Satisfied: Finding Hope, Joy, and Contentment Right Where You Are

Bethke (coauthor, Love That Lasts), blogger and cohost of The Real-Life podcast, weighs in on the value of intimate friendships, community, and gathering around the table in her pleasing solo debut. These brief essays encourage Christian women to make their home a welcome place by focusing on gratitude, hope, peace, joy, and contentment. Bethke identifies expectations that distract women from experiencing joy, exploring the deleterious effects of body image self-consciousness, loneliness, unhealthy comparisons, and social media overload. She reminds readers they are never forgotten or unseen, and by finding their true identity in God they can be assured they are enough: “I am learning the beauty of his strength in my weakness.” In sharing her own parenting troubles, business failures, and marital strife, Bethke describes her struggles with fear and how she accepted the challenge of confronting it: “We have a choice to choose fear or choose faith.” Referring to the Psalms, she emphasizes finding hope even during times of grief and the value of learning to treasure the small things, and ends with a list of recipes to help make one’s home a welcoming space. Christian women will find comfort for both the soul and body in Bethke’s encouraging words. (May)