What do you think?
Rate this book
What If It's Wonderful?: Release Your Fears, Choose Joy, and Find the Courage to Celebrate
Family therapist Nicole Zasowski challenges you to let go of dwelling in your anxieties and fears and instead ask yourself the What if it’s wonderful?
These questions haunt many of us, leaving us sick with anxiety and frozen into what if my hope only leads to disappointment? What if I embrace joy only to have it ripped from my hands? What if my celebration is the cause of others' sadness? What if my joy takes me away from the God I knew so well in my pain? But these fears don’t have to control your life.
Author and marriage and family therapist Nicole Zasowski knows what it's like to suffer a blow that makes it difficult to look to the future. Despite the struggle, she found the courage to celebrate, and discovered that God is as present in our joy as He is in our pain.
Yes, God's purpose for us is worked out in our struggles. But what if it is also worked out in our dreams and our delighted joy? In What If it's Wonderful? Nicole helps
Overcome the fears that keep you from looking toward the future with joyLet go of the lies you've believed about happiness and embrace celebration as a part of spiritual growthApproach life with an expectant heart and courage to trust God's good giftsWith a psychological and spiritual case for celebrating, Nicole challenges you to let go of the habit of practicing disappointment and fully embrace joy, beckoning you to ask yourself a new What if it's wonderful?
These questions haunt many of us, leaving us sick with anxiety and frozen into what if my hope only leads to disappointment? What if I embrace joy only to have it ripped from my hands? What if my celebration is the cause of others' sadness? What if my joy takes me away from the God I knew so well in my pain? But these fears don’t have to control your life.
Author and marriage and family therapist Nicole Zasowski knows what it's like to suffer a blow that makes it difficult to look to the future. Despite the struggle, she found the courage to celebrate, and discovered that God is as present in our joy as He is in our pain.
Yes, God's purpose for us is worked out in our struggles. But what if it is also worked out in our dreams and our delighted joy? In What If it's Wonderful? Nicole helps
Overcome the fears that keep you from looking toward the future with joyLet go of the lies you've believed about happiness and embrace celebration as a part of spiritual growthApproach life with an expectant heart and courage to trust God's good giftsWith a psychological and spiritual case for celebrating, Nicole challenges you to let go of the habit of practicing disappointment and fully embrace joy, beckoning you to ask yourself a new What if it's wonderful?
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2022
170 people are currently reading
1589 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
August 1, 2022
A book I didn’t know I needed — What If It’s Wonderful? is, as the subtitle notes, about releasing your fears, choosing joy, and finding the courage to celebrate.
WIIW offers recommendations for how to move past fear of unknowns or potential disappointments, to appreciate the opportunity to celebrate joy, here and now. For me, this has often been easier said than done and I am glad I read this book, marking several paragraphs to save and re-read again later.
“I don’t want to look back on my life — my beautiful, wonder-filled, God-given life — and realize that I’ve mostly missed it while I was busy preparing for the worst.”
You Should Know — Nicole discusses her challenges with miscarriage throughout the book, which understandably, is a sensitive topic. While WIIW is a personal growth book, it’s also described as Christian living. As someone who is minimally religious, I still found the main message applicable.
WIIW offers recommendations for how to move past fear of unknowns or potential disappointments, to appreciate the opportunity to celebrate joy, here and now. For me, this has often been easier said than done and I am glad I read this book, marking several paragraphs to save and re-read again later.
“I don’t want to look back on my life — my beautiful, wonder-filled, God-given life — and realize that I’ve mostly missed it while I was busy preparing for the worst.”
You Should Know — Nicole discusses her challenges with miscarriage throughout the book, which understandably, is a sensitive topic. While WIIW is a personal growth book, it’s also described as Christian living. As someone who is minimally religious, I still found the main message applicable.
August 6, 2022
I was a little nervous that this book would be annoyingly optimistic or prosperity gospel-esque based on the title, BUT it was so good and helpful! Would highly recommend for people to read alongside other books on suffering/lamenting, because it gives a good perspective on celebration without downplaying hardship or pain. Favorite book of 2022 so far.
December 4, 2021
"What If It's Wonderful?"
I have found myself asking this question so often while reading Nicole Zasowski's book of the same name that I can't help but picturing Zasowski showing up at my doorstep saying "Would you stop already?"
