First published 2014
The protagonist wrestles with an internal voice that demands constant self-improvement. He believes that better organization and harder work will finally deliver the rich, fulfilling existence he seeks. But as he encounters the message of the cross, everything shifts. Jesus didn't die to serve as a life coach for human ambitions. Christ's death reconciles people to God so they can surrender their own agendas completely. The protagonist discovers that this total surrender becomes a beautiful defeat. When he stops fighting for control, perspective and peace emerge even during life's chaotic storms. A surrendered life opens the door to God's pleasure and approval. The central tension lies between human striving and divine surrender, between the grinding effort to improve oneself and the radical act of giving everything away.
Genres: literary-fiction, christian-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: internal-conflict, redemption
192 pages · Hardcover · Thomas Nelson