So much truth in this book.... I believe we all have things in our lives we don't like and we question why.... I enjoyed how Sharon walked us through dealing with this and highly recommend it to anyone who just finds themselves not liking their story.... remember the best is yet to come!

Sharon Jaynes write for Proverbs 31 Ministries. It is a fantastic resource for Christian women; the ministry addresses difficult life situations and hard truths. Ms. Jaynes touches on a popular subject; a trend now is for people to be introspective and are encouraged to look into their past to come to grips with their present, It can be a daunting task, especially when one realizes their is much pain that one may have suppressed but is now unmasked… and the reveal is heart rending. However, this book provides comfort, if not relief to those of us despairing of all our mistakes and regrets. Ms. Jaynes has done much research; there are anecdotal stories of people “just like us”, quotes from authors and numerous biblical references.

Ms. Jaynes offers a balm fore suffering souls, whose past regrets would otherwise flood them with guilt, shame, or despair. The beauty this reader found is in examining your story ( the good, bad, and ugly parts), one doesn’t need to be stuck in the downward cycle of despair or despondency! She offers gentle questions and pragmatic suggestions in each chapter. I am reminded of an old gospel song by Bill and Gloria Gaither entitled “ Something Beautiful” in which the lyrics speak of turning the broken dreams, ashes of one’s hopes and desires in life into something beautiful. And that is what this book teaches readers how to do.

Ms Jaynes book is an encouragement for the downtrodden or despondent, especially those of us who have walked the Christian life , but whose path was filled with many ruts and potholes in the road, along with obstacles and detours in the journey. It is encouraging to read the stories from other individuals and from biblical characters to realize God’s purposes is to bring glory to Himself through difficult people and even devastating stories. And His purposes will not be thwarted, despite our story. We may not like our story, but we can learn to be at peace with it . Ms. Jaynes shows us the way to receive God’s peace and grace as we embrace our story. God uses ALL things ( the good, bad, and the ugly) in YOUR story to develop HIS story of grace and redemption for your life!

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. It was incredibly helpful for me - I kept thinking, "This is so basic. I should've known this." Yet something about the stories the author shared, the beauty of the way she shared them, and the way she presented the message she's presenting absolutely charmed and soothed me, leading me to have a sense of peace about the parts of my story that - yes - I do not like.

I loved how this book really took our hard things and made me look at them in a different light. I could see how God's had is in everything and how it gets used for good. If you have some issues in your story that you always are questioning, this book may be a way to breakthrough!

Wonderful! Exactly what I needed read during this time in my life. I recommend other to read this! So powerful and life changing!

When you don’t like what’s happening I. Your life or your struggling with dealing with something this book is for you. God can use all of our hurts and brokenness and use it for good. What a good book of encouragement when you are going through a hard time.

This is a super fun read. I really enjoyed this one!

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

‘When You Don’t Like Your Story’ tackles themes of personal failure, suffering, disappointment and even abuse compassionately while never being patronising or trite. It’s so refreshing to read words that don’t simply brush aside the difficult parts of our lives under the banner of ‘God uses all things for our good’ but instead empathise and encourage. Jaynes remind us clearly that we loved, that we have value, that we can be free from the dark parts of our history, and that we have hope.

This book was a good Bible study. I recommend it to readers who have enjoyed other Bible studies by Jaynes. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Everyone needs a friend to sit down and help you through tough spots. This book is that friend. When you don’t like your story it’s important to have someone speak truth into you. Turn your eyes upward and not on your circumstances. To turn your heart toward Jesus.

<b>** I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book via NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**</b>

Sharon Jaynes does a great job of explaining how shame plays a major part in our lives, ever since it was introduced due to original sin. Many of us don't like our stories and are stuck on them. We constantly question or are shameful about our pasts. Jaynes explains how we can take these unwanted parts of our story, and move forward with them. The parts of our story that we want to rewrite, are just the parts God has given us to help others.

It's about taking our challenges and grief, and using that to help others. Sharon does a great job of bringing in Biblical text to explain that, to God, we aren't the lies we tell ourselves. To God, we are <i>beautiful, holy, chosen, valuable</i> and so many other amazing things. By remembering this, and how much God loves us (after all, He gave His <b> only son</b>) we can be transformed. Jaynes also brings in so many different experiences to this book. Not only her own personal stories and how she has turned her ugly chapters into something beautiful, but how others around her have. These testimonies are very powerful, and go to show that your story can be an inspiration to others.

I would definitely recommend this book to others, especially those struggling with their own story.

It can be difficult going through life unhappy with your circumstances, but there is another way to look at things and this fresh perspective can make it all seem worthwhile. We are not just trudging from one circumstance to another - God is actively writing the story of our lives, and we are a participant!

When you realize that your life has been orchestrated by the greatest writer to ever exist, it is possible to see thing with new eyes. Sure, there have been some really rough events, but we are more than just a statistic. There might seem to be no way (or at least no NATURAL way) that things can turn around, but with The Good Lord on our side, we are capable of things which seem impossible.

If you're here and able to read this book, it's not too late. Get a glimpse of God's awesome transformative power and work with him to create an ending that will put your mind at ease!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read a few of Sharon Jaynes’ books and I really like her writing. I enjoyed this book. I think it’s important to not let our stories go to waste. I didn’t necessarily agree with everything, but overall I liked it.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This made the perfect Bible study for me. I needed these words. I needed this reminder of how much God is in control. Each chapter unfolds another story that is so relatable. Highly recommend!

