Finding Quiet

Honest, heartfelt and beautiful. My daughters have loved Jamie Grace's music for years, and now they were able to read some of her behind-the-scenes of her personal struggles. I appreciate that she is so upfront with her struggles and I think many people will be able to relate to her.
Thanks to Net Galley for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Jamie Grace's music and personal journey is a breath of fresh air. I was inspired by this amazing lady who is an overcomer and an old soul in a young body. She writes, “It’s never truly quiet. Whether I’m in the studio, attending an event or a meeting, performing, or doing an interview, it’s rare that I find myself embracing quiet, and for more than ten years this has been my reality.”

The author shares the day-to-day of finding quiet. She describes her journey in learning how to let go, dealing with friendships, comparison, relationships, purpose and more. She says, “We will talk through the lows of pain and self-doubt and tackle the lies we hear from others and the ones we tell ourselves. We won’t tiptoe around our insecurities, but instead we will face them head on as we press into tangible action steps toward knowing and living in freedom.”

I like how this author shares her experiences growing up, dealing with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and Tourette syndrome, diagnosed when she was 11 years old. She talks about marriage, being a new mom and the challenge to juggle that and her career in music.

Jamie says, “Simultaneously, I will actively seek quiet. I will embrace the moments that make me feel weak and allow my mind to be pursued by the One who does His best work in my weakness.”
This is a thought-provoking, encouraging book you do not want to miss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

What a timely book for all that is going on in the world today! With a pandemic, election, hurricane season and so much more, it is increasingly difficult to find quiet. This is something that Jamie Grace knows something about, especially in a field where she gets paid to be loud. I had only known of Jamie as a singer, but really enjoyed learning more about her through her writing of this book. One of the things that Jamie said that really struck me is that, "So many times we have the opportunity to face our pain, but we choose to allow noise to cover it instead." Instead of choosing noise to cover the pain, we need to embrace the quiet and see what God wants us to learn from that season, or experience. Another thought that she expressed was the freedom to "allow yourself to feel." Some of the chapters had questions at the end for journaling and reflection, taking the book beyond simply reading, to a more thought-provoking read, encouraging you to process and learn from what you are reading. As Jamie is encouraging us to find quiet, she is also giving glimpses into what inspired some of her songs. This is an easy book to read, with lots of nuggets of good information, and sprinkled with appropriate Scripture throughout. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is struggling to find quiet in the midst of chaos.

Our world is loud and crazy right now which makes finding a quiet moment very difficult. Jamie Grace delivers a wonderful addition to anyone’s library of little ways to find quiet when it seems impossible.

The world we live in today is loud. There is no getting around it, there is noise all around us, external and internal. How do we find quiet when we are constantly being bombarded with noise? Not only do we have outside noise but there is also so much anxiety we live with today. Jamie Grace is a singer, songwriter and storyteller with hits on the radio and breaks down what it’s like to conquer her own anxiety in this loud crazy world, all while living with Tourette Syndrome and ADHD. With these struggles, it has been even harder for Jamie Grace to find the quiet she needs to reset and recharge in order to survive and thrive in the world. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of her diagnoses and spiraling down a “woe is me” mentality, she remembers that God is leading her on this journey and uses each moment as a lesson to grow and work on herself and help others through her music and other platforms.

So many of the things written in this book resonated with me. It can be really hard to take the time to just sit and be quiet. With so many avenues of entertainment and connectivity around us, we are rarely able to find that quiet. Smart phones and technology are a great thing, when used right. However, we can find ourselves going down a rabbit hole on social media and instead of enjoying ourselves we become depressed by what we see and hear and compare ourselves to these images. It can be a very detrimental thing to our mental health. At one point, Grace talks about taking an intentional break from social media and how good that can be for all of us. I loved the way she pours so much of her life experiences onto the pages and helps readers see that no matter your struggles it is okay to step back, take a minute for yourself and make sure you are okay before moving on. That moment of quiet, inner reflection can do better than almost anything else, and it is seldom taken advantage of like it should. Whether you are an introvert, or an extrovert, quiet time is essential to enjoy all other moments of your life. Readers that have enjoyed Jamie Grace’s music and even those that have never heard of her but are looking for thoughts on helping deal with an anxious heart would benefit from reading this. I recommend readers to take the time to work through this book and let it work for them as it is meant to.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