Probably not.
"What If It's Wonderful?" is the second book I've read in recent weeks essentially centered around the spiritual discipline of celebration, though it's likely fair to say that "What If It's Wonderful?" certainly expands upon that boundary.
It's a discipline I've been contemplating greatly as of late. This is mostly, to be honest, because I'm simply tired of the story that I'm telling the world.
This doesn't mean I'm not happy. This doesn't mean that I'm seen in any negative sort of light. For the most part, I believe most people in my life view me through lenses of optimism, hopefulness, perseverance, and achievement.
However, as I read Zasowski's words I was confronted time and again with how often I choose to elevate the traumas in my life to a lofty place in my self-identity that they've never really earned.
It's hard. The traumas are real. From being born and living with spina bifida to years of childhood sexual abuse, spouse/child loss, and other adult traumatic experiences, I've long been a creative type whose works largely help me cope with a world for which I often feel ill-equipped for day-to-day life.
I'm different. I'm different physically. I'm different emotionally. I'm a kind but socially awkward fellow who has spent most of my adult life traveling around by wheelchair raising awareness on children's issues. In some major ways, my traumas have become identity and my life has become one gigantic coping skill.
"What If It's Wonderful?" is truly an invitation to release your fears, choose joy and, perhaps most importantly for me, find the courage to celebrate.
Zasowski writes eloquently about how immersed she could become in the more traumatic life experiences she's had, most notably multiple miscarriages, and how she began to view life through that lens. There's an honesty to this storytelling that resonated with me and gave me permission to similarly explore those dark spaces and how much they've shaped my self-image and how I interact with life.
This was the simultaneous gift of "What If It's Wonderful?" - It helped me go into those leftover dark messages like "I was so awful to be married to that my wife had to off herself and our newborn" but it also gave me permission to begin the journey of reshaping that lens piece-by-piece. It's not that I'd never dealt with those issues, of course, but this book helped me identify how those experiences had too much influence on my identity and my daily life.
I'm 56-years-old with spina bifida. I live independently. I work full-time. I've lived FAR longer and with a much higher quality of life than anyone ever expected. How can I do anything but celebrate that? Do I have to acknowledge a birth defect that will never go away? Of course. I also have to deal with the myriad of ways it shapes my daily experience, but what if instead of viewing my daily life through a lens of physical challenge I choose celebration for a body that has accomplished so much in terms of surviving and thriving?
Zasowski is wonderful at acknowledging the differences in stories. At times, I felt disconnected from the book precisely because in some ways Zasowski seems to write it from the other side - in other words, while there's much talk about the impact of her miscarriages and infant loss there's also the reality that she has a loving spouse, three young children (all of whom are vividly brought to life here - they sound adorable), and a terrific support system even as she herself is a marriage and family therapist and an author. It's not that anything ever "replaces" those devastating losses (it doesn't), but it still feels different than someone who lost "everything" and then never experienced anything else (no remarriage, no children). Is it different? Maybe not. That might be unfair, but it's just how I felt.
But, then again. Zasowski then pushes back (it really did feel like she was reading my mind here. I think I would find her completely irritating as a therapist!) by acknowledging the reality that this is not about denying trauma, denying reality, or not facing the fact that for some people reality never changes. At times, I wish the book delved a bit deeper into how people choose "celebration" when the realities of their life experiences don't change but this is a minor quibble for a book that challenged me emotionally, physically, spiritually, and in a myriad of other ways.
Zasowski grounds her writing deeply within a theological construct and scripture. This is always a tricky prospect considering the myriad of theological branches in the world, though for the most part Zasowski sticks to fairly straightforward scriptural application to our daily lives.
Zasowski ends "What If It's Wonderful?" by offering up introspective discussion questions that can, and likely should be, shared within the framework of a trusted small group yet they've also been beneficial for me to work through independently as I journey through recent limb loss and the recent losses of my mother and brother. I've found these questions beneficial for exploring thoughts, feelings, fixed ideas, and what Stuart Smalley used to call "stinkin' thinkin."
If you've read my reviews for any length of time, you know that I worry less about critical evaluation and more about sharing my experience with a book. I don't really believe in "good" or "bad" books for the most part, though I do give negative reviews when I'm feeling it. Instead, however, I want my reviews to help people discover if a book is right for them. I suppose what I can say here is that "What If It's Wonderful?" is most certainly right for me.
