of my top books in growing in sanctification and Biblical womanhood. I've been both extremely encouraged and challenged in the core areas that Mary Kassian highlights. Definitely need to re-read!
Profile Image for Ruth.
20 reviews
October 31, 2019
Such a powerful, convicting and inspirational book! “Scripture teaches that everyone who relies on God is strong and that everyone who relies on self is weak. Your personal ability or inability doesn’t indicate whether you are weak or strong; your dependence on God does.”
“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (Ephesians 6:10)
“I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
Profile Image for Lea.
23 reviews1 follower
November 25, 2020
An absolute must for women!

"The right kind of strong is 'made perfect in weakness.'" ~ Mary A. Kassian
Profile Image for Carissa.
604 reviews23 followers
November 12, 2024
"For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth." 2 Timothy 3: 6-7

A look at 2 Timothy 3: 6-7 about the pitfalls of being a 'weak' women according to this passage. The main issue I have is that I don't think Kassian correctly exposited this text. The content of the book is still good and useful, but she treats the 'weak women' (v.6) as part of the church of Ephesus. From looking into the passage, it seems that they are probably either unsaved women or women on the outskirts in a time of apostasy. It kind of changes the premise of the book in my opinion and it was a little annoying at points that she didn't take the time to exposit the text or setup the context, especially regarding false teachers, which is the immediate context of the verses. She stretches the text to fit her own points (and does this with other verses throughout the book, mainly in the 2 Timothy context).


Side Notes
•There's way too many anecdotes and they're way too long. There's too many #hashtags, colloquialisms, and abuses of writing that it made it hard for me to take this author seriously. Like. George Herbert can be fancy with his poems, but please stop making patterns with the text.
•She mentions the 'Christian' women of Ephesus being "brainwashed" by the Devil and held in "captivity" (page 54). I think it was just continuing her example... but also... I don't think believers can be brainwashed by the Devil...
•Sometimes women's Christian authors (like in this book) can talk down to their women audiences, or try to simplify to the extent that it's unnecessary and annoying. Let's be women that can handle theology or this is a plea to women authors to not simplify so much!
•PLEASE EDIT. Way. Too. Many. Anecdotes.
•I had to pray not to be too prideful when reading this book.




I read this as part of a summer book group for church and some of the ladies still got a lot out of it (so maybe not a bad read if you haven't read in a while? but also, there's better books and shorter books).

I don't think I'd recommend this to anyone, not that it's bad, but it's got a lot of potential errors, (personally I think an incorrectly exposited text which ruins the premise of the book), a trillion anecdotes, stretching the meaning of the text to fit her points, and claims by the author that would be weird theology if you think about them too hard.
Profile Image for Jos.
758 reviews103 followers
August 8, 2020
Compré este libro porque sentía que debía acercarme nuevamente a Dios ya que había estado muy distanciada desde hace algún tiempo, me sirvió demasiado y me hizo reflexionar muchas cosas.

Es un libro que queda perfectamente adecuado para la actualidad y, si bien no pude identificarme con absolutamente todo lo escrito —ya que está enfocado a un público un poco mayor que yo—, sí que me hizo considerar muchas cosas de mi forma de vida y mi forma de pensar.

Es una lectura obligada para toda mujer creyente, ya sea que se haya distanciado de Dios o no.
Profile Image for Bambi Moore.
266 reviews43 followers
June 24, 2020
Wonderful! The book opens with a thorough explanation of 2 Tim.3:6-7 (For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth). The book is worth the read just for these chapters. The rest of the book describes spiritual habits of strong women and some were not what I was anticipating. A very challenging book.
Profile Image for Keidy Sheilyn Reinoso .
68 reviews7 followers
October 1, 2021
Excelente

Mary d forma muy práctica nos lleva a los hábitos de una mujer que es verdaderamente fuerte y como luce eso a los lentes de Dios y su Palabra. Me encantó y dista ciertamente del concepto de fortaleza de nuestros Días.
Profile Image for Sara.
259 reviews
January 15, 2022
I had the opportunity to hear Mary Kassian speak at a conference I attended last fall and was impressed by how she balanced truth and grace. I added this book to my to-read list then and am glad to have finally read it!

In it, she pulls seven phrases out of 2 Timothy 3:6-7 and from them describes seven habits that women can implement in their lives to build spiritual strength. That basic premise is actually also my one complaint with this book. I am always wary of trying to build too much volume out of a single (or couple of) verse. I don't like it when preachers do it, and I don't like it when authors do it. Since each habit was based on just a couple of words from those verses, I felt a little unstable standing on what she wrote.

That criticism aside, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be keeping it and/or recommending it as a resource. I appreciate both what she said and what she didn't say - at no point did I feel like personality or culture were driving what she said. It was fully grounded in Scripture throughout.

I initially thought this would make a good resource for middle school or high school girls. While I do think it would for some, she does talk with frankness about struggles with sexual sin which may not be as good for younger girls.

