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Embrace Your Life: How to Find Joy When the Life You Have is Not the Life You Hoped For
All of us live with some sort of longing in our hearts—a gap between the life we want and the life we actually have. As we try to navigate this sense of longing and the circumstances we desperately wish would change, we try to hang on to the belief that God will fulfill our desires, while waiting to see the answers to our prayers realized.
For some, those prayers are answered. Yet for others, the longing persists, making us weary at best and debilitated at worst. Living this way leaves us asking the same “How do I find God’s joy in this life when it isn’t the life I hoped for?” or “How do I deal with the gap between the life I want and the life I’ve been given?”
In this powerful book, Bible teacher and fellow traveler down the well-worn road of unmet longings Elizabeth Woodson equips you for joyful living in that gap. As you walk with Elizabeth through some key biblical passages in the book of Joshua and beyond, you’ll learn Through biblical wisdom, personal stories, and practical advice, Elizabeth shares life-changing truth that has the heart-healing power you’ve been searching for, and helps you walk through your current life situations from a new perspective—one that embraces actual, real, deep joy in the midst of the inevitable longings of life.
For some, those prayers are answered. Yet for others, the longing persists, making us weary at best and debilitated at worst. Living this way leaves us asking the same “How do I find God’s joy in this life when it isn’t the life I hoped for?” or “How do I deal with the gap between the life I want and the life I’ve been given?”
In this powerful book, Bible teacher and fellow traveler down the well-worn road of unmet longings Elizabeth Woodson equips you for joyful living in that gap. As you walk with Elizabeth through some key biblical passages in the book of Joshua and beyond, you’ll learn Through biblical wisdom, personal stories, and practical advice, Elizabeth shares life-changing truth that has the heart-healing power you’ve been searching for, and helps you walk through your current life situations from a new perspective—one that embraces actual, real, deep joy in the midst of the inevitable longings of life.
208 pages, Paperback
Published March 22, 2022
26 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 10, 2023
Book club read. Really good. I like it when Christians remind us that being a Christian doesn’t promise the “American Dream” or getting everything you hope and dream for, and that it’s also not wrong to struggle with discontentment, sadness, etc. It’s more about how you struggle and grieve and do we go to God or not with those things. It’s a book that would’ve been really good for me 2-4 years ago if it had existed.
Did think some of her usage of Joshua as an example were a bit of a stretch though (just things that are assumptions more than proof).
Did think some of her usage of Joshua as an example were a bit of a stretch though (just things that are assumptions more than proof).
November 15, 2023
"Fear tends to leave out some details when it tries to 'caution' us from walking in faith. It won't remind you of God's presence. It won't remind you of his sovereign power, his ability to work things out on your behalf and fight your battles for you. It won't remind you of his promised provision, his ability to give you exactly what you need at the very moment you need it. Fear will have you thinking you are walking alone, with no power and no resources." -pg 158
I'm thankful for this gem of a book -- and thankful that it was given to me because I'm not sure I ever would have picked it up on my own. Something about the cover and title would have made me think it a bit cliche or trite. But it's not. It's meaty and rich. Thorough and grounded. And perhaps best of all it is both compassionate and confident, a combination I think is absolutely essential for a topic like this.
I'm thankful for this gem of a book -- and thankful that it was given to me because I'm not sure I ever would have picked it up on my own. Something about the cover and title would have made me think it a bit cliche or trite. But it's not. It's meaty and rich. Thorough and grounded. And perhaps best of all it is both compassionate and confident, a combination I think is absolutely essential for a topic like this.
May 17, 2023
"Longing is universal, we all have desires or a set of expectations that go unmet" The author shares simple but profound truths on this subject from her own story. Learning how to lament and yet live with faith, hope and joy despite our longings is what she wants her audience to know.
August 15, 2022
The author provides a rich look at how to experience joy in the midst of life’s disappointments. She walks you through the call of Joshua to lead the Israelites after the death of Moses and parallels his life and calling to our current life experiences. This book is both theological and practical. Theological because she reminds you of God’s character and how knowing Him changes our perspective on our current situations. Practical because she offers questions and encouragement to help process your current disappointments at the end of each chapter. I highly recommend this book to all!