Zasowski writes like a therapist. She writes with a measured compassion that invites you in and holds space for safe exploration of one's fears and how we can so easily choose fear over joy and to allow our traumas, challenges, and life obstacles to become our identity instead of finding the courage to celebrate because of who we are in God and the myriad of other things in our life that, when we look closely, invite us into celebration.
I continue working my way through the end of "What If It's Wonderful?" as I've committed myself to exploring celebration in deeper and the same life-changing ways in which I elevated trauma and disability and loss and other things. As an author myself, I have committed myself that my next book will come from a place of celebration and "What If It's Wonderful?" is helping me discover the inner voice that is helping me get there.
So much to love and, indeed, so much to celebrate with Nicole Zasowski's "What If It's Wonderful?"
I have found myself asking this question so often while reading Nicole Zasowski's book of the same name that I can't help but picturing Zasowski showing up at my doorstep saying "Would you stop already?"
Probably not.
"What If It's Wonderful?" is the second book I've read in recent weeks essentially centered around the spiritual discipline of celebration, though it's likely fair to say that "What If It's Wonderful?" certainly expands upon that boundary.
It's a discipline I've been contemplating greatly as of late. This is mostly, to be honest, because I'm simply tired of the story that I'm telling the world.
This doesn't mean I'm not happy. This doesn't mean that I'm seen in any negative sort of light. For the most part, I believe most people in my life view me through lenses of optimism, hopefulness, perseverance, and achievement.
However, as I read Zasowski's words I was confronted time and again with how often I choose to elevate the traumas in my life to a lofty place in my self-identity that they've never really earned.
It's hard. The traumas are real. From being born and living with spina bifida to years of childhood sexual abuse, spouse/child loss, and other adult traumatic experiences, I've long been a creative type whose works largely help me cope with a world for which I often feel ill-equipped for day-to-day life.
I'm different. I'm different physically. I'm different emotionally. I'm a kind but socially awkward fellow who has spent most of my adult life traveling around by wheelchair raising awareness on children's issues. In some major ways, my traumas have become identity and my life has become one gigantic coping skill.
"What If It's Wonderful?" is truly an invitation to release your fears, choose joy and, perhaps most importantly for me, find the courage to celebrate.
Zasowski writes eloquently about how immersed she could become in the more traumatic life experiences she's had, most notably multiple miscarriages, and how she began to view life through that lens. There's an honesty to this storytelling that resonated with me and gave me permission to similarly explore those dark spaces and how much they've shaped my self-image and how I interact with life.
This was the simultaneous gift of "What If It's Wonderful?" - It helped me go into those leftover dark messages like "I was so awful to be married to that my wife had to off herself and our newborn" but it also gave me permission to begin the journey of reshaping that lens piece-by-piece. It's not that I'd never dealt with those issues, of course, but this book helped me identify how those experiences had too much influence on my identity and my daily life.
I'm 56-years-old with spina bifida. I live independently. I work full-time. I've lived FAR longer and with a much higher quality of life than anyone ever expected. How can I do anything but celebrate that? Do I have to acknowledge a birth defect that will never go away? Of course. I also have to deal with the myriad of ways it shapes my daily experience, but what if instead of viewing my daily life through a lens of physical challenge I choose celebration for a body that has accomplished so much in terms of surviving and thriving?
Zasowski is wonderful at acknowledging the differences in stories. At times, I felt disconnected from the book precisely because in some ways Zasowski seems to write it from the other side - in other words, while there's much talk about the impact of her miscarriages and infant loss there's also the reality that she has a loving spouse, three young children (all of whom are vividly brought to life here - they sound adorable), and a terrific support system even as she herself is a marriage and family therapist and an author. It's not that anything ever "replaces" those devastating losses (it doesn't), but it still feels different than someone who lost "everything" and then never experienced anything else (no remarriage, no children). Is it different? Maybe not. That might be unfair, but it's just how I felt.
