I Give Up: The Secret Joy of a Surrendered Life

Description

Most of us long to be in control-of our schedule, our relationships, and our future. Newlywed Laura Story thought she had control over the great life ahead of her. After all, she followed Jesus and had a promising new job as a worship leader. Why would God not want to fulfill her dreams But when Laura and her husband, Martin, faced a brain tumor, infertility, and a son's birth defect, she realized she'd been looking for a happiness that comes from circumstances, rather than a deeper joy that comes from God. Again and again, Laura had to surrender her vision for her life so she could embrace God's vision. And again and again she learned that even in the midst of shattered dreams, God's plan brought greater joy than she could have imagined. Now the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter known for such hits as "Blessings," "Indescribable," and "Mighty to Save" shares her powerful story of finding blessing in her deepest pain. In, I Give Up, Laura explores: How to delight in God's gifts no matter your circumstances. Why waiting on God is a daily decision, not a step-by-step process. The strength we find from meditating on God's Word. Why surrendering to God leads to reconciliation with others. How the things we consider to be losses are ways for God to display his glory. As Laura writes, she no longer wants to be in control of her life. She wants to be rooted in the God who is in control. I Give Up will help you Discover a deeper life of worship, a fuller life of joy, and a freer life of true surrender as you open your hands to God. And give up.

Laura Story is a wife, mother, songwriter, worship leader, author, artist, and Bible teacher. Her songs-which have won Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, and Dove Awards-include "Blessings," "Mighty to Save," and Chris Tomlin's "Indescribable." Laura has a master of theological studies and a doctorate in worship studies, and has served as a worship leader at Perimeter Church in Atlanta since 2005. Her greatest joy is being a wife to Martin and mother to Josie, Ben, Griffin, and Timothy.

In this inspiring memoir, Story (When God Doesn't Fix It), a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, explores recent personal turmoil and the ways uncertainty has opened her to God's plan. After her husband is diagnosed with a brain tumor, a pregnant Story learns that her son will be born with a cleft palate. The occurrences stun her and inspire her recommit to God. In addition to sharing her own experiences, she provides examples from the Bible of those who surrendered to God's plan, including Esther, Hannah, Joseph, and Jesus. 'Choosing to believe God when a situation remains unresolved... is a serious lesson in surrender.' Story addresses how one's choices affect others and why the act of surrendering often leads to the betterment or reconciliation of relationships. Following her husband's recovery and the healthy birth of her son (whose cleft palate required less surgery than they imagined), she explains how 'giving up' allowed God to use her disappointments to display his glory. Story also includes uplifting lyrics from her songs and concludes chapters with prayers based on the idea of surrender. Her tale of maintaining faith through hardship and her message that 'surrender is the secret to a life of joy' will appeal both to fans of her music and Christian readers alike. * PW *