Finding Spiritual Whitespace Review

Finding Spiritual Whitespace by Bonnie Gray
Visit her blog HERE
Publisher: Revell
Publishing Date: June 3rd, 2014
Goodreads Summary:

Move beyond Coping and Surviving to a Rejuvenating Place of Soul Rest 
How many of us find ourselves exhausted, running on empty with no time for rest, no time for ourselves, no time for God? Bonnie Gray knows exactly what that's like. On the brink of fulfilling a lifelong dream, Bonnie's plans suddenly went off script. Her life shattered into a debilitating journey through anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia. But as she struggled to make sense of it all, she made an important discovery: we all need "spiritual whitespace." 
Spiritual whitespace makes room--room in one's heart for a deep relationship with God, room in one's life for rest, room in one's soul for rejuvenation. With soul-stirring vulnerability and heartbreaking honesty, Bonnie takes readers on a personal journey to feed their souls and uncover the deeper story of rest. Lyrical writing draws readers into Gray's intimate journey through overwhelming stress to find God in a broken story and celebrate the beauty of faith. 
Guided by biblical encouragement and thought-provoking prompts, Gray shows readers how to create space in the everyday for God, refreshment, and faith. She also offers practical steps and insights for making spiritual whitespace a reality, right in the midst of the stress-frayed stories in every season of life.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Buy the paperback version from Amazon for $10.40 today! (6/1/14)

My Thoughts:
Well, I don't think it is any secret that I greatly enjoyed this book. Bonnie Gray is a contributing writer at Incourage Blog. I have read her words and always been impressed. But it wasn't until I heard her story at the inRL 2014 conference that I knew I had to get her book. Out of all the touching, beautiful stories told that weekend, Gray's most closely related to my life story.

Spiritual Whitespace is raw in a way I haven't yet discovered. Gray has struggled the Real Struggles just to write this book  for us. She shares painful, deep stories but does so in such a way that her story isn't the real focal point. Jesus is. What He is teaching her and leading her through become these beautiful lessons of rest, peace, and relaxation. It paints such a gorgeous story of how God is always present in pain, in everything, and He is always working for our good.

We can redefine what it means to spend time with Jesus. Times with Jesus are moments we enjoy with him. A word. A Scripture. A picture. A song. A new recipe. Moving colors through yarn and hook. Cutting fabric or paper as you craft. 

Refreshing your soul with Jesus is whitespace.  (pg 170-171)

This book isn't for the faint of heart. I admit that I am a sensitive reader, so some of Gray's stories were hard to stomach. She tells them in very tactful way, but the sadness and pain are things my mind automatically wants to reject. I also believe that the reader needs to be ready to take a journey. This isn't Gray's story, no she just instantly wraps us in. This book is every bit about the reader. Gray includes not reflection questions, but life questions, applications and discussion starters with Jesus at the end of each chapter. They are decisive, direct, and soul baring. Journalling through them...is revealing. Opening. Freeing.

I feel strongly about this book, but why should anyone else? Gray dives deep into the subject of rest. Everyone sort of knows they need rest, that rest is good for them, but Gray goes deeper. She shows us how much our soul needs rest just to function. She walks us through how rest was vitally important to Jesus and God. She takes us along the path to discover true rest and rejuvenation in our busy moments, tired moments, and our lost moments.

Hands down, I am rating Finding Spiritual Whitespace with five stars. This book has affected me more than any other book I've read this year, and I love it. I love what Gray's words are waking up in me. I recommend this book to everyone. Make time this summer to pick up this book and awake your soul to rest.