But, then again. Zasowski then pushes back (it really did feel like she was reading my mind here. I think I would find her completely irritating as a therapist!) by acknowledging the reality that this is not about denying trauma, denying reality, or not facing the fact that for some people reality never changes. At times, I wish the book delved a bit deeper into how people choose "celebration" when the realities of their life experiences don't change but this is a minor quibble for a book that challenged me emotionally, physically, spiritually, and in a myriad of other ways.
Zasowski grounds her writing deeply within a theological construct and scripture. This is always a tricky prospect considering the myriad of theological branches in the world, though for the most part Zasowski sticks to fairly straightforward scriptural application to our daily lives.
Zasowski ends "What If It's Wonderful?" by offering up introspective discussion questions that can, and likely should be, shared within the framework of a trusted small group yet they've also been beneficial for me to work through independently as I journey through recent limb loss and the recent losses of my mother and brother. I've found these questions beneficial for exploring thoughts, feelings, fixed ideas, and what Stuart Smalley used to call "stinkin' thinkin."
If you've read my reviews for any length of time, you know that I worry less about critical evaluation and more about sharing my experience with a book. I don't really believe in "good" or "bad" books for the most part, though I do give negative reviews when I'm feeling it. Instead, however, I want my reviews to help people discover if a book is right for them. I suppose what I can say here is that "What If It's Wonderful?" is most certainly right for me.
Zasowski writes like a therapist. She writes with a measured compassion that invites you in and holds space for safe exploration of one's fears and how we can so easily choose fear over joy and to allow our traumas, challenges, and life obstacles to become our identity instead of finding the courage to celebrate because of who we are in God and the myriad of other things in our life that, when we look closely, invite us into celebration.
I continue working my way through the end of "What If It's Wonderful?" as I've committed myself to exploring celebration in deeper and the same life-changing ways in which I elevated trauma and disability and loss and other things. As an author myself, I have committed myself that my next book will come from a place of celebration and "What If It's Wonderful?" is helping me discover the inner voice that is helping me get there.
So much to love and, indeed, so much to celebrate with Nicole Zasowski's "What If It's Wonderful?"
February 9, 2025
Absolutely incredible. I hope to read this book several more times in my lifetime. I’d love to read it in a book club or small group. 1000% recommend!
One of My fav quotes, “ Our expectant hearts become demanding hearts when our delight in Christ is contingent upon God giving power to our own plans”
So much more of where that came from!! Read this book
One of My fav quotes, “ Our expectant hearts become demanding hearts when our delight in Christ is contingent upon God giving power to our own plans”
So much more of where that came from!! Read this book
March 10, 2025
“Celebration is God’s healing balm for our broken world and to our scarred hearts. It is the exercise of actively remembering and enjoying the goodness of God in our lives” Would give this book 100 stars if I could.
July 19, 2022
What If It's Wonderful by Nicole Zasowski is a gem, and I don't think I've talked about one book as much as I have this one in quite some time.
Zasowski proposes a complete paradigm shift in our thinking. Instead looking ahead to the future and anticipating failure or disappointment (as we often do), she dares us to expectantly ask, "What if it's wonderful?"
I found this question incredibly powerful. As a writer, I'm used to my fair share of rejection. Even in life, God often says "no" or "wait," and time jades us to think that is the response we're always going to receive. Instead, Zasowski reminds us that God is with us in times of celebration too and wants to partner with us in the good news and in the bad.
She then offers practical ways to choose joy and release our fears and generously shares her own experiences. I can't recommend this book enough and anticipate reading it again.
Zasowski proposes a complete paradigm shift in our thinking. Instead looking ahead to the future and anticipating failure or disappointment (as we often do), she dares us to expectantly ask, "What if it's wonderful?"
I found this question incredibly powerful. As a writer, I'm used to my fair share of rejection. Even in life, God often says "no" or "wait," and time jades us to think that is the response we're always going to receive. Instead, Zasowski reminds us that God is with us in times of celebration too and wants to partner with us in the good news and in the bad.
She then offers practical ways to choose joy and release our fears and generously shares her own experiences. I can't recommend this book enough and anticipate reading it again.
January 2, 2023
A solid 4-star read to start off the new year!
As someone who often falls into ruts of melancholy and has trouble truly savoring life's goodness, I am very glad this "celebration as discipline" theme is being resurrected in Christian nonfiction. Zasowski's personal narrative and expertise as a restoration therapist added rich insight.
