cover image LET GOD SURPRISE YOU: Trust God with Your Dreams

LET GOD SURPRISE YOU: Trust God with Your Dreams

Angela Elwell Hunt, Heather Whitestone McCallum, Heather Whitestone-McCallum, . . Zondervan, $15.99 (208pp) ISBN 978-0-310-24628-2

When former Miss America Whitestone developed a high fever at the age of 18 months, she lost her hearing and entered a silent existence. Yet as she matured, Whitestone refused to be daunted by this loss and worked diligently to become a ballerina, learn to speak fluently and set energetic goals for her future. Whitestone's life story continues through each concise chapter in this book, which is part autobiography and part Bible lesson. She and co-author Angela Hunt (who have partnered before in Listening with My Heart) present numerous examples where God inspires Christian believers during difficult phases of life and surprises them with timely, providential provision. They discuss the God who grandly supplies the means to overcome sin, adversity and conflict, gracing his followers with the blessings of love, children, ministry, beauty and forgiveness. Whitestone opens her heart in genuine, thoughtful reflections as she tells her personal experiences, pairing each point with a biblical story in an attempt to add some meat to these rather lightweight accounts. Whitestone's narratives are pleasant, but there isn't enough staying power within these pages to prod less than eager fans to keep reading. This is disappointing, given that Whitestone's sincerity rings true and her voice clearly commands the attention of many evangelical Christian readers. (May)