It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way

Disappointment. We have all been there. When parts of our lives aren’t what we want them to be. Or how we expected them to be. Single? Sick? Stuck? The book “It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way” by Lysa Terkeurst, is exactly what is needed when life tosses you a curve ball, or two.

The funny thing is, I learned about this book the same way I found out about one of my other favorite Christian reads, “Why Her”. It was introduced as part of an opportunity to join an online bible study through Proverbs 31 Ministries.

The author of this book, Lysa Terkeurst, is actually the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and when she released this book last fall, it was the chosen month long study for the online group.

Just like “Why Her”, when I discovered what “It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way” was about, I just knew it was something I needed to read and learn from.

That’s because I consider myself a dreamer. I always have been. As lofty as my dreams are, it is understandable that sometimes I am unable to accomplish those dreams when I want to.

And sometimes, as hard as it is to admit, those dreams just aren’t possible.

Which goes against everything that you’re told as a kid.

“You can do or be anything you want. You just have to put your mind to it.”

False.

Otherwise, I’d be able to eat a whole pizza on a Friday night and still fit into a pair of skinny jeans without looking like a busted can of biscuits.

Some things are just not meant to happen.

It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way: The Story

That’s what nabs your attention about this book from the get go.

Here is the author, president of a very large Christian ministry, starting this story – her story – with sharing how she came to find out her husband of 25 years was having an affair.

Now if that doesn’t make you say, “It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way”, I don’t know what will.

As Lysa unfolds the story of working through the hurt and the pain of her broken marriage, another bombshell. She is diagnosed with breast cancer.

Whoa. And the hits just keep coming don’t they?

But that is how life seems to happen doesn’t it? It just takes one knock and your world starts spiraling out of control with no way to stop.

That’s why I loved this quote from the book: “God doesn’t expect us to handle this. He wants us to hand this over to Him.”

Carrie Underwood’s song says it best. Sometimes you just have to have “Jesus Take The Wheel”.

It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way: Final Thoughts

At the end of each chapter, Lysa has a page or two titled “Going to the Well”. It’s a way to review each lesson with bible verses to study, questions to think about, statements to reflect on, and a prayer to bring it all together.

I love how Lysa’s story makes it seem like I’m talking with a good friend. Sharing our mutual stories of hurt and heartache. Wondering why God is pointing us in a different direction than what we always had planned.

That is why I’m going to leave you with one final quote from the book. Because no matter what you are going through in life, “God loves us too much to answer our prayers at any other time than the right time and in any other way than the right way.”