March 29, 2024
Elizabeth does a wonderful job encouraging others to find joy in the midst of life’s hardships, suffering, waiting and lamenting! A book for all people learning to acknowledge the hard while looking all the more at the grace & goodness of our faithful savior.
“Lament connects us to Someone, helping us trust that God’s past blessings will extend into both our present and future realities.”
“In every moment of every day, God is moving us toward his goal of eternal restoration.”
“Rather than seeing longing as blocking our joy, we should see joy as the counterweight to our longing.”
“Lament connects us to Someone, helping us trust that God’s past blessings will extend into both our present and future realities.”
“In every moment of every day, God is moving us toward his goal of eternal restoration.”
“Rather than seeing longing as blocking our joy, we should see joy as the counterweight to our longing.”
February 19, 2023
“Because even if our situation never changes, the God we serve is still good, and the life he has given us is still worth living because it’s a beautiful life that we get to live with him.”
Another good book club read! An easy and quick read. Would definitely recommend for anyone and everyone…because I feel like we all struggle with longing and finding joy in the longing. But if you’re not anyone and everyone and don’t struggle with this…plz let me know your secret 😉
Another good book club read! An easy and quick read. Would definitely recommend for anyone and everyone…because I feel like we all struggle with longing and finding joy in the longing. But if you’re not anyone and everyone and don’t struggle with this…plz let me know your secret 😉
October 15, 2022
This book is about how to live our lives joyfully in seasons of longing - short or long. Through Joshua's and Israel's story, Woodson teaches us to practice self-examination, lament, hope, remembrance, faith, and joy. This book is beautifully written, and it is such an encouraging read that grounds the reader in eternal truths! I also like the end-of-chapter reflection exercises that put each chapter's teaching into practice in tangible ways.
February 17, 2023
A quick and easy read. I liked how she provided a lot of scripture references & I also enjoyed the thought provoking questions throughout.
“No matter what, we fight to find joy in the Lord, because we know, like Joshua, that life with him is better than anything the world provides us.” p190
“No matter what, we fight to find joy in the Lord, because we know, like Joshua, that life with him is better than anything the world provides us.” p190
April 21, 2025
Gosh- this one left me feeling seen and stung with conviction all at once. Really found this to be helpful with what do I do when I have unmet desires as a Christian.
January 2, 2025
So good and so practical. I have appreciated this book so so much and look forward to continuously coming back to it!
July 15, 2025
as I expected, a really encouraging read. some great notes on grieving well, having courage, and cultivating faith.
May 1, 2022
Elizabeth Woodson is a black woman, single, and living on the older side of young. I am a white woman, married, and living on the younger side of old. Differences aside, we met over the words of Embrace Your Life, because we share in common a need to reconcile the life we envisioned with the life we actually have.
If longing is your companion, Woodson offers a scriptural guide for living in that liminal space wholeheartedly. Good theology supports an understanding of the roots of longing, and lessons from the life of Joshua provide a model for the believer who is intent upon accepting God’s invitation to self-examination, lament, hope, remembering, faith, and joy.
Woodson sounds the alarm to awaken those who have been busy masking their longings with unhealthy and unhelpful behaviors. Best of all, we are not defined by our longings. As important as they are to us and to God, he invites us to make his glory and his Word our ultimate desire. Nothing else can bear the weight of our all our hopes.
“Keeping it real” with God includes telling him our real feelings, asking him for our heart’s desire, and trusting him with the outcome. The end goal is contentment, not as a result of swapping lives with someone who’s living our dream, but by choosing to embrace the given, not allowing the not-given to blind us to the goodness of God or the beauty of the life he has assigned to us.
Many thanks to BH Publishers for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
If longing is your companion, Woodson offers a scriptural guide for living in that liminal space wholeheartedly. Good theology supports an understanding of the roots of longing, and lessons from the life of Joshua provide a model for the believer who is intent upon accepting God’s invitation to self-examination, lament, hope, remembering, faith, and joy.