I've enjoyed Jamie Grace's music for some time, so I was excited to know she had a book out. She's funny, encouraging, and inspiring, and so is her book. Grace's vulnerability is relatable, and this book will likely connect with most readers. It's nice to have the reminder that what you're feeling is not uncommon and you're not alone. The author's conversational tone make it feel like you're chatting with a good friend.

Grace discusses her journey, including comparison, relationships, finding purpose, and letting go. She candidly shares her experience with dealing with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and Tourette syndrome. She talks about the challenges of marriage, being a new mom, and finding balance between those and a music career.

If you're struggling find a bit of peace amid the chaotic times we're currently in, this would be a great book to add to your TBR pile. It's thought-=provoking and encouraging.

Some of my favorite quotes:
-“We will talk through the lows of pain and self-doubt and tackle the lies we hear from others and the ones we tell ourselves. We won’t tiptoe around our insecurities, but instead we will face them head on as we press into tangible action steps toward knowing and living in freedom.”
- “Simultaneously, I will actively seek quiet. I will embrace the moments that make me feel weak and allow my mind to be pursued by the One who does His best work in my weakness.”

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.

Jamie Grace has become a familiar person to me. Not because of her music, but because of the show I watch she's been on: Better Together. On this show, she briefly opened up at her medical diagnoses. As I was listening to her tell how she deals with life I kept thinking that I'd love to hear her story more in depth. I was excited for this book because that's what it's supposed to be. I just knew inspiration was going to be found within these pages.

I wasn't wrong. Jamie gave a deeper look at her life with Tourette Syndrome. Not being very familiar with this condition, I was appreciative for this. I had no idea how dangerous the ticks are. Not to mention the side effects that some with fighting them. I loved getting more educated about Tourette's from someone living it. The strength she had to not just give up on her dreams was an inspiration. She also gave you a front row seat in her mind for how her anxiety plays out in her life. As you read the words she wrote, you see the battle her anxiety wages. She lays it bare for you.

To see the things Jamie has gone on to accomplish despite having these medical issues is inspiring to the reader. From a young age, she has been doing what few her age did. Seeing how she relies on God through it all- on a daily basis- reminds you how powerful a relationship with Him is. How impactful it can be. The courage Jamie showed in giving you a look into her life, and all it's complications, is what many people in this world need. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we can still pursue, and achieve, our dreams even if the road to them is difficult. Jamie, I thank you for sharing your story. I pray it blesses every reader.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book, but I've been listening to Jamie Grace's music for years and so I decided to give it a try. I was overall very impressed. Jamie Grace offers a well-written treasure trove of encouragement, advice, and actionable tips which are targeted at her music's audience but also, in my humble opinion, transcends it. Stories are utilized in abundance, yet never take over the book, and it tackles some tough issues with honesty, yet remains a somewhat breezy read.
Unlike some of Jamie Grace's other material, such as her slightly scatterbrained podcast, Finding Quiet is thoughtfully structured, with strong, cohesive and concise points.
This book seems to have a solid Biblical basis, although scripture is sprinkled in rather than being the foundation of the book. It's more of a self-help book than one of spiritual guidance. I didn't notice any blinding contradictions or flaws in its underlying Christian worldview, but it's definitely something that should be kept in mind as you enjoy this book. And if you've read this review so far, I think it's likely that you will. Highly recommended to fans of Jamie Grace's music, and recommended to everyone else who struggles with anxiety or drama.
*I received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Finding Quiet
My Journey to Peace in an Anxious World
by Jamie Grace
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 13 Oct 2020



I am reviewing a copy of Finding Quiet through Bethany House and Netgalley:




Jamie Grace grew up in the 1990’s at seven she fell in love with Jesus. She talks about the peace she felt when she


In Finding Quiet Jamie Grace goes on to remind us that God doesn’t move any more or less in rooms because of their volume or lack thereof.