Two takeaways:
- The "if I didn't earn it, I don't get to celebrate it" mentality is incompatible with Scripture. Every good thing is from the Lord, and our celebration is worship.
- Celebration should not just be for endings but also points of progress. This allows us to celebrate the work God is doing without the need to "protect" ourselves with cynicism.
I still believe that "Aggressively Happy" by Joy Clarkson tops this very niche sub-genre, but if you're looking for more on the topic from an LMFT perspective, this a great next read.
As someone who often falls into ruts of melancholy and has trouble truly savoring life's goodness, I am very glad this "celebration as discipline" theme is being resurrected in Christian nonfiction. Zasowski's personal narrative and expertise as a restoration therapist added rich insight.
Two takeaways:
- The "if I didn't earn it, I don't get to celebrate it" mentality is incompatible with Scripture. Every good thing is from the Lord, and our celebration is worship.
- Celebration should not just be for endings but also points of progress. This allows us to celebrate the work God is doing without the need to "protect" ourselves with cynicism.
I still believe that "Aggressively Happy" by Joy Clarkson tops this very niche sub-genre, but if you're looking for more on the topic from an LMFT perspective, this a great next read.
March 9, 2022
Thanks to Thomas Nelson - W Publishing for the free book.
What a joy this book was. The author doesn't shy away from sharing the hard parts of her story and is vulnerable in her sharing her struggles to choose joy. I could relate to the parts of her story where it was easier to lean into fear then celebration. If you don't celebrate, you can't be disappointed, right? Yet, she challenged the reader to dig deeper into faith and what celebration looks like in light of what Jesus has done. This is a perspective I've not read before, and I am going to work on applying the ideas in this book because living in that place of celebration is a place I want to be in.
What a joy this book was. The author doesn't shy away from sharing the hard parts of her story and is vulnerable in her sharing her struggles to choose joy. I could relate to the parts of her story where it was easier to lean into fear then celebration. If you don't celebrate, you can't be disappointed, right? Yet, she challenged the reader to dig deeper into faith and what celebration looks like in light of what Jesus has done. This is a perspective I've not read before, and I am going to work on applying the ideas in this book because living in that place of celebration is a place I want to be in.
January 13, 2023
I loved this book so much!! It fit so well into what I’ve been going through this past year…helped me to see where I was letting fears control my life…and encouraged me to take steps of growth. So so grateful for Elysa for bringing this into our discipleship ❤️
July 26, 2023
started this book so long ago and finally just finished it BUT felt like I took so much away from reading the second half of the book this week in a different season of life from when I started it. God is in our sorrow and joy and both are places to find celebration
April 5, 2022
This book is both encouraging and uplifting. Sometimes non-fiction books can be dry but not this one. I feel like I am sitting with an old friend. Nicole Zasowski shares stories from her life and also talks about the Bible at times because it is a Christian-based book. However, I don't feel like she is preachy. Rather it feels like she is just sharing from her heart and soul both her experiences and her faith. She hopes to help readers through their tough stuff too. And I think she does. I would recommend this book to anyone and anyone of faith who needs to see how joy can be part of their life.
In the beginning, Jess Connolly talks about how she was afraid to feel joy in her life as a Christian. We put so much emphasis on other aspects of the Christian life that joy feels like dessert--something to be experienced only occasionally. That one really hit home for me. I have shared this struggle. Throughout the book Zasowski shares personal experiences that I can relate to. I want to make lasting changes in my life so I just couldn't rush through this book. There is a lot of good stuff in it and I want the information to stay with me. I want to believe that God does have good things in store for me and it is okay to celebrate those good things every day.
In the beginning, Jess Connolly talks about how she was afraid to feel joy in her life as a Christian. We put so much emphasis on other aspects of the Christian life that joy feels like dessert--something to be experienced only occasionally. That one really hit home for me. I have shared this struggle. Throughout the book Zasowski shares personal experiences that I can relate to. I want to make lasting changes in my life so I just couldn't rush through this book. There is a lot of good stuff in it and I want the information to stay with me. I want to believe that God does have good things in store for me and it is okay to celebrate those good things every day.
August 7, 2025
This book is such a sweet reminder of how to celebrate well and how to find joy, no matter what you’re facing. Must read.