Woodson sounds the alarm to awaken those who have been busy masking their longings with unhealthy and unhelpful behaviors. Best of all, we are not defined by our longings. As important as they are to us and to God, he invites us to make his glory and his Word our ultimate desire. Nothing else can bear the weight of our all our hopes.
“Keeping it real” with God includes telling him our real feelings, asking him for our heart’s desire, and trusting him with the outcome. The end goal is contentment, not as a result of swapping lives with someone who’s living our dream, but by choosing to embrace the given, not allowing the not-given to blind us to the goodness of God or the beauty of the life he has assigned to us.
Many thanks to BH Publishers for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
March 25, 2022
I highly recommend this book! My own life has been full of seasons of disappointment, longing, and unmet expectations that over time begin to affect other areas of my life. For me, when those trials go on for long periods of time or are still realities, it can become lonely and I often lose sight of the bigger picture. With grace and empathy Elizabeth comes alongside us in our struggle. She gives us a Biblical framework for how to consider our longings. She takes us to the roots of our longings and gives us wise counsel in how to rightly view God and ourselves. She directs our attention to the story of Joshua, Old Testament Israel, and includes New Testament references that display the love that God has for the biblical characters and us. She not only gives us Scriptural definitions and guidance, but then also gives us practical application. Each chapter ends with questions that lead us to honestly assess ourselves. Spiritual formation and discipleship are the practices that come to my mind while reading each chapter. The format of the book is a great fit for personal reflection, but will also work for roommates, couples, or small groups. Elizabeth encourages us in the joy we have been given in Jesus Christ, that we have a role to play in His story, and that even in our longings we are loved. I will be buying this book for my teen children, extended family, and friends, and I will keep it close at hand for personal reflection in the future.
March 28, 2022
We all have unmet expectations in our lives, (either life should have something we expected or we didn’t expect the hurt done to us,) and we question everything, including God. Elizabeth Woodson uses the story of Joshua along with experience to address how to find joy even when we don’t get what we think we need.
“While it may be hard to understand, God’s presence in our lives is not passive. He’s not like one of our old roommates, keeping us company as we watch our favorite TV show. On the contrary, to dwell with the creator of the universe is a nearness that comes with access to the fullness of his character. He does not just show up and stand still, he shows up and acts on our behalf.”
Embrace Your Life by Elizabeth Woodson is the practical soul help for so many situations and feelings. I’ve been encouraged and comforted by her words and recommend this for absolutely everyone who has had a disappointment (that’s you too).
“While it may be hard to understand, God’s presence in our lives is not passive. He’s not like one of our old roommates, keeping us company as we watch our favorite TV show. On the contrary, to dwell with the creator of the universe is a nearness that comes with access to the fullness of his character. He does not just show up and stand still, he shows up and acts on our behalf.”
Embrace Your Life by Elizabeth Woodson is the practical soul help for so many situations and feelings. I’ve been encouraged and comforted by her words and recommend this for absolutely everyone who has had a disappointment (that’s you too).
August 16, 2022
I went through this book with others at our church this summer. I especially liked the emphasis on remembering God's faithfulness and presence. The book focuses on longing, on navigating prolonged periods of time when one's desires do not line up with one's circumstances. Or, as the author puts it: How to find joy when the life you have is not the life you hoped for.
Given that focus, this book will naturally hit people differently at different times of life. I read it from a position of stability this summer. There are times in my life when different parts would have resonated with me. The same will be true in the future, I'm sure.
Given that focus, this book will naturally hit people differently at different times of life. I read it from a position of stability this summer. There are times in my life when different parts would have resonated with me. The same will be true in the future, I'm sure.
January 14, 2024
In our lives, there are things we hope for, things we dream about having or one day becoming, but our lives are not Disney movies and so we don't always get what we want or we think we deserve. However, God is in control, He has reasons for giving us the lives that He does and ultimately it's all for His glory. Elizabeth Woodson delves into this topic in this book. She is single and so many of her examples are about desiring a spouse, but she seeks to make her points applicable to all. Her theology is good and what she has to say is good. This is not an exceptional book, but it was good and not a waste of time.