When You Don’t Like Your Story by Sharon Jaynes
I always enjoy reading books by Sharon Jaynes and this book is no exception. She writes in a way that is clear and easy to read whilst grounding everything she writes in biblical truth.

For many of us, there are parts of our own story we just don’t like. It may because of something awful that was done to us, or because of a difficult period in our life, such as relationship breakdown or ill health, or because of the mistakes and mess we have made along the way.

In her book, Sharon reminds us that our story is not over:
“There is more to be written, and God is even now dipping his pen into the inkwell of wholeness, writing your story and mine into his larger story. God turns broken stories into beautiful prose and unwanted pages into stunning narratives of victory.”

Don’t you just love that? I know I do!

God can redeem our past and our stories and can help us to share them with others. Others need to hear our stories, how God has brought beauty out of the brokenness. It helps others to know they are not on their own regarding their own stories and our stories can bring them hope. In telling our stories to others, people see God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness and healing power.

In her book, Sharon shares with honesty about the difficult and painful parts of her own story and she also shares the stories of others who have endured the difficult and painful parts of their story and how they have all come through them and now have amazing stories to share with others. Never does she deny or dismiss the pain experienced by herself or others, but she does show how God works in them and can bring good from them and will use the pain for a purpose.

“How can your worst chapters become your greatest victories? One way is to use the ways God has healed you to give hope to others – to show that you’ve traversed the same or similar rocky soil and made it to level ground.”

Sharon writes about the importance of forgiveness, accepting God’s forgiveness of us, learning to forgive others and learning to forgive ourselves so we are able to move out from under that place of shame. Chapter 6: Leaving the Shame Place is a great chapter on the subject of shame, helping us to understand what it is and where it comes from and how to move away from shame.
It is through these painful parts of our story, though the parts we don’t like, that God is able to give us a greater sense of compassion for others and the pain they are going through. It enables us to give comfort to others because we have first been comforted by God.

Sharon explains that by sharing our stories we are setting ourselves free from being trapped by them and when we tell our story it can set others free too.

Chapter 10: Disqualified? Says Who? is another great chapter. Within it, Sharon looks at why parts of our story may make us feel that we are disqualified from being used by God, but this just isn’t true, it’s a lie that comes from the devil. She tells us how to recognise those thoughts which come from the devil, that they are lies and how we can replace them with the truth of knowing who we are in Christ.

At the end of her book, Sharon provides a study guide, which explores in more depth the themes she has written about within the book and she also takes the reader further into the Bible. This study guide is useful for both individuals and small groups.

I recommend this book for anyone, male or female, young or old. It is relevant to us all because each one of us has a story to tell and each one of us has painful parts within our story and Sharon’s book helps us to learn how to go beyond these painful parts rather than being stuck in them.

“Will you trust God to write your story? Even when you feel he’s surely dropped the pen and walked away, will you trust that he hasn’t? Even when you feel that he’s made a mistake in the writing, will you trust that his plan is still intact? Even when the story seems anything but good, will you trust that he is good? A good ending is more than the resolution to a conflict. A good ending is one of redemption.”

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Sharon Jaynes uses scripture to walk through some frank and heart-wrenching real-life experiences that beg for a different ending.

As I age, I realize that my emotional interpretation of events is what creates the story I tell myself. The event is simply that- an event. Although not easy subject matter or light reading, this is a beautiful book that eases our stories.

I’ve found myself thinking back on it quite a bit. A lovely and helpful book!

Oh boy what an amazing book., I couldn't put it down. The reminder while I struggling that God is busy with other things .... meanwhile.... so often seen in the Bible, as God continues preparing things for my life. The pain I feel is turned around and I need to see what God is using. My biggest challenge is telling my story as I walk on, without causing pain to those who hurt me. God will show me how and keep me learning.

3.5

I am certainly not a scholar and have not attended seminary, but recognized multiple instances where Sharon told a story from the Bible in her own words and it did not line up with the Scripture. I wanted to give it a higher rating, but was disappointed by the inaccuracy when the back cover copy says Bible teacher. On a much smaller scale, there's no need to put the tagline in every other chapter. By the fourth time of 'your worst chapter can become your greatest victory" I couldn't help but think "I get it. You've said that several times. Can you say it another way?" Again, I wanted to like it more. It needed an editor and someone to research the stories shared from Scripture.

“Yes, I’d like a different story, please.” But “God turns broken stories into beautiful prose and unwanted pages into stunning narratives of victory.”

Author Sharon Jaymes writes in a personable, relatable style. She’s quite open about sharing the difficult times in her own life; yet she does so in a way that’s encouraging, convicting, and comforting. She uses accounts of Biblical characters to enable readers to glean wisdom and hope by facing difficult times through a lens of faith. She also shares stories of other woman whose own stories are ones that include heartaches, but have allowed God to work through their own pain. Their stories are an encouragement that God can take our own stories and make them a testimony of His redemption and grace.

Please note: Some of these stories mention difficult experiences such a sexual and physical abuse; loss of a child and spouse; and abortion. Although these women’s stories are ultimately ones of recovery and faith, they are sometimes still heart-rending. I’m mentioning this because these things could be an emotional trigger for some women.

I thought this was an excellent book. I learned much from this author that will help me going forward in life.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

What an encouraging book! I have read most of Sharon Jaynes books and love her writing style. This book didn't disappoint as it was easy to read, thoughtful, encouraging with sound biblical knowledge.
I highly recommend this read.

*Thank you to the publishers for a free copy in exchange for an honest review*