November 13, 2022
I really loved this book! It really challenged my tendency to assume the worst and made me really think about where God is in my celebration! It has changed my perspective in a lot of ways. It is not a commentary on mental health, and there are certain things said that could’ve been handled better. It’s more so an invitation to celebrate the joy of Christ and His gift in all circumstances!
May 23, 2022
I read the first two chapters via Audible of this book while in the ER with my baby girl when she was diagnosed with COVID and unable to breathe. It was an incredibly difficult week and these were just the words I needed to hear:
“I never knew how much grief felt like fear. -CS Lewis
“Life felt unsafe emotionally and spiritually. I was terrified that hope would make a fool of me. I no longer felt brave enough to dream. I felt convinced that possibility was only an avenue that would lead to pain, and I was certain the celebration if I were to receive good news could not be trusted.
What if it actually is going to be OK? What if it’s wonderful?
Hope is not a denial of the cost. It knows what we can see is not all there is.” - Nicole Zawoski (chapter 1)
This book was beautiful. I also specifically liked the chapter on fun and making time for it, and the human need for it. Thank you, Nicole, for making space for honest moments and conversations. I am grateful for your book.
“I never knew how much grief felt like fear. -CS Lewis
“Life felt unsafe emotionally and spiritually. I was terrified that hope would make a fool of me. I no longer felt brave enough to dream. I felt convinced that possibility was only an avenue that would lead to pain, and I was certain the celebration if I were to receive good news could not be trusted.
What if it actually is going to be OK? What if it’s wonderful?
Hope is not a denial of the cost. It knows what we can see is not all there is.” - Nicole Zawoski (chapter 1)
This book was beautiful. I also specifically liked the chapter on fun and making time for it, and the human need for it. Thank you, Nicole, for making space for honest moments and conversations. I am grateful for your book.
September 10, 2022
If I'm being completely honest, my interest in this book was mainly to learn how I could encourage others to choose hope in the midst of really hard seasons. A couple of specific friends came to mind as soon as I learned what it was about, so I wanted to read it to know if it was one I would want to gift to others.
Well.
I needed this book myself more than I would have ever expected. Nicole's writing style makes this easy to read, like having a deep conversation over coffee with a friend. I remember struggling with the things she shares about during seasons of waiting, disappointment, and dashed hopes. But I hadn't realized how many of those old patterns I was still stuck in. Reading this book has been like heart surgery and a healing balm all wrapped into one. If you need a fresh perspective on why and how to choose joy and hold onto hope, this book is for you.
Well.
I needed this book myself more than I would have ever expected. Nicole's writing style makes this easy to read, like having a deep conversation over coffee with a friend. I remember struggling with the things she shares about during seasons of waiting, disappointment, and dashed hopes. But I hadn't realized how many of those old patterns I was still stuck in. Reading this book has been like heart surgery and a healing balm all wrapped into one. If you need a fresh perspective on why and how to choose joy and hold onto hope, this book is for you.
March 5, 2022
Just like the author Nicole, I also have journeyed through a season of recurrent miscarriage, and I immediately recognised a lot of what she writes about the loss of joy in myself as well.
.What I especially loved about this book was Nicole’s insistence that joy is not just something to be experienced on the other side of waiting, or after we have received our desired outcomes - but right here, right now, in the messy middle of life.
This book is a wonderful invitation to practice celebration in response to God’s goodness, regardless of our circumstances - and reading it was a timely balm for my soul.
.What I especially loved about this book was Nicole’s insistence that joy is not just something to be experienced on the other side of waiting, or after we have received our desired outcomes - but right here, right now, in the messy middle of life.
This book is a wonderful invitation to practice celebration in response to God’s goodness, regardless of our circumstances - and reading it was a timely balm for my soul.
September 21, 2022
One of the best books I’ve read for spiritual growth - imagine Jen Wilkin’s scriptural foundation, Brene Brown’s therapy insights, and Lisa Terkeurst’s warm tone — that’s this book.
March 12, 2022
One would expect a healing book from a marriage and family therapist, right? However, one does not expect a tender and compassionate unveiling of our own hearts as we journey with Nicole as she shares her experiences of brokenness and her reflections of Scripture. What if It's Wonderful is an exquisite finale to her first book, From Lost to Found. I call them twins! One hardly stands without the other. To know both is to know that life is the untold mystery of the providential hand of God our Father in all of our circumstances- both in the agony and the celebration.
