The Girl in the Middle: Choosing to Live Out Your Faith in the Everyday

Christians should learn to seek God at life’s crossroads, according to this earnest if stilted guide from YouTuber McDaniel (All-Caps You). Recounting how she first embraced Jesus during a panic attack at age 14, she walks readers through how to approach their own “middle moments” in ways that let them “boldly live out their faith” rather than “staying comfortable.” To do so, they can cast aside their insecurities by leaning on God, make daily efforts to “intentionally talk with [God] and be with him everywhere we go,” read scripture, and prioritize faith even when it cuts against popular opinion. McDaniel’s message comes through most effectively when she shares how her belief has helped her endure such challenges as cyberbullying. Some of her analogies have a tendency to fall flat, however, as when she meditates on forging a “personal” relationship with God by reminiscing about dating her future husband during college (“Just as Josh wanted to personally spend time with just me rather than getting together with the whole friend group, so was I with God”). This isn’t perfect, but McDaniel’s fans will heed her unfailingly encouraging call to find strength through faith. (Sept.)