I recommend it!
Profile Image for Sarah.
Author 46 books458 followers
October 16, 2020
I really think that this is one of the better books on Biblical womanhood I've read. I've read thicker and more theologically rich tomes, but this one was just so well written and so applicable to such a wide audience. I never felt left out of the discussion as a single woman which many books on Biblical womanhood tend to do. Also, for those of us who have grown up in western culture, this book addresses the lies that we are so often fed.
Here is now to be the right kind of strong.
40 reviews
August 3, 2020
I read the majority of this book. I found parts to be helpful; but there were several major theological issues that did not align with or uphold with the Word of God.
Profile Image for Tacy Stacy.
210 reviews2 followers
July 13, 2022
At first I wasn’t sure I’d like this book but wow was it convicting. I will mull over this for awhile. Good challenging truths, and doesn’t hesitate to step on your toes. I enjoyed this!
45 reviews
August 5, 2024
Really practical advice for how to lean in to God and rely less on ourselves and truly reminds us what makes us strong and NOT what the world says makes a woman strong.
Profile Image for Šarūnė.
170 reviews
November 8, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Brilliant, inspiring, simple, eye-opening book on the simple things of life and what really makes us strong today.
Profile Image for Stephanie Carrig.
21 reviews1 follower
May 9, 2022
3.5 stars. this is a good book but i didn’t really connect with the author and her stories/examples.
Profile Image for Emma.
23 reviews2 followers
June 3, 2020
I hope someone sees this review when deciding to read this book and considers not reading it. This book basically lays out what makes a women strong or weak. It is essentially an anti-feminist speech drawn out into a book. The author uses Paul’s letter to Timothy to defend her ideas about the value of women. She defends being submissive and rants about how harmful the feminist movement is to women and society. The author and I obviously disagree about the worth of a woman as a person and what makes a woman strong. I recommend researching the author before deciding to read this book.
149 reviews5 followers
September 16, 2019
I’ve been a fan of Mary Kassian’s teaching and writing for a long time. Over and over again she has proven to be a solid, biblical voice of truth in an ever-changing culture. Her latest book The Right Kind of Strong is no exception. Based on the Apostle Paul’s warnings to Timothy about “weak women” in 2 Timothy 3:6, Kassian identifies seven simple habits women can develop to become “The Right Kind of Strong.”

I found The Right Kind of Strong to be a careful balance of biblical teaching, warnings, and encouragement. She weaves personal stories and stories of other spiritually strong women with biblical truth, helping women see how they can live out God’s truth on a daily basis. Kassian’s tone shows she clearly cares about her readers and desires that they not be weak women, but rather that women are strong in their faith, growing and discipline others. Those who take seriously the book and its material, studying along through 2 Timothy and other related passages Kassian brings in will surely find themselves growing stronger in their faith. It’s a book I’d recommend to any woman-young, old, or middle-aged, who is serious about growing spiritually strong and is willing to do that hard work necessary for developing new habits. Whether you read The Right Kind of Strong alone or with a small group, you’ll find it’s clear, simple message encouraging and helpful.

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. However, the opinions expressed are entirely my own.
58 reviews5 followers
October 7, 2019
In a culture that idolizes strong women, Mary Kassian gives women a deep in depth challenge in her latest book 'The Right Kind of Strong'. To some readers, this book may be counter cultural and even shocking but the truth that is taught in it is vital. This book looks at what Paul's words to the women of Ephesus during the early years of the church and what it means for Christian women today. This book was thought provoking and really challenging in that it makes one do a self assessment of their life and faith walk. It seeks to help us grow into the women that GOD would have us become.

'The Right Kind of Strong' provided great questions for one to self assess and provided practical ways to grow in each of the strengths discussed. This book breaks down each area that determines strength into a chapter and then has sub-sections to dig even deeper. I really loved this layout as it helps the reader get the most out of her self evaluation. While it convicts, it also reminds us of the grace that we receive through Jesus. This element is vital so one does not walk away feeling condemned. Most of all this book pointed to Jesus and how it is only because of Him that we are strong.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to grow in their faith and dig deeper into the woman who GOD has called you to be.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Nancy.
936 reviews
October 4, 2019
This was good, with lots of correct, bibical content.
As Christian women (if you consider yourself one), we must conform to the way that God calls us to be strong, not what the world expects. This does not mean being submissive and weak, but quite the opposite.

Standing up for what we believe, forgiving when it is really difficult not to hold on to anger and resentment, giving up self to help others however possible, striving to be unselfish and always put others first (JOY=Jesus, Others, Yourself!), these are not easy tasks, but when we can achieve them, we are succeeding a little bit at least in being the "right kind of strong".
Recommended!
Profile Image for ViriMX.
5 reviews
October 29, 2022
Te enseña hábitos pequeños pero importantes en tu visa cristiana.
Profile Image for Keidy Sheilyn Reinoso .
68 reviews7 followers
May 12, 2021
Excelente!
Mary Kassian de forma muy sencilla y clara, nos hace reflexionar en lo que se considera una verdadera fortaleza en el mundo y lo que es ser verdaderamente fuerte ante Dios y nos ayuda por medio de una guía de 7 hábitos a entender como luce una mujer (y yo diría, un cristiano) verdaderamente fuerte.

