It's Not Supposed to Be This Way Study Guide: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered

by Lysa TerKeurst

In this six-session video Bible study, New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst offers a safe place to share your disappointments, fresh biblical insight to get you through painful situations, and life-giving perspectives for living between Eden and eternity. Life often looks very different than we hoped or expected. Some events may simply catch us off guard for a moment, but others shatter us completely. At times like these, it's easy to feel disappointed and disillusioned and to wonder about the reality of God's goodness. So what do you do when God's timing seems questionable, his lack of intervention hurtful, and his promises doubtful? Lysa understands this deeply. But she's also discovered that our disappointments can be the divine appointments our souls need to radically encounter God. In this video Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), Lysa invites small groups and individuals into her own journey of faith. With vulnerability and honest humor, she helps us: Sessions include: Designed for use with the It's Not Supposed to Be This Way Video Study available on DVD or streaming video, sold separately.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith

176 pages, Spiral-bound

Published November 20, 2018

About the author

Lysa TerKeurst is President and Chief Visionary Officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries. She is also an 8x New York Times’ bestselling author of I Want to Trust You, but I Don't, Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, Uninvited and more. Her devotional Embraced won the ECPA book of the year for 2019. Lysa was also recently awarded the Champions of Faith Author Award and has appeared on the Today Show many times as one of the leading voices in the Christian community.

Each year, Lysa is a featured keynote presenter at events all across North America and online, including the Global Leadership Network. She also tours state-to-state regularly with TPR. She has a passion for equipping women to share their stories for God’s glory through Proverbs 31 Ministries’ annual She Speaks Conference and her writer training program called COMPEL Pro. Connect with Lysa on social media @lysaterkeurst or at lysaterkeurst.com.

Reviews

[Jona-Lynn Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book on disappointment. and I'm really grateful that I got to read the book and do the study at the same time. I still am feeling disappointed because of our fertility but I now have tools to have peace in that disappointment.

[PollyAnna Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It felt as though Lysa was living MY life. Wow. It's Not Supposed to be This Way was written exactly for me. I could have written it because I have been going through a lot of the same things Lysa was going through. Our lives seem to be on a parallel track. I appreciate her words, her vunerability, her honesty, and her obedience to the Lord. This book and Bible Study are worth your time.

[Ritah Figaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised.

[Jenette Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect companion to the book of the same title. Helps you to dig deeper and slow down while reading the book to truly get all that it has to offer.

[Kate McBride · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book about three different life events and how the author turned to God during these times. I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

[Thita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering the high rating and how I skimmed most of the book, maybe I’m just not the right audience. It was an impulsive buy and I’m not Christian (so I cannot relate to the Bible), but I feel that the content of the book not to be so helpful in case of hardship. The advices sound a bit “idealistic” yet non-solutional: be good, accept that the hardship is part of the God’s plan (I mean, yeah, maybe, but then it doesn’t help soothing me at all), read the Bible, and go back to the scripture.

[Ginny Porrata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa has a wonderful way to connect with her readers and in this case it does not disappoint. She understands how if feels for all of us to have shattered dreams and what it looks like to pick up the pieces. Great take on how believers and nonbelievers alike can approach these huge disappointments with grace, forgiveness and strength.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. The only reason I ranked it four stars is because there were several pages I didn’t use. That is a little unfair, really, because it is written as a group Bible study and I chose to do it alone. Feelings were just too raw to be in a group setting. Really excellent companion to the book and DVD study.

[Amanda DeFreece · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. My life, marriage, and career are going through some drastic changes - most unwelcome - and this book helped me put things back into perspective. The author was easy to connect with. I have a waiting line of friends wanting to borrow this book!

[Kelli Widmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study, especially when life isn’t going the way you had hoped. Gives great insight and encouragement.

I also love how this is set up. Only 3 days of homework instead of the 5 many Bible Studies ask.

[Victoria Guyadeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!!!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this book, and it is a blessing to do it as a Small Group Leader for P31 ministries

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC book!!! This will stay on my shelf to refer back to often! Lysa talks like your best friend would - full of hard truth, humor, and encouragement.

[Edi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Study guide for the book. Not necessary if reading the book as a group, but if you do it on your own it's a great reaource.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for this time in my life.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

1

[JoAnn]

I loved this book!

[Cherish Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

(5☆ Would recommend & would read again)
Great study guide to go along with the book. Well thought out.

[Samantha Waddell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pity pity pity

[Stephanie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome study

[Shannon Gibbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the whole premise behind this book I just wasn’t drawn into it.

[Carly Simes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a salve for my soul. It was exactly what I needed when I needed it.