You Who? Best book I’ve read in a long time

If I were to compile a list of Top 5 Books that have profoundly affected my life, this book would be on it. I devoured it over the course of a week or so. I even read it twice in a row! 

You Who doesn’t give any personality tests. It doesn’t explore complex explanations of the different types of people and their strengths and weaknesses. It doesn’t try to tell you what steps to take to feel more vibrant, important, and useful.

Instead, it is chock-full of biblical truth, sorting through many of the popular but incorrect philosophies about self we encounter every day. More than any other book I’ve read in a long time, it turned my focus toward Christ!

“Will I somehow miss out on my full potential?”

This is a question I have honestly wrestled with as I’ve obeyed the Lord in some very quiet ways. My life as a mom has required that I lay aside, at least for a time, many of my talents and personal activities—the things that seemed to make up who I am. Would I end up with not much to show at the end of my life?

Additionally, I went through a painful identity crisis in my twenties that left me broken and confused. Though I grew stronger with time, I felt I was constantly searching for the person I once was. “Who am I? What is my purpose?” These were questions that still hounded me.

Then, there was the popular cultural idea that a person should should strive to create their best self. That seemed to be, after all, what I had lost. I always believed the Lord was directing my paths, but I also felt it was somehow up to me to will more in my life, to create more productivity and results. What if I messed up? Couldn’t overcome my weaknesses enough to make the cut? The constant urging toward self improvement resulted in feelings of discontentment about my current calling.

This spring, God directed me to You Who?. The result has been lots of answers that are grounded in truth. So much hope. And peace.

I’d like to let these quotes from the book speak for themselves:

In Christianity, the self is always a tool and never a destination.

My identity must be bigger than myself in order to satisfy me.

It is far from my responsibility and life’s work to create and curate myself. For the Christian, the question of “Who am I?” is actually just another way of asking “Who is He?”

We don’t have to set out to change the world. We set out to obey the Lord, and even the simplest actions can leave glorious marks of obedience forever.

My need to know “me” gets swallowed up in the glory of the One who made me—the One who holds me in the His hand. If you would know yourself, seek your God. Know your God, and you will know yourself. Live to His glory and you will be living fully to your own potential. Live for His glory and He will lift up your head.

I have left out so many more. I heartily recommend You Who to every Christian woman!

Go read it!!