"In this thoughtful, vulnerable memoir, Wendy invites us to see our own socially acceptable addictions for gaining security and significance, which we frequently baptize in our pursuit of faithfulness: our fretful striving to discern God's will, our passion to be useful and necessary in the kingdom, and our drive to be high-achieving stewards of God's gifts. Her journey bids us to discover a longed-for rest in God's faithfulness, love, and grace-to know the God who turns dead ends into new beginnings and who keeps intimate company with us along every twist and turn of the journey."
Sharon Garlough Brown, author of the Sensible Shoes series and the Shades of Light series
"Wendy Widder beautifully tells us the story of her journey in this powerful memoir. She does us the honor of making herself vulnerable and inviting us into her story. Through her observant reflections, she shares with us her persistent faith in the face of disappointment and joy so we too can gain encouragement and insight as we walk on our life path."
Tremper Longman III, PhD, Distinguished Scholar and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies, Westmont College
"Wendy's memoir is an important reminder that even scholars who spend their lives studying and teaching the Bible are not immune from life's struggles, disappointments, and challenges. Her story reminds us that every believer-including biblical and theological scholars-has flaws and blind spots in their theology and more to learn, that God calls all children to be lifelong learners. He redeems life's ups and downs to take us to deeper levels of understanding and trust in the God who loves us."
Carolyn Custis James, author of Half the Church: Recapturing God's Global Vision for Women and Malestrom: How Jesus Dismantles Patriarchy and Redefines Manhood; www.carolyncustisjames.com
"Wendy Widder's very personal and vulnerable story holds your attention as you travel with her on her very relatable journey.... Anyone who grew up in an evangelical culture will especially identify with a great deal of her story. Readers will be greatly helped by Wendy's transparency about friendship, singleness, disappointment, anxiety, and shattered expectations. She weaves the maturing of her faith and of her understanding of God and his ways into her story in ways that are not preachy but intensely helpful."
Dr. Bill Rudd, pastor and author
"What happens when your sincerest childhood aptitudes and aspirations are exactly suited to each other, suited to the context that raised you, and then you discover God didn't get the memo? Wendy Widder invites us to join her on her own journey from precocious childhood through the baffling twists, turns, disappointments, and even devastations of following a God who loved her too much to relinquish her to assumptions, tradition, or the religious American dream. Instead, this God-through life events and human companions, but largely through the pages of the Bible-challenged her to live a life of genuine faith. A life where her God-given skills have been honed and used but she could not fall back on them alone, but had to trust the God who gave them to her for every step. From all accounts, she is still doing it. Her book shows us that even if and when the end result remains unseen, following God is worth it."
Jennifer A. G. Layte, author, spiritual director, pastor
