God's Joyful Surprise: Finding Yourself Loved

This was an amazing book, just like the 5 star rating says: "it was amazing." I had read Kidd's more recent nonfiction book Firstlight earlier, and liked it so well I looked for another one. God's Joyful Surprise is equally as great. Her nonfiction writing style is extremely readable and personable. She genuinely describes what she is going through, what she is seeking, her frustrations and growth, and what she has learned in the four years chronicled in the book. It's not a preachy "ought to" or guilt-inducing read, but she brings the reader along with her as she discovers the love of God in her life.

Two of my favorite novels are Kidd's bestsellers The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings, which gave me even more show more appreciation for this personal and honest account of her spiritual journey. And I especially valued how it challenged me to explore my own relationship with God, while providing me with tools and encouragement. show less

Kidd writes a how to let go and let God in this four year spiritual autobiography written by a self-described type A personality. On page 80 where Kidd writes " I began to yield to a gentle waiting. I adopted Isiah's words, 'I will wait for the Lord ... and I will hope in him.'" This led me to Isaiah's first song in Chapter 12, and its adaptation to canticle 9 and to the hymn in one of the Canadian hymnal Common Praise, "Surely it is God Who Saves Me" by Jack Noble White, which I found very inspirational. Waiting, offering to let God in, and seeing the divinity in the natural world and in people around you, let her grow closer to God realizing that all will be well no matter what.

I read this as part of the fourth-year curriculum for Education for Ministry. The author's spiritual journey was interesting from a biographical perspective, but I did not find that it appealed from the standpoint of having applicability generally.