Hey friends! Can you believe winter is in the rear view? Here in Washington we recently set our clocks one hour ahead, springing forward in anticipation of longer, warmer days. Regardless of what you think about Daylight Saving Time, it makes it an ideal opportunity to talk about Growing Forward When You Can’t Go Back by Laurie Pawlik.

This book came across my desk at a time when so many friends and I are going through seasons of transition. Some of these transitions are good, and natural, and sought after. Others, not so much. All around me, loved ones are dealing with big changes, big losses, big grief.

Enter Laurie Pawlik, creator of the “She Blossoms” blog family. Laurie knows firsthand a thing or two about change and loss and grief. In Growing Forward When You Can’t Go Back she invites us to accompany her on a journey to healing and hope.

I’ve read many books of this ilk in my time, but Laurie’s is different. Her insights are fresh, even when she’s covering familiar ground, as she does when diving into the biblical stories of women such as Sarah and Hagar and Ruth. But Laurie also examines the lives of some under-explored female figures. Eve, for example. I never thought that Eve might have a thing or two to teach me about grief. But Laurie demonstrates that she does, and it’s eye-opening.

Laurie fills her book with a good balance of the inspirational and the practical. While her folksy style isn’t what I normally gravitate to, her practical Blossom Tips truly helped me out of a few spiritual ruts. Several of these Blossom Tips I noted in my journal, and in the weeks since reading Laurie’s book, I’ve referred to them often. Because it is deeply rooted in God’s Word, Growing Forward When You Can’t Go Back has the potential to be not merely informational but transformational.

Thanks to the author and Bethany House Publishers for providing me this book free of charge. All opinions are mine.

From the back cover

After life is shattered by loss or a traumatic experience–whether big or small–it can seem impossible to heal or even move on. Deep down you believe God intends good for you, but you just don’t have the energy or strength to figure out how to move forward. 

Author Laurie Pawlik has been there, and here she shares how she flourished despite multiple losses. Through practical tips and thought-provoking questions, she helps you take small yet powerful steps toward healing and letting go. She also offers insights and encouragement from the lives of strong women in the Bible. You’ll glimpse the painful losses these women experienced and learn how they flourished despite seasons of hardship and grief. You’ll discover how God shows His presence and power in the valleys, deserts, and storms. And you’ll feel a fresh sense of hope that, with God, you can redefine yourself, remake your life, and grow forward into a beautiful new season.

Genre: Non-fiction/Christian Living

Publication date: January 2019

About the author: 

Laurie Pawlik, MSW, is a writer with 25 years of teaching, social work, and Bible study experience. She’s been published in magazines such as Woman’s Day, Reader’s Digest, and Women’s Health, and is best known for her popular She Blossoms blog. She and her husband live in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Find out more at www.blossomtips.com.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for providing me this book free of charge. All opinions are mine.

Buy it here.