Tal y como ella lo menciona, no es una ciencia oculta y muy elevada, si no mas bien 7 sencillas maneras de constantemente evaluar nuestros hábitos y saber que ellos van a formar lo que realmente somos y seremos.

Desde el primer habito de atrapar los intrusos hasta el ultimo de admitir nuestras necesidades, Mary utiliza como guia un verso de 2 Timoteo 3 : 6-7 donde se describe a mujeres debiles y como lucen y de donde ella parte para ofrecer una contraparte a esos malos habitos de estas mujercitas que no crecian en su desarrollo espiritual, ayudandonos a identificar claramente muchos malos habitos que con el tiempo nos alejan de nuestra verdadera mision de parecernos mas a nuestro Señor Jesús.

Agradezco a Mary por tomarse el tiempo de escribir un libro tan biblico, tan real y tan adaptable a nuestras circuntancias como cristianos de esta era sin apartarse de la verdad de la Biblia. Gloria a Dios por libros como estos.

Definitivamente entra en la lista de uno de mis favoritos.
Profile Image for Flora.
563 reviews15 followers
November 21, 2020
I highlighted a lot of passages in this book. So much to mull over!

The world tells us lies each and every day what a strong woman is. And most if not all of it contradicts what the Bible says. We have to remind ourselves often how a strong Christ-believing woman is.

Because of that, this book is a very fitting and much needed read for Christian women. Mary Kassian takes the Bible to show us how we are to assess ourselves and what habits we need to develop to grow as Christians.

The author is a wonderful speaker and she talks the way she writes. I really enjoy her stories as they make her points all the more vivid. She seems to rehash certain things at times but I have a feeling she does that so we can remember and digest what she is saying more effectively.

I will be taking notes when I go through this book again.

This is my honest opinion based on the review copy I received from the publisher.
Profile Image for Stacey.
Author 24 books98 followers
January 25, 2024
I liked the book and the way it continually redirects our minds to examine who God has called us to be. I highlighted several places and found myself nodding along. I love this quote: "You can be a strong woman regardless of what mix of strengths and weaknesses you bring to the table. Are you strong and gifted? Great! Understand that everything you have comes from God and rely on him for the wisdom and strength to use your talents for his glory. Do you feel weak and incapable? That’s great too! Because your inability is the perfect showcase for God’s ability. It gives him the opportunity to prove how powerful and strong he is. It’s a great paradox that, regardless of your inherent capability, embracing the right kind of weak will make you strong, and embracing the wrong kind of strong will make you weak."
Profile Image for Kristina Reid.
194 reviews21 followers
August 11, 2021
I’ve had the pleasure of listening to Mary in person at True Women conferences. And each time I hear from her I come away refreshed. She’s truly a blessing. She’s a great speaker, so I love that she narrated the audiobook herself.

As someone who has had to feel very very weak lately with all my health issues, which often leave me unable to do even normal things. This book was a great reminder that I don’t have to be physically strong. I don’t have to be “strong” by the worlds standards.

Because I am leaning on God so I can be the RIGHT kind of strong.

5 reviews
February 1, 2022
This book wasn't at all what I expected! It really went deep into the heart issue of feminism, which I'm so thankful for. It's so easy to fix the outside many times, but we need to fix our hearts first. There were also many habits that are helpful for a Christian woman to have.

However the author took several Bible verses out of context. As any book, be careful and make sure you still view everything through the Word of God.

It is not one of my go-to books on Biblical Womanhood or one I'd strongly recommend, but it still had some encouragement.
Profile Image for Carol Fairman.
89 reviews1 follower
January 1, 2023
This book should be on EVERY woman's reading list. I bought a copy of this book for my daughter, nieces, my mom, mother-in -law and several friends.

I wish I had this book years and years ago. I would have used it as a tool as I raised my daughter.

If you are ready to put Gods word front and center in your life, dive in! Go all in. I am learning how to be the right kind of strong every day. I am excited to see how these simple truths, acted on daily will strengthen my reliance on the Lord.



10 reviews
July 27, 2024
This book has changed my life. This book taught me the difference between the world's view of strong and what the bible teaches about being strong and being the woman God created me to be. Mary backs the book up with Scripture and it is not a self-help Christian book and I love that. I have been searching for a book like this all of my life and I am so glad I picked it up. Best book for Christian woman/wives in our world today.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
731 reviews4 followers
October 2, 2019
Mary Kassian has authored a wonderful book that helps women develop "the right kind" of strength -- not the kind that the world desires, but a strength based in who we are in Christ. She encourages her readers to make small changes, little by little, that will create big differences. I was greatly motivated and encouraged by this book!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews

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