What are you looking for in your faith? If you want to find solace for heartache, hope in despair, and that promised peace that passes all understanding, then this book is for you. Meredith will sit you down on her couch and let you cry and weep. Then she will guide on the way that will bring you peace. This is no empty promise of ease, but draws from the well that gives the water of life, just as Christ promised the woman at the well.

Reading “In Want + Plenty” feels like going on a walk with a trusted friend. Meredith points out hidden treasures along the path and offers a steadying hand In areas of life that are difficult to navigate. Her encouragement through these pages is sure to soothe your soul and equip you to take steps toward the incredible life God has designed just for you.

In Want + Plenty dives into an important topic, covering much of the story in Exodus and bringing it to life in front of our eyes. I've McDaniel other places and believe her to be a talented writer, but I struggled with this book. There is simply too much going on and it became very hard to follow.

Example:
- Recaps of various portions of Exodus.
- Several sections of the book with multiple chapters in each section (but only the sections - not chapters - are listed in the TOC).
- Random words in a larger font throughout.
- Multiple different line break designs in every chapter (not sure why the varying designs...?).
- Questions sprinkled throughout every chapter.
- Questions at the end of every section.
- A song recommendation at the end of every section.

I had really high hopes for this book, but ultimately felt it was jumbled, hard to follow, and even the writing seemed disjointed. I do want to note, though, that I read the ebook. I have not seen the interior of a physical copy, but it's possible that it would be easier with a physical copy to understand the organization and seemingly random details like various line breaks and questions sprinkled amongst paragraphs throughout every chapter.

God provides for us in every situations in need and in abundance.
If you feel like you are struggling to see God's hands in your life, this is a book for you.
Through the journey of the israelites from Egypt to Canaan God has always provided to their needs.
He delivers them from Pharaoh's hands, Lead them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire during the night.
He gave them manna and quails, water from a rock.
The author wants you to see God's hands in your life to see his Manna in your every day life, through your blessings, people God's brings in your life and she invites you to be Manna for someone else, to be the hands and the foot of Jesus on earth.
You may feel broken by your circumstances, with this book Meredith McDaniels invites you to take a pen and a journal and through the questions she asks in each chapters you can dive in your own story and let God speaks to you and renew you.

Rarely can you find a book that inspires you to change the way you process difficult things. In Want+Plenty alters the everyday landscape to create a new way to process the hard so that you can find God's grace sparkling like frost on the ground on the first day of winter. Meredith blends biblical truths with lessons learned from her own life as well well as those of her counseling clients to help you see that you are never alone and God is always good, even if you feel like you are wanding through the desert. In Want + Plenty is perfect for anyone who suffers from anxiety, is wondering who they are after a season of hard, or just wants to do some soul reflecting with a caring friend. Personal story, biblical wisdom, questions for reflection, and relevant songs all blend together to provide a road map to return to peace. Sprinkled like manna throughout the In Want+Plenty you will find inspiring words and artwork.

I received this book from Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Author, Meredith McDaniel, is a counsellor with Milk +Honey Counselling. She has also written a narrative journal to go with this book. Based on the book of Exodus, in the Bible, she follows the journey of the Israelites in the desert as they head to the Promised Land. There are lessons for us all within these pages. Are you in a land of disparity at present? Do you see no end in sight with little provision and hope? This book takes us from seeing the manna in the every day to sharing of the bounty we've received in blessings with others. Had our circumstances changed? No, just our perspective.
What a blessing was this book, in and of itself. I needed read words at this time.
My only concern was some of the secular counselling references and philosophy she quoted. Confused me to see it mentioned and I almost stopped reading and journalling, as is my normal habit with Christian nonfiction books, as I wasn't sure where she was coming from. But I read on and am glad that I did. I recommend this book to bible study groups with a caution about the aforementioned concern.

Meredith puts it perfectly when she says “If you feel as if you might fall apart if one more wave crashes over you in your life, this book is for you. If you feel like you can’t handle all the responsibilities placed upon your shoulders, this book is for you.” In Want + Plenty is a gentle blend of personal reflection, biblical reference and the option to engage in personal development. As we all move at mach speed through our days, fallilng into bed at night wondering what exactly happened to make time move so quickly, it is easy to miss the manna. Those gifts from God that manifest themselves through our personal experiences are overlooked when we don’t take the time to sit still and be with Him. McDaniel provides both the space and the safety for each of us to wash off the battle scars of our lives and enter into a place of grace and thanksgiving for the manna that has been there all along but we were unable to see.

Before I talk about the content of In Want & Plenty I want you to know that it is a different kind of book. I wish we had a genre to describe it. I’d almost call it an interactive life study. The first time I read an interactive book I had just boarded a plane for an international flight and I opened my copy of Crazy Love. And as I was asked to go look this or that thing up online (back when there was no internet on flights) I thought, “I’ve picked a good book for the wrong time.” And maybe that’s why I want you to know more what this book is like so you can pick this good book for the right time. This book has songs to listen to and reflect on. It has questions to journal about. And they aren’t just stacked up at the end of the chapter where you can skip ahead and ignore them, they are scattered throughout the writing. I love it, especially the songs, but I also was selective about when I chose to read this, so it is a point to consider.

Now, on to the content: It’s great. The questions asked and the ways the author tells stories, both personal and Biblical, are engaging. And she is addressing a topic that we all need to engage with. How do we remember and live in the reality that God is enough? What does that look like when we are in want? What does it look like in abundance? What did that look like for Israel? What does that look like for me, with my history and my challenges? In this book you’ll be exploring your story and discovering where hope can be found.

If you are wondering where your story is heading or how to find a better way forward, this treasure hunt for God’s manna may be just the place to start to put your feet onto the path of hope.

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.