Finding Quiet is not a book about learning how to tune out the sound, instead it is a book about finding quirky while the noise plays on.


We are also asked to think about these three things , why do we hide our brokenness? Why do we bury our pain? Why do we cover up our hurt? Jamie Grace goes on to point out that for many of us when we face pain everything shuts down.


At seven Jamie Grace gave her heart to Jesus, when she was eleven was diagnosed with anxiety (as well as Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). On a daily basis she experiences a great deal of anxiety, but she also experiences a great deal of Faith. She struggles with the fear of letting the other side win. It is Faith that tells her anything is possible. It reminds her to let the creators strength allow her to be made perfect in weakness.


In this book Jamie Grace goes on to point out that My earliest memories are loud, ambient, and full of racing and anxious thoughts. They are flooded with fear and insecurity. Low self-esteem. Significant self-doubt.


We are reminded too that God is the one who fixes things. In this book we discover what it means to find peace in the midst of all the noise? It asks if there’s a way to acknowledge the struggles we face and learn how to manage the stressors and voices that trigger us while believing in the promises and goodness of God?



I give Finding Quiet five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I loved reading this book! I found it very uplifting and inspiring. I liked how Jamie shared her struggles with Tourette's Syndrome, bullying, finding friends, finding herself, and finding a talent that fit her personality. I think these are subjects that everyone can relate to. I found her advice on finding the quiet in a noisy world very fitting for today's world. I was inspired by her faith and the scripture verses that spoke peace to her soul. I would recommend this book to anyone searching for quiet in their life.

#Finding Quiet# by Jamie Grace is a Christian living book. Jamie Grace is a contemporary Christian musician. She is honest about dealing with Tourette Syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD and anxiety disorder. She shared the ups and downs in her life and she dealt with these difficulties. She was only 9 years old when she was diagnosed with those conditions. She shared how she handled the struggles in front of her. It is wonderful she took that time to be honest with people in this book. She will be a good role model for others who struggle also. She shared about her marriage and how she handled Thank you to the publisher, the author and netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.

We Will Persist
Jamie Grace writes a genuine and relatable dialogue about balancing life with self-health. It is easy to fill a day with constant noise to avoid the hard things. Jamie Grace shares her own experience with anxiety perpetuated by constant activity. Instead she challenges herself, and the reader, to find quiet. It seems at first counterproductive to just stop everything and sit quietly. Instead, quiet means turning off distractions in order to talk with God, and to heal. It is in these moments of being alone with God that we can remember the truth. “You are not Alone”, “Not everyone is going to understand, and that’s okay”, and “It’s okay to ask for help”. There are a lot of, me to, moments that speak right to the heart of the problem of avoiding overwhelming feelings. Jamie Grace shares her own story like a friend. Comforting and accepting of the hard experiences of anxiety, fear, self-doubt, and many other thoughts that hurt. A wonderfully real conversation about the messiness of life, and the hope we can find in the quiet moments.

Finding Quiet is one of the best books I have read in 2020. I have been a fan of Jamie Grace and it was nice to learn more about her life and the things that she goes through on a daily basis. Being a person that deals with anxiety and panic attacks, it was refreshing to see to see a practical, Godly, and Biblical approach on how you could deal with these things and to know that I am not the only one that goes through these things because Jamie deals with them too. The book is full of sound sage advice and wisdom. I appreciated the tips that were in the book and how they were presented and laid out in the book. I loved that Jamie Grace made it clear that it is ok to have anxiety and other things wrong with you and still be a Christian and that it doesn't make us any less of Christian. I recommend this book to everybody--especially those dealing with mental health problems and those working in the mental health field. Thank you Jamie Grace for writing this book and sharing your testimony with the world and being unashamed about it! Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book! (This review is also on GoodReads.)

I have followed Jamie Grace for a few years and love this she is now sharing in book form. This is an encouraging and powerful read, but refreshing to hear from an influential young lady.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my opinion.

Jamie Grace's song "Beautiful Day" is my jam. I've always loved her music, loved being able to share it with my daughter, and the positivity and love for Jesus that radiates through her words and sounds. While I didn't follow her YouTube videos, I knew that, like me, anxiety was a part of her life. So I was thrilled to see that she had written a book about her path to finding quiet. I could see so much of my journey in her story and am so thankful that she is sharing her story and learnings. There is so much honesty in this book and everyone who reads it will find parts to take away and apply to their life. Even if anxiety isn't something you struggle with, finding quiet is something that is becoming increasingly harder in our society and there will be something in here for you too. What I absolutely loved about this book is that I can read it and take away learnings from this and so can my teenage daughter who also struggles with anxiety. Voices that can reach both teens and their moms are rare but Jamie Grace is exactly that.

This book is SOOOOOOOOOOO good. I enjoyed the artist fully being transparent about the struggles and insecurities she’s had and sharing how she has overcome them. I agree, finding comfort in quietness is key to learning who you are, whose you are, and your gifts. I realized that I hear God in my isolation and quietness. It’s ok to be alone, it’s ok to not have everything figured out, and it is ok to not plan. This book was a right-on-time message that I needed. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

I thought this was apretty good book. I did not know who this young lady was before reading this book. I thought she was very brave overcoming her illness and living life on her terms

Jamie Grace balances wisdom and vulnerability beautifully in this book about finding and choosing quiet and peace over the everyday anxieties of life. She consistently points the reader back to scriptures and Jesus and remains highly relatable through her anecdotes. I recommend this book for any Christian who struggles with anxiety or who feels overwhelmed by the chaos and loudness of life.

I've been a fan of Jamie Grace since Hold Me. I knew a little about her struggles with Tourettes and occasionally checked in to see about new music since I love her style. I was so excited to see her book pop up under one of my favorite publishers.

There is a pretty good balance between relevant personal anecdotes and advice / reflection on anxiety and peace. And as someone who does not struggle with anxiety, I still found plenty of useful information - after all, worry and noise can seep into anyone's life. And it helped me to understand and have compassion for those I know who do struggle with these things. I'm glad to have a Godly resource to share. Great book!

Finding Quiet is a great read for young women who are anxious and seeking a comrade in age dealing with the same thing. She gives her experiences and stories to help those who may be dealing with anxiety,

This was a really good book! I love the transparency and advice Jamie gives. She is a very wise and strong person. I loved how she shared her struggles with Tourette Syndrome, ADHD and anxiety and how to find the peace amongst her struggles. She also delves more in her life as a recording artist and finding the peace amongst the mouse of that as well. This book will help anyone. I recommend this!

I received this book thru NetGalley.

I had no idea who Jamie Grace was, I found the title intriguing and requested a copy on Netgalley. I'm really glad that I read this book. I don't suffer from anxiety in the clinical sense and don't peg myself as a big worrier although I do find that parts of life can stress me out. I'm not sure if that is the same as anxiety or worry. Either way, I did find this book to be full of practical advice for approaching life and all the stress and worry that it can throw at you. I especially liked that it was focused so much on pointing the reader back to the Bible and to God. I really wish I had a physical copy as I highlighted so many sections on my book app that I would like to be able to go back and refer to.

I think this would be excellent for younger women (teens, 20s) as they face tackling anxiety, worry and stress. I say this simply because Jamie Grace is much closer to their age and they might find her more relatable than another author who was 45 or older. As an older woman, I admire Grace's maturity and forthrightness.

I received a dARC from the publisher via Netgalley. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you Jamie and NetGalley! As a fan of Jamie and other Christian artists I loved reading her story and how her love for Jesus defined her as an artist and person. Inspirational and uplifting just like I thought it would be.

One of my main “character growth” goals that I try to have constantly is to read more nonfiction and Christian living books, and I’m determined that 2021 is going to be the year of nonfiction. I decided to start with this one, because it is on a topic that is sorely needed in my life. Finding quiet is a subject that is always relevant in my life, and Jamie Grace has been someone that I’ve been vaguely watching on social media throughout the years, so I was really excited to read this book!

If I had to sum up this book in one word, it would be practical. What is covered in this book are things that can be added to everyday living, none of it particularly revolutionary, but that can be used to amplify one’s life just by following her tips. I highlighted a lot of passages, and there were a lot of quotes that were very applicable.

This book was really easy to read, with teaching that was easy to understand and apply. There was a nice blend of stories from her life, life lessons that she had learned, teaching, and poetry/written works that she had done. There wasn’t a particular stated audience that this book was directed toward: it could be relevant to a very large audience, as young as around 13, I would say.

There wasn’t a ton of scripture/biblical basis that this book was based around, so I would say that this is more of a “self-help” book rather than a Christian living book, but in general, it focuses on living for Christ. The majority of the discussion focuses on mental health issues, such as anxiety and ADHD, but it also has lessons based on everyday things, such as social media and friendships.

Overall, I really enjoyed it, and would recommend to anyone looking for an easy to read Christian living self help book! Some of my favorite quotes from this book:

It’s easy to believe that everything will be okay when everything is okay. It’s the moments where we feel like everything is crumbling before us and completely falling apart that faith proves just how powerful it is.

Where there is breath–there is hope. And that breath doesn’t have to be a soft and consistent one. Some days it may be a heavy and burdened one.

By choosing to live in the boldness of who I am, I am embracing who God made me to be. My circumstance is a part of my everyday, and I make the choice to embrace that–even if it looks different from what everyone else would expect.

When we allow our worth and our value to be defined by who we are and Whose we are instead of what other people think about us, we can begin to walk in freedom.

There is a Creator available to all of us, who creates in a way much greater than we could ever could. And when He gives us the privilege to be a part of those designs, we know that we have found our purpose.

I was so happy to see Jamie's book on Netgalley, I've been a fan of her for years. This book helped me so much. She talks about how she faces her anxiety and she doesn't let it stop her. This book was so beautifully written.

I started reading it and realized I follow her sister on social media. Explains why she seemed familiar. She seems so full of joy and anxiety which, as someone described as a bubble of sunshine who is really a ball of scared 75% of the time, it felt refreshing to see. I really enjoyed seeing how she’s learned and coped with anxiety in her life while still having a very public career.

After being familiar with listening to Jamie Grace's music, I was looking for to reading her story.

Reading this book allowed the reader to gain insight into how Jamie copes with her diagnoses of Tourette Syndrome, ADHD, and an anxiety disorder. This story was engaging. Therefore, I recommend adding it to your reading list.

I remember the first time I heard a Jamie Grace song. I was volunteering in the children's building during second service at the church I had just joined a few months before. It was the second grade class and the leader of our group blasted Show Jesus. I can still remember the little dance that we made up for the kids, and it is one of those precious memories that will stick with me for the rest of my life. So, when I heard that Jamie had written a book, about quiet no less, I had to get my hands on it and read it.

Finding Quiet is such a great read! It gave me the opportunity to see Jamie from a different perspective, understanding the woman behind the microphone, a person who is struggling just like myself. I loved learning about the inspiration behind some of her songs, making them all the more special to listen to, and I love that everything she speaks she points right back to the Bible, which is so important. So many Christian nonfiction books these days sound good, and even give good advice, but if there is nothing pointing you back to the Word of God, then it is for nothing.

Quiet is a foreign concept in our society, with someone or something always fighting for your attention. Whether it's a partner, kids, social media, or just an electronic in general, there is always that itch to fill the nothingness. When was the last time you just sat in the quiet? I tried it a few days ago, and I was shocked with how uncomfortable I was. That's not good. Finding Quiet is a great resource that reminds me how important it is to get quiet, and to spend those precious moments with the Lord, and I am so grateful and thankful that I had the opportunity to read this wonderful resource. I hope Jamie continues to write, as she has such a down-to-earth style that really resonates with me, and I'm sure it will resonate with you too.