March 15, 2022
Elizabeth hit it out of the park with this one! Every human will experience longing and suffering. This book helps guide you through that with specific ways and ideas to manage the pain. She touches on Biblical principles that are tried and true. The final chapter on joy is my favorite! Then in the conclusion, she offers a card illustration that just brings it all to light! I would recommend this book to everyone, regardless of how severe your longing is or how light you think it is. This book can help us all!!
May 4, 2022
So often when the disappointments in life hit us we want to run and hide (or is that just me?!). “Embrace Your Life” is such a beneficial guide in helping the reader embrace their lives - even in the midst of longing and disappointment. Even though the author is much younger than me and the examples she shared are from a younger generation, I was still able to relate and glean the wisdom from the scriptures she shared in abundance.
I would definitely recommend this book to others who are wanting to grow in their walk with God.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book. I was not required to write a review and the opinions in this review are my own.
I would definitely recommend this book to others who are wanting to grow in their walk with God.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book. I was not required to write a review and the opinions in this review are my own.
July 10, 2023
Elizabeth presents easy to digest questions when talking through longing. As she puts it, we all carry a sense of longing with us, making us walk with a “limp” - it behooves us to understand that limp, give it attention, and continue to choose joy through it. Elizabeth encourages her readers to choose joy, not in a way that perpetuates western church platitudes, but one that is biblical, choosing joy through trails, acknowledging the trials for what they are and using them for gospel work.
November 18, 2023
Elizabeth's book is incredibly easy to read with small bite-sized chapters, but don't be deceived as these nuggets will leave you reflecting for days. I love that the chapters are deeply personal, full of Scriptural references and incredibly practical. Elizabeth's humility and humanity and love for Jesus are evident throughout. She teaches us how to embrace the life we have with a love for God whether our desires are realised or not.
September 1, 2024
This book is phenomenal. Oftentimes, self help/christian books can be a drag, and make you feel like you have no room to have any negative emotions in your life. However this book has radically changed my perspective on gratitude and overcoming seasons of longing in my life. I enjoyed this book so much that it is the first one I’ve ever tabbed quotes and pages to reference back to. 10/10 recommend.
May 16, 2022
Honest, relatable, and mindful are the words that come to mind in relation to this book. Elizabeth uses a perfect balance of her personal story (relatability), scripture (foundational truth), and practical actionable steps, which guide the reader through a journey of embracing their life in any season.
May 17, 2022
Embrace Your Life is profoundly well-written and scripture-based with touching personal insight from the author. More impactful than any other book I've read about joy/happiness/positivity. The approach the author outlines to embracing one's life is real and entirely biblical. Wholeheartedly recommend.
July 17, 2024
I actually quit this one early, not because it wasn't good but because I didn't need it, where I am in my life right now. All I read seemed like spot-on Christian encouragement and instruction for changing our hearts and finding joy in life's huge disappointments. I would totally recommend it and will keep it on the shelf in case I need it someday!
June 21, 2025
I feel like there are dozens of books that reference similar passages of scripture and give similar advice but hear me out… read them all! This is a topic we just can’t have too many reminders of. It’s so easy to fall into discontentment each and every day. We have to learn and grow and mature in our faith to resist it. This book was concise, organized well and hit the message on the head.
March 17, 2022
This book is such an encouraging read!! Elizabeth shares her own story and the story of Joshua to lead us on a journey to find true joy and purpose in the midst of hard and painful seasons. I’m so grateful to be reminded that I can fight for joy when I fix my eyes on Jesus.
July 21, 2022
Excellent, excellent, excellent! While I do enjoy my life and am thankful for where God has me, I definitely still struggle with longings and disappointments. This book has given me so much to chew on.
January 5, 2023
I liked her honesty and encouragement! She says that we all have unmet longings and expectations, but that it's also possible to experience real joy, even when going through hard experiences. It doesn't have to be one or the other. I like that!
July 25, 2023
I love this book, however I totally initially judged the book by its cover. I wish the title and sub-line was different, because in my opinion this book is about navigating through life and it’s ups and downs. I loved this book and truly believe it holds truth and golden nuggets for everyone.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews