So Long, Normal: Living and Loving the Free Fall of Faith

by Laura Story

In the shifting (or even collapsing) of everything familiar in life, you don't have to wring your hands in fear. Push past the loss of your "normal" with bestselling author and Bible teacher Laura Story, and step into the new story God is writing for you.

You've been faced with circumstances beyond your control. Your plans are altered. But you have the blessing of a Father who loves you enough to take off the training wheels and place his beloved child in the best possible scenario for your good and growth. So Long, Normal guides you to leave behind the idols of comfort, caution, and routine so you can live strong and well, even when life takes an unwelcome turn.

In her confessional, conversational style, worship leader, Bible teacher, and Christian recording artist Laura Story weaves her own personal stories with examples from Scripture of characters whose lives were upended by unexpected (and undesired) change.

So Long, Normal will help


Process the trauma of the loss of your "normal"
Learn to rest in God's plan for you instead of trying to control your circumstances
Find true community and encouragement in your struggle with uncertainty
Discover three great comforts and three gifts to steady you on your journey
Face the future with fresh spiritual eyes and find joy in the unwavering strength of Christ
Losing your "normal" is not the end of the world but the beginning of a new adventure. It is possible to grow with grace through tough times, navigating the unknown secure in the knowledge that God is with you--every step of the way.

Genres: Christian, Christian Non Fiction, Nonfiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 20, 2021

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Laura Story is a Bible teacher, worship leader, Grammy Award–winning singer/songwriter, and bestselling author. “Blessings” was certified gold in 2011 and inspired her first book, What If Your Blessings Come Through Raindrops. Laura’s music and writing show God’s love and grace intersecting with real life and serve as a reminder that despite questions or circumstances, he is the ultimate author of our story, as told in her second book, When God Doesn’t Fix It. She has a graduate degree from Covenant Theological Seminary and has served as a worship leader at Perimeter Church in Atlanta since 2005, but her greatest joy is being a wife to Martin and the mother to Josie, Ben, Griffin, and Timothy.

Reviews

[Sabina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! I’m super glad I read “When GOD Doesn’t Fix It” first, so I got to read and have the background on Laura’s life and trials. But, I loved this book a lot, and have many takeaways to bring with me!!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

While there was a lot of good stuff in this book (my Kindle document is full of highlights), I had hoped for something a little more practical. Now, I get that Story cannot address what each person is going through when it comes to loss of normalcy, because what we each call normal will be different, but I still expected some hands-on tips.

I would say that this is rather more a book to offer hope in the midst of losing normal. It's your permission to grieve but also to hope. It shows that our idea of a normal life is an illusion because, for the Christian, life cannot be "normal" in the world's sense of the world.

There is one thing at the end that can help you work through your own loss of normal and I appreciated that. I also liked the different people and families she interviewed to help us see how others dealt with their loss of normal and the blessings they found along the way.

Laura Story does a good job of balancing the real, raw pain of losing the life you had hoped for, while offering hope for the life you are actually living.

Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.

[Angel wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I felt that a lot of what I read helped me in my daily walk.

[Connie Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When things get back to normal." How many times, in the past eighteen months, have you heard people say this? I know that I myself have said it far too many times to count! In this new book, So Long, Normal, we are encouraged to turn away from what we've known and to say goodbye to our normal.

'If we can believe that God is writing a greater story, we may be able to move ahead without definitive answers.'

Laura Story is famous for composing songs that strengthen and encourage, and this book is certainly no different. Reading it is like talking to a friend, so grab a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, make yourself comfortable in your favorite reading spot, and prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and challenged! You may decide that normal isn't what you want after all!

I received a copy of this book from the author via FrontGate Media. There was absolutely no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

My full review can be seen here. https://connie-oldersmarter.blogspot....

[Lana Colby hurd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Laura Story and her life story. This is continuation of her story.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved listening to this book and was enthralled by her story-telling. I found it super relatable. She even did a thing that drives-me-nuts when Christian authors do…she rehashed familiar Bible stories to illustrate her points. But somehow it wasn’t annoying like it usually is, but thought-provoking the way she did it. I especially loved the Ruth chapter. I do wish her chapters where she interviews real people - the So Long, Normal, Stories - were using the actual people’s voices.

These were some of my favorite quotes:

Ch 3 – I gave up my pursuit of normal a long time ago. To begin with, I was terrible at it. It is difficult for me to put my finger on the when and where, but somewhere along the way I realized the normal I sought was a vapor. Whenever it appeared within reach, I was unable to grasp it.

Ch 8 – As we followed a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, You were our home in our wandering. No matter our geographic location, You are always and forever will be home to your people. Israel’s dwelling place wasn’t a destination, but the constant presence of a faithful God.

Ch 14 - We judge God’s love and faithfulness by how many of our desires have been met. Too often, it is not God’s will that we want, but our will made possible by God. Had not Naomi made God the servant of her agenda? Do we not do the same?
 
Ch 14 - Ruth essentially said to God, “I’d rather follow You and be single and childless all my days than to find the deepest longings of my heart met outside your will.” Ruth said, “Good-bye to the security of the past.” She cast off the temptation toward bitterness. Ruth chose faith. Believing that God himself would be her security.
 
Ch 17 - But following Jesus may mean laying aside our obsession with productivity, efficiency and timeliness. As we wind our way through each detour and trial, the lessons learned may be more valuable to God’s heart than the outcome ever was.

[Jeremy Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Just because you are walking a difficult path doesn't mean you are on the wrong road. And in the kingdom of God, nothing is wasted."

Boy, let me tell you that this book came at the right time in my life. Whether it was God or coincidence is entirely up to you. It came to me during a time when life had changed drastically for me, and anxiety spiked to the highest levels since the pandemic rocked our world.

I have not read much Christian literature in the past two years, but I will go as far as to say this is in my top three of that category. And Laura Story consolidates once again her position as one of my favourite Christian writers of today.

I do criticise certain paragraphs where it read more like an essay than an anecdote or a valuable insight.

Overall, a book that was extremely refreshing in how the messages and points of hope were delivered in the text, while assuring you that, actually, things can and will get better. All it takes is a mustard seed of faith and a hearty, deep-from-your-gut 'Hello, Unknown!'

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I speak or write, I am teaching on the same truths I need to remind myself of daily."
Reading a book by Laura Story is like sitting down and chatting with a dear friend. She speaks boldly about what she believes but is also humbly willing to admit that she doesn't have it all figured out and that is ok. She also has a bit of snark which I appreciate as well. Written while we were all bidding adieu to the "normal" we were accustomed to during the pandemic of 2020, Laura discusses what normal really means and should Christians feel comfortable in it or should they see the shaking of normal as a way to be used more effectively. As an added bonus she includes stories from others whose lives took a turn from the normal they expected. If you need encouragement and a gentle nudge toward kissing normal goodbye, you will enjoy spending a few hours with Laura.
Thank you Net Galley for the chance to get an advance read.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read, one written amid a pandemic we haven't yet seen the end of. I easily get discouraged or unsettled thinking about post-pandemic life, our "new normals", and how I want life to look at that time. What do I want to keep from pandemic life (more nights at home), and/or reengage in (uh, seeing/hugging people?! lol!)? And yet, we only have so much control.

Enter this book.

I'd heard Laura Story's song 'Blessings' on the radio a number of times, but really wasn't familiar with her beyond that, until now. I loved her writing style and just how deeply she knows and shares the Scriptures in 'So Long, Normal.' It's exactly what I need as we continue amid the pandemic and covid variants, and look ahead with hope. Brilliant read.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

There could not have been a more perfect time for this book than now. So Long, Normal addresses how we have all been feeling the last few years since 2020 when all normal seemed to go out the window. I enjoyed this book and others I have read by Laura Story because she is so transparent and relatable. She and her family have quite the story and it would be easy to see how she could have ended up giving up and being bitter. However, she long ago said goodbye to the normal life she thought she would have and spends each day grateful for the one she has now. I will say this book did not have as strong of an impact on me as her other books, but it was still filled with down to earth faith-based suggestions, I enjoyed the interviews with real people she knows who also said so long to normal.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not heard a song by Laura Story that has not touched me deeply so when I saw she had a book, especially related to things not working out, I knew I wanted to read this. Story is a gifted teacher and has a genuine way of sharing God’s truth to bruised, hurting hearts. Her words of encouragement, cultivated through her own trials, are all meant to point the reader back to the unchanging presence of God and the healing and restoration He provides in His Truth. A great book to add to any shelf.

I received a complimentary copy, with thanks, from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own and freely given.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

An encouraging, and relevant read as the Christian world recovers from the trauma of COVID.

Feeling like a series of sermons cobbled together, the book does well to address core issues of perceived notions of normality. Story works well to reverse our understanding of 'normal' expectations, and shows us how often God is far from societies normal. Though, the sensation of reading sermon manuscripts led somewhat to a feeling of lack of concise message.

A worthwhile read! A reassuring and useful devotional, though probably not anything new or mind-blowing.

[LAMONT D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A BOOK FOR ALL AGES AND EVERY BELIEVER AND THOSE THAT SEEK TO UNDERSTAND THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LIFE HAS PUT THEM IN. LAURA IS SUCH A GOOD BIBLE TEACHER AS SHE SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON SCRIPTURE THROUGHOUT WHILE WEAVING IN HER FUNNY AND HOMEY STORIES ABOUT HER LIFE WITH HER HUSBAND, THE KIDS AND HER MUSICAL CAREER. PLUS, SHE INTERVIEWS SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT TELL THEIR STORY AND THEN ASKS YOU THE SAME QUESTONS AT THE END OF THE BOOK. LOVE IT!

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so spoiled with Laura Story’s “When God Doesn’t Fix It” and “I Give Up” (EXCELLENT books) that this one felt just okay to me. It did not quite impact me the way those other two did. It is still worth reading though.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me think outside the box of normal expectations and helped me to see my life from God's standpoint.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The loss of normal has affected each and everyone of us the last few years. It is what we do with it that can make the difference

[CAREN M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good practical thoughts. I listened rather than read and purchased and I'm guessing the activities in the actual book would make it much better.

[Jodi Uplinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good. so many good points about how God's in control even if His will take us off the path we think we should be going. Different doesn't mean bad, we just have to keep trusting.

[Kate Heinz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of So Long, Normal in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley and W Publishing Group for making this book available to me. My thoughts are my own.

2020 changed life for all of us. No doubt about it. Life came to a complete halt between January and May as we tried to understand what was taking place.

Books written in the middle of this crisis will forever memorialize this life-changing year. Unfortunately, some books will remain stuck in time, unable to become timeless odes.

I have a "love, hate" relationship with So, Long Normal, Laura Story's newest book out July 20, 2021.

The Love
I appreciate Story's mature writing in So Long, Normal. Wanting to learn about her, I checked out her bio. With a Master's in Theological Studies, Stories speaks from a place of authority. Her love for God's word comes out time and again as she quotes from the Scripture and provides analysis. She incorporates the words of several theologians, which tells me she is well-read.

I just passed the "40" milestone in June, and I feel like I'm reading the wise reflections of a best friend or older sister. It's as if I'm sitting down over a fresh pot of coffee with Story and listening to her speak. I love how she adds parts of her story into her writing. I love how she's broadened her reach by adding the testimonies of fellow Christians.

I love how the book is laid out, broken into three sections: first establishing what normal is, then saying farewell to normal and finally, hello to the "new" that God has in store. I think this is brilliant! It's a step-by-step guide to becoming more open to God's leading and less stuck in our everyday boxes.

I especially appreciate what Story offers at the end. She asks us questions, questions about trauma, what might be holding us back and how to move into an extraordinary life.

The Hate
2020 triggers me. I agree with Story that we all face post-traumatic stress from what we endured last year. However, it's almost impossible not to politicize the pandemic or even subtly virtue signal our position. While Story's position is subtle, I still detect a leaning in one direction. I fear this is a turn off to some readers, as it was for me. I wish I could look past it, but it's woven throughout the book. I fear it will become lost as a tome of 2020.

What would I have done differently? I don't know that much could have been done to change this. We've all drawn our lines in the sand, so to speak, regarding 2020 and COVID. Like I said, this triggers me. I'm one person. I've seen reviews for So Long, Normal that praise it in its entirety.

Bottom Line
2020 changed a lot for me, and I'm sure it changed a lot for you as well. Like Story writes, I was refined in 2020. I had to take risks in 2020. I had to let go of plans and expectations. There were moments of fear, but moments of great faith as well.

Have I gained wisdom from reading So Long, Normal? Yes.

Can I give So Long, Normal five stars? No. I can give it four stars. Solid writing and [mostly] wise encouragement create a great resource for Christian women. It's like the adage, "take what you like and leave the rest."

While I say this, I can imagine some of my friends asking how I can promote someone who I disagree with, how her position on certain things doesn't run through her theological position. I don't find her positions on 2020 to run throughout her theological positions. And that's what is frustrating to me. She offers wise words on how we can shift our positions to what God has in store for us.

However, I still think fair warning is required before jumping into this book.

Triggers: 2020, COVID

4-Stars

[mozzArella · Rating 5 out of 5]

From blessing me with her song, ‘Blessing’, Laura Story became a written blessing to me from God through this book. Every decision I’m going to make, I always had what-ifs. It’s a simple reminder that my faith is really failing. This book is a great eye opener for me that when God is reminding me to stop being faithless and fear not of the future, this is always accompanied with His promise that He is with me. He will not leave me and will never forsake me. ♥️

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Front Gate Media and Laura Story for the gifted book!