I look forward to the day your twins(both of your books) will be published in one volume- for all the world to read and enjoy!
I look forward to the day your twins(both of your books) will be published in one volume- for all the world to read and enjoy!
July 31, 2022
As someone who is brilliant at grieving, but finds joy dangerous, this book provided some guidance to make more room a joy that sits with sorrow. If you are childless not by choice, this book does talk about infertility and the grief of miscarriages. However, the author does become a parent, so she does reflect on joy through this lens.
"When we protect ourselves from disappointment, we will also protect ourselves from delight" (43)
"When we protect ourselves from disappointment, we will also protect ourselves from delight" (43)
January 19, 2025
I relate to Nicole’s challenge to shift from doubt to celebration. This book reminded me that every joy, no matter how small, is a gift, and that God's grace is woven through both my challenges and accomplishments. I found myself nodding “yes” in many sections because it was like she was writing about me personally. If you struggle to celebrate life because you are overwhelmed by potential disappointment, this is a book for you.
June 24, 2024
What if it truly could be wonderful? What if there is a reason to hope? What if hard, painful things can be redeemed? What if beauty awaits us?
All of these things can be answered with a resounding joyful yes because of Christ! This book was truly food for my soul and spoke to areas of pain and fear that I’ve been holding onto far too closely. Because of Jesus and His sacrifice, we can celebrate and be joyous, even when things do not go accordingly. Count it all as joy and celebrate those around you intentionally, even if it takes a little more effort.
All of these things can be answered with a resounding joyful yes because of Christ! This book was truly food for my soul and spoke to areas of pain and fear that I’ve been holding onto far too closely. Because of Jesus and His sacrifice, we can celebrate and be joyous, even when things do not go accordingly. Count it all as joy and celebrate those around you intentionally, even if it takes a little more effort.
March 2, 2023
I rarely give 5 stars on books, but this one is so deserving. Every page reached deep into my heart and pulled out something that needed to be healed or addressed. Fabulous writing, insight, and impact. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to be appropriately challenged & who often finds popular Christian literature to be uncompelling — it is extremely insightful and compelling.
April 30, 2025
sweet book- and honestly very applicable. I liked her perspective being a family and marriage counselor and was def called out a few times by her musings and wisdom. i enjoy the way she writes and reminds me of my own style of writing. cute book not like WOW but thought provoking and good
January 10, 2024
what a great read! what if it’s wonderful?
March 23, 2024
So many nuggets of truth and encouragement. Hit me right in the feels in this season. Read on kindle, Will need to re-read via hardcover to be able to mark-ups.
October 4, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
I loved the beginning but felt that the end fell flat. I believe in the concept she is sharing, but felt that there were a few issues with her biblical interpretation.
I loved the beginning but felt that the end fell flat. I believe in the concept she is sharing, but felt that there were a few issues with her biblical interpretation.
July 20, 2025
A much needed reminder
This is a book I will need to revisit often. It is such a comfort to know there are others who have lived with a fear of celebrating, and Nicole has bravely shared her story as a vulnerable source of encouragement. This would be a great one to read in a book club!
This is a book I will need to revisit often. It is such a comfort to know there are others who have lived with a fear of celebrating, and Nicole has bravely shared her story as a vulnerable source of encouragement. This would be a great one to read in a book club!
April 5, 2024
Probably one that I’ll keep coming back to over the years.
Embrace imperfection
Rejoice in the Lord always, daily, hourly, minute by minute
Trust Him
We are safe in God’s economy 🩵
Embrace imperfection
Rejoice in the Lord always, daily, hourly, minute by minute
Trust Him
We are safe in God’s economy 🩵
June 19, 2022
I think I enjoyed the first half the best but overall a great book with an appropriately challenging message. In your joy, where is Jesus?
April 16, 2022
I read this for a book club and I got a lot out of the first four chapters (helpful descriptions of ambiguous grief/loss and the maladaptive ways we try to protect ourselves from pain), but I could have stopped at that point. I felt that the second half of the book became a little too Pollyanna. It was still readable and there were a few helpful insights.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews