Book Review: Colliding with Destiny
I had not heard of Sarah Jakes when I received her book Colliding with Destiny, and had no idea what to expect. If her surname sounds familiar, it is because she is the daughter of Pastor T. D. Jakes.
Colliding with Destiny follows the story of Ruth and Naomi in the Bible and their struggles from bitterness and loss to redemption and restoration.
Each chapter starts out with a short passage of scripture. Ms. Jakes then provides a two to three page in-depth look at the passage. She uses modern day examples and is very open and honest about the struggles and failures in her own life.
After a reflection, there is a journal entry and several journal questions. These are great for guidance in writing in a journal. Each chapter ends with a prayer.
I greatly enjoyed the book and appreciated Ms. Jakes openness and honesty about the pain and suffering she has dealt with in her own life. She does not have a woe is me attitude, but one that you can overcome and survive, the same way Ruth did.
I’ve always loved the story of Ruth, but never could relate to her story. I always focused on the end of the story instead of the journey to get there.
I’ve read a number of books on Ruth, but Ms. Jakes put her story and heartache into a new perspective for me. I was able to relate to the pain she felt at the beginning and the joy she experienced by the end of the book.
For the first time I was able to relate and see Ruth in a new way.
Each chapter is short at just four to five pages. I really enjoyed the journal questions and prayer at the end. This is a great book to include with a daily Bible Study for a month {30 chapters}. The chapters are short and even with writing in a journal can be done within five to ten minutes.
I found myself highlighting many things throughout the book. Although, none of the information was new to me, Ms. Jakes had a way of making me say “ah-ha” or “yes.”
Some of my favorite quotes included:
- Those who love you don’t just see you as an opportunity; they see you as a gift.
- Love requires growth, and growth doesn’t always feel good.
- I have no time for the distractions of trivial things; I’m preparing for my destiny. Lord, give me the spirit of discernment so I can remove anything or anyone distracting me from my destiny.
- When we’re not living out our true gifting, we feel like the proverbial square peg trying to fit in a round hole.
- When you collide with destiny as Ruth did, you will discover a beautiful point of intersection between the longings of your heart, your experience and gifting, and the opportunities God opens before you.
- God wastes nothing, so use what He has given you as fuel for your soul’s journey.
- The incidents of the past were stepping-stones to reach the other side of the shore, where your feet are about to walk.
- You may not realize it, but you were bought with a cost. You have been placed on reserve for a higher purpose.
If you want to delve deeper into Ruth’s story or if you or someone you know are struggling with life and are beaten down with the past and decisions made, I strongly recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received this book for free in order to give an honest evaluation of the book. The opinions about the book are my own.