Synopsis: “I don’t know your story, but I can say that I’ve never met anyone who has said their life turned out exactly as planned. Everyone of us has endured uninvited change. Everyone of us will again be forced to wave goodbye to normal.” In her book So Long, Normal, Laura Story explores how God calls us to a life that is extraordinary. Through personal experience, interviews, and rich theology, this book takes you on a journey to discover the sweetness that God offers in a life of saying, “So Long, Normal.”

Analysis: You may be familiar with Laura Story as the singer of the song, “Blessings.” If you’ve never heard it, go look it up now! I’ve been a long time fan of her music because of the beauty and truth of the Gospel all throughout her songs. And now I can say the same for her book, So Long, Normal. In a fun, conversational style, Laura encourages the Christian to take a deeper step into the life of faith. With rich theology and practical truth, you’ll be challenged to examine your everyday normal or maybe not-so-normal life. Whether new in the faith or a seasoned Christian, I’m convinced this book will teach you to look for God and his extraordinary works in all your life circumstances.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Our greatest surprise has been in seeing how God chooses to bring himself immeasurable glory through what he has not healed and what he has not fixed.”

“Every one of us has endured uninvited change.”

This is the first book I have read by Laura Story and I definitely appreciated certain aspects of this book. She weaves together her own life experiences, as well as some interviews with others, along with Biblical truth and teaching. She seeks for the reader to be fully present in life and encourages engagement in the different seasons we may find ourselves in that defy the “normal” we were expecting.

I am in a personal season of change in my life, of “saying goodbye to my own normal”, as it would be described in this book. I should have been a key demographic for this book and yet, while this was an encouraging read and presents the reader with timeless truth, I struggled to connect with her writing style a bit. I’m not sure if this is because I am a bit older than her and am at a different place in my family and professional life, as I am sure others will really resonate with the messages within.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley on exchange for my honest review.

[Ginger Hudock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have long admired Laura Story as a musician, writer and a person. This is at least the third book of her's that I have read and it is, again excellent. Each chapter includes some stories of Laura's life, a discussion of a Biblical passage as well as a story about another person who has had their "normal" interrupted.
This book is perfect for the time we are in as Christians and Americans. "Normal" has been interrupted for everyone during this past year of shutdowns due to Covid. But, as Laura states in the book " is it possible that God in his mercy might allow our lives to be shaken for the sole purpose of exposing a faulty foundation?" This book looks at this and also whether our changing circumstances are being used by God to bring us closer to him.
If you have had some sort of upset to your normal conditions that are causing you to question God, I highly encourage you to read this book.
I received a complementary copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
So Long, Normal
Living and Loving the Free Fall of Faith
by Laura Story

I have long been a fan of Laura Story's music. So Long, Normal is a wonderful book. Story leads readers on a journey through the difficult times in her life and others, while pointing readers to the beauty of the Gospel and the marvelous benefits of releasing our hold on “normal” and grasping on to full faith in Jesus,
Story is as talented a writer as she is a singer. She has a deep solid theology and I understood a few Biblical promises in a new way after reading this book.
I highly recommend this book. It would be perfect for a small group!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Story takes you through her own story as well as others' stories and stories from Scripture of saying goodbye to "normal". "Normal" is something we so often strive for instead of stepping out in faith or trusting God. The book is easy to read and makes you think about ways that we so often strive for "normal".

"I pray I've encouraged you to step out in boldness, step away from unhealthy or overly cautious patterns of life, and truly say goodbye to anything you lean on a substitute for true faith."

I received a complimentary advanced reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not heard a song by Laura Story that has not touched me deeply so when I saw she had a book, especially related to things not working out, I knew I wanted to read this. Story is a gifted teacher and has a genuine way of sharing God’s truth to bruised, hurting hearts. Her words of encouragement, cultivated through her own trials, are all meant to point the reader back to the unchanging presence of God and the healing and restoration He provides in His Truth. A great book to add to any shelf.

I received a complimentary copy, with thanks, from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own and freely given.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Story’s ability to move me emotionally is amazing. She shares her heart and personal encouragement to those who are hurting and struggling. As we are in the midst of COVID, there is no sense of normal. The author's writing style is well done and her use of scripture and sharing the story of her life … her husband, kids, and career in Christian music is appealing. The fact that she shares interviews of various individuals is a wonderful addition. And then when she asks readers the same question at the end is moving.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

[elcissoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are new to Christianity or haven’t read a lot of great non-fiction Christian books in the past, then I would definitely recommend So Long, Normal. If you’ve already been around that mountain a few times, then I would say pass and move on to the next one. So Long, Normal wasn’t a “bad” book. I don’t even have a problem with the book itself, it was just, for me, another Christian book saying a lot of the same things over again. I read a lot of non-fiction Christian books, so the information seemed to be repetitive.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.