Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine [a review]

It stalked me. I could feel it.

Yet, however much I desired to stay in the grip of grief and sorrow, I couldn’t. Something wouldn’t let me.

With every miscarriage—with every life lost—I wanted to be alone. I wanted to dwell in the darkness. I wanted to remain in my bitterness and anger.

Understanding and comfort kept sneaking in. Love repeatedly embraced me—even as I pushed it away. Oh, and I did push it away!

Grace: the Book

As Max Lucado, in his book, Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine, put it, grace came after me.

Not only did it come after me, but He captured me and transformed my life.

I’ve long enjoyed Max Lucado’s writing. This book is no exception. In fact, aside from his children’s picture books, which I adore, this is my favorite.

In his wonderfully relatable writing style, Lucado describes a grace that is “more verb than noun, more present tense than past tense.” Through Biblical narratives and personal stories, he demonstrates that it “didn’t just happen; it happens.”

Familiar Bible stories are written in such a way as to draw us in and make us a part of each one, all the while showing us a God who doesn’t just dole out grace, but who is grace Himself. The text includes honest confessions about some of Lucado’s failures and how they were redeemed.

Supporting Scripture and encouraging phrases dot the pages of this wonderful book, offering us freedom from the burden of guilt and failure.

While there are parts of Lucado’s book that I am still exploring in relation to Scripture (which I encourage everyone to do whenever strong Biblical statements are made), generally, it is a quick read—and a compelling one.

Besides being a great stand-alone read, this book would make for a wonderful small-group Bible study. For just such purposes, Lucado includes a chapter-by-chapter Reader’s Guide in the back of the book, and there is a  Bible study on DVD, including a participant’s guide.

A small booklet, Shaped By Grace, featuring key selections from the full book, and Wild Grace, Grace adapted for teens, are also available.

Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine can also be purchased as an audiobook, an ebook, and in a Spanish edition.

If you want to take your understanding of grace to a deeper level … if you want to discover it as “more than we deserve, greater than we can imagine,” pick up a copy of this book. Rest in His promise and …

“Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1).

Reflections: How would you define the word “grace”? How has it transformed you? 

In compliance with the Federal Trade Commission, I am required to disclose that Thomas Nelson Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze® in exchange for an honest review. 

By His grace ≈

Julie