One thing I know from reading Lysa Terkeurst is that she has walked through or is walking through what she is teaching. Lysa teaches from the Bible and while I’m not there yet with my trust issues, I’m learning and using the information Lysa uses in this book to grow. Have Kleenex handy as you dig deep into God’s Word and learn how to overcome trust issues one step at a time. I recommend this book to everyone because we all have trust issues on some level.

I received an advanced reader’s copy from Nelson Books and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Lysa’s new book “I Want to Trust You, But I Don’t” is a book written for people who have navigated the shipwrecked waters of hurt and broken trust and are ready to move forward in rebellious resiliency. This book is gentle and compassionate while also unflinchingly honest and deeply vulnerable. Broken trust hurts deeply and unfortunately- as Lysa points out, trust cannot be healed in isolation.

I hardly have words for how fervently I will recommend this book to all who know me. It was not what I expected and also, It’s exactly what I needed. Here is a brief overview:

Lysa opens the book with a discussion on the all too familiar feeling of giving up on ever trusting again. She then moves into something so deeply human: is my mistrust evidence of my discernment or am I just triggered and how do I tell the difference? This chapter was so validating, but chapter three might compete for most helpful- she gives a working vocabulary for identifying red flags and what to do with them when you spot them. I greatly appreciated the nuance and compassion Lysa brought to this chapter. The next chapter is all about repairing rips and tears in our trust. Lysa does not promise a quick or painless recovery; instead, she stands with the broken in quiet solidarity and shines light on the next right thing— which, incidentally is the topic of discussion in the following chapter. Her next two chapters are hard edged and raw as she pulls back the curtains in her own mind and directly confronts the impossible questions suffering uncovered about God. These aren’t questions any human alive can possibly be immune to asking in moments of sorrow, but her act of bravely speaking them aloud robs them of the power they have to cripple us. Chapter 8 is a mirror - what we can’t trust, we try to control and a moving discussion on how and why that’s not always a good thing for you OR cultivating healthy thriving relationships. The last two chapters and conclusion are possibly my absolute favorite. As you walk in healing and learning to trust again, you find glimmers and sparks of hope. We learn to dance again. These chapters were such a delightful way to close up the book and to see that nothing is ever wasted.

One of the best books and so timely. Lysa’s words and wisdom rise up against the hard edges of her story and rebelliously dares to trust again. I’m so thankful she’s chosen to share what’s she’s learned with the world. Surrounded by grievous wounds and endless stories of hurt in the world, this book was surely written for such a time as this.

I’d like to thank Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m not going to say this book was bad, but it felt like one big depressing moment. Lysa has been through some hard times and it’s wonderful she wants to keep sharing them in her books and trying to help others. I just feel like it’s nothing new. There were some good techniques and insight but since I am not in this situation it was very repetitive for me. I would say a wonderful resource for those with trust issues and down in the dumps, but it just gave me the blues!