It's Not Supposed to Be This Way

By: Lysa TerKeurst

Narrated by: Lysa TerKeurst, Jolene Barto

Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

Includes an audiobook exclusive interview with Lysa!

New York Times best-selling author Lysa TerKeurst unveils her heart amid shattering circumstances and shows listeners how to live assured when life doesn't turn out like they expected.

What do you do when God’s timing seems questionable, His lack of intervention hurtful, and His promises doubtful?

Life often looks so very different than we hoped or expected. Some events may simply catch us off guard for a moment, but others shatter us completely. We feel disappointed and disillusioned, and we quietly start to wonder about the reality of God’s goodness.

Lysa TerKeurst understands this deeply. But she's also discovered that our disappointments can be the divine appointments our souls need to radically encounter God. In It's Not Supposed to Be This Way, Lysa invites us into her own journey of faith and, with grit, vulnerability, and honest humor, helps us to:

• Stop being pulled into the anxiety of disappointment by discovering how to better process unmet expectations and other painful situations.
• Train ourselves to recognize the three strategies of the enemy so we can stand strong and persevere through unsettling relationships and uncertain outcomes.
• Discover the secret of being steadfast and not panicking when God actually does give us more than we can handle.
• Shift our suspicion that God is cruel or unfair to the biblical assurance that God is protecting and preparing us.
• Know how to encourage a friend and help her navigate hard realities with real help from God's truth.

Reflection questions available in the audiobook companion PDF download.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. 

©2018 Lysa TerKeurst (P)2018 Thomas Nelson

What we all need to hear...

Everyone will go through some kind of trial in life, but the way Lysa bares her soul and has searched for God and His goodness despite heart wrenching circumstances is inspiring, encouraging, and comforting. She has a beautiful way of communicating, and her story has resonated with me in a way I can’t adequately explain. She gives tools near the end to help give hope and a tangible way of persevering in the face of uncertainty and difficult times. Can not recommend this book highly enough! So, so good.

My Brutally Broken Heart Needed This Book

I'm not sure I will be able to find the words to accurately convey the help this book can bring to a hurting soul. It by no means is better than the words we have from God but for those of us who need another hurting human to say "Hey I get it, I know pain, I know heartbreak, I know sickness, and I am walking this path in a broken world too" this is it. I doubt that a single run through of this book will do for I will surely listen to it several times. I have been faced with a different outlook of my own situation through the words of the author. The change in me will continue for days, months and years if I do not loose sight of the lessons I've learned. God is not cruel even when we can't see the truth of that statement. God does want better for us even when our life screams the opposite. God has not forsaken us even when we can't feel Him or see what He is doing for our good.
If you feel hopeless, broken, hurting beyond words and need God to reach down into the deep pit and pull you out; I suggest you let God let another child of God speak to your heart and bring some hope into the pain and darkness.
For me I am glad I did for I was so very close to loosing all hope and faith and that is a darkness all its own.

Powerful testimony and scriptures

This book was presented to me at the most difficult time thus far in my life and marriage. After 27 years of marriage, everything is a mess and all I have is my almost grown and grown up kids, plus my Savior!! I know HE will lead me through this seeming nightmare and grow me and my faith in the process. Thank you to Lysa for confirmation of these scriptural truths that God has NOT forgotten me.

Disappointed

Thought this would be an encouraging book, but it was way too redundant - kept saying basically "we all get disappointed because things don't turn out like we wanted." Well yes, that's why I bought this audiobook. But it was said over & over, rather than getting to the helpful things. The narration was also not what I like. I prefer straightforward with good inflection, but this sounded like a teacher talking to elementary age students. Don't mean to be mean; just not the book for me.

The Go-To book for heartache and weariness

I've read this book twice and it has earned a spot in my library as the "break glass in case of emotional turmoil". The first time I read it was because Lisa's latest book was being advertised to me by one of my favorite authors. The second time was during the CoViD-19 pandemic. Two opposite ends of the mental state, but both were welcome times for her words. Highly recommend for anyone during any time of hurt.

grateful for your insight

this book came at a most critical time for myself I too am going through much of what Lysa disappointments in marriage have been. I have been married 40 years and have worked diligently with God by my side to have a healthy marriage I am hoping that my outcome would be restoration but that story is yet to be completed thank you so much for your Insight

Seems very preachy.

I am sure it speaks to a lot of people. I found it very sermon-like and monotonous. Not a bad book-just not my style.

One of the best books ever

This book is so encouraging! Within the first few minutes my entire perspective changed on a disappointment in my own life. I can’t recommend it enough. I will be studying this book again with notebook and pen in hand.

Thank you God for leaded me here.

it felt like she was speaking to me and me only. Like she had written this book to help me travel through the rough roads that I have been going through. I so greatly needed this book right now. I'm not sure if I can find another one that will speak to me like this one asked. they are few and far between.

A book that speaks the words we wish we could say.

Great Book! It made me cry at points when it felt it talking to my heart. It is a great book and makes you realize that disappointments is part of our story but not the entire story.

A great encouragement

This book is amazing. My life experiences are very different but I needed to hear the same truths. I got a brain injury 2.5yrs ago & I’m slowly working through the fall out of my world changing 100%.

My only “constructive” feedback is that I struggled, because of my ability to process information, with the speed at which this book was read. I had to listen in small chunks to help my brain cope with it all. I couldn’t just stop it because I needed the words to speak into my deepest parts. If it was a little slower with some pauses it would have been easier.

All that said thank you so much Lisa 💛

Life between two gardens.

Lysa shows how to be steadfast in God despite the dark valleys and high mountains of life. She is loving, truthful and most importantly, Biblical. Her narration is wonderful - she has a rich turn of phrase and kind and compassionate voice. Just like listening to a close sister. Thank you Lysa for giving us these encouraging, strengthening and challenging words.

helpful

this book encouraged me and brought comfort
gave a change in perspective. very insightful.

AMAZING highly recommend

Such an amazing, God filled book. I have learnt so much and couldn’t recommend enough. If you are hurting - give this a read x

Life changing!

This was such a moving read, it was truly inspiring. Just what I needed to hear too. Lysa you are an inspiration with a beautiful heart that reflects the Father ♥️

Just the book I needed to hear

I was truly guided and felt an urgency to read this book the moment I laid eyes on it as I was having a hard time with disappointment myself. I listened to the book the whole way through nonstop. In tears I found the answers I was looking for revealed in the first couple chapters! I plan on buying a hard copy so that I can reread and really let all its revelations sink in.

Such an inspiringly candid story

"Count it all joy, when you encounter different trials. For the testing of your faith produces endurance and endurance produces hope"

Suffering is central to the Christian faith, Lysa's book will help you embrace it

Failed to finish

I was disappointed with this book, and had to force myself to listen further than the first chapter which failed to grip me. Perhaps if I had carried on passed chapter 2 it would have improved, but there was no rhythm and flow for me so I'm giving it 2 stars.

Speechless

Thanks Lisa for being honest and raw helped me through a difficult time in my life.

Don't want faith to be preached to me

I didn't know faith was such a huge element of this audiobook. I listened for 7 minutes and had to turn it off as it just upset me even more. I was recommended this book for my recent miscarriage and it has just made me more upset. I wouldn't recommend if you are not religious or angry at God