“Solid Biblical Encouragement”
Courtney Reissig explains that when she experienced her darkest moments, she found the psalms uniquely helpful. When she was dealing with pregnancy complications, fearing her own death and the death of her unborn child, the psalms spoke to her in a powerful way, helping her to process difficult emotions and worship in the midst of her pain and fear. Throughout this book, Reissig explores how Psalms speaks to readers in different seasons of life, and each chapter focuses on a different psalm and the primary emotion its expresses.
This book is like a hybrid between a devotional and a Bible study. The chapters are longer and more in-depth than a devotional reading, but are also simpler and more straightforward than a typical Bible study, since the reader does not have to contribute anything to the authorās full exposition.
This book can help readers connect with the psalms in a new way, and I appreciate how Reissig shares vulnerable reflections from her own life and includes a variety of possible applications for her readers. Many of her personal stories relate to motherhood, but she also includes examples and applications for women in different circumstances and life stages. However, I found it disappointing that Reissig only directed this book to women. The vast majority of this book involves spiritual truths that apply to the church at large, and men need the same wisdom and encouragement, even when illustrations would differ.
āTeach Me to Feelā is an encouraging guide to how viewing our experiences through the lens of Scripture can help us endure through suffering and keep our eyes on God through all of the different things that we feel. The author's many gendered references mostly limit this to a female audience, but the book is full of biblical wisdom and encouragement for dealing with a wide variety of feelings and types of experiences.
Note: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.