Book Review of “The Challenge to Trust on the Path to Peace: A 50-day Journey” by Cindy Janecka.

Today I am reviewing The Challenge to Trust on the Path to Peace: A 50-day Journey” by Cindy Janecka.

Blurb taken from Amazon:

“If you would like to exchange your restlessness and anxiousness for a heart and mind of peace, come along on this inspirational 50-day journey. We are commanded throughout Scripture to trust God, and we are promised His perfect peace will accompany our trust in Him. God’s promise of peace has the power to transform every area of your life, but how do you claim that promise? Wherever you are on your faith journeys, there is room for all of us to grow in our trust relationship with God. With more than 30 years of experience in counseling, teaching, and discipling others, Cindy Janecka fills the pages of this book with the biblical truths and life lessons God has taught her through her journey helping others as well as her own life experiences. This study is great for individuals, couples, and groups of all ages and will guide you to a deeper understanding of why it can be so challenging to trust God while also challenging you to trust Him more. Explore the areas in which you trust God more fully and those in which you struggle to do so. Learn to identify the roadblocks interfering with your efforts to find the peace God promises. Come along on this journey and grow your faith in the One who is fully deserving of your trust!”

My review:

I am thankful that Cindy sent me a physical copy of her book to review as I am a hands-on learner, I was even blessed with additional copies that I will share with friends.
Cindy’s book is broken up into four parts:

• Part One consists of 7 devotions that unpack the challenge of trusting God in the midst of “uncertainty, doubt, fear, anxiousness, sleepless nights, anger, confusion, and periods of darkness or hopelessness.” Through each devotion Cindy unpacks what trusting God can look like; the challenges and benefits of relying upon God; and asks readers to carefully assess whether or not they are prepared to start the challenge.
• Part Two is made up of 12 devotions that discuss possible roadblocks we face when it comes to trusting God in tough times. As readers journey through each of these devotions they are asked to be honest and vulnerable as they reflect on things such as relationships, suffering, and sin. Cindy encourages us to have a humble and teachable heart (Psalm 139).
• Part Three has 12 devotions that focus on who God is. Cindy uses Biblical examples to introduce readers to various aspects of God because the “knowledge of God’s true character is the foundation upon which we build our trust in Him.”.
• Part Four is the largest section comprising of 19 devotions with the focus of “Pursuing Trust”, unpacking practical ways that we can stay in that place of trusting God when the inevitable challenges of life come.

Each devotion opens with heartfelt words from Cindy, with many references to Scripture, followed by a series of “Challenge Questions”, some Bible verses to read and unpack, a practical suggestion, and a prayer written by Cindy. There is also a QR code at the end of each devotion which takes readers straight to a song that has been picked by Cindy and relates to the topic unpacked.

Encouraged and challenged

In order to get this review out in a timely manner I quickly skimmed over each part of the book and I look forward to delving back in and taking my time with it. But even after a quick read through I was greatly encouraged and challenged:
In “Day 7” of “Part One” Cindy posed this question in her devotion: “Do you ever find yourself discouraged at life because it is not going the way you think it should?” my response was a resounding “YES” because as I read those words it marked 2,277 days since God declared healing over me and yet there I was at 4:30am unable to sleep because I found myself weighed down with worries and disappointment. The first Challenge Question asked me how I could prepare for the spiritual battle I would face as I attempted to trust God more fully. I was reminded of a dream I had 3 days prior, in my dream a friend and I were asked to speak at a church to their young people. I felt overwhelmed and out of my depth by the request, but that’s exactly what God wanted me to share about – how an extremely shy person became a public speaker. The verse I focused on was “……be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭(AMP) And I felt that that verse would also aid me in my journey of trusting God more and more as well as the Armor of God which ‬‬‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬ unpacks straight after verse 10. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
One of the suggested Bible readings is Philippians 1:3-6 and as I read through, I was flooded with the assurance that God has begun the great and gracious work within me and will FAITHFULLY continue it. I grasp hold of that assurance as I reflect upon my dream because at the moment my battle with adrenal fatigue prevents me from attending church so the idea of being able to attend, speak and minister to people seems impossible. As I reflect some more, I feel assured that the dream I had is a prophetic promise to cling to because one day it will INDEED come to pass.
The Practising Trust exercise challenged me to think of something I could trust God with today. I thought about my to-do list and surrendered it to God, asking for the ability to get some more sleep and then wisdom and strength to know what to tackle throughout the day.

In “Day 39” of “Part Four” Cindy reminds readers that in Scripture God forewarned us to be charged and prepared by accessing the power of God through a personal relationship with Jesus. One of the Challenge Questions asked me to think about things that help me to remain “plugged in and powered by God” as I pause to think about that question the birds are singing their morning praises and the sun is starting to light up the sky. I smile because experiencing a sunrise is definitely one way I feel connected to God, so excuse me for a moment while I step outside to enjoy it.
I’m back with a nice cup of tea and my time watching the sunrise was invigorating. I could hear the waves crashing onto the shore and the birds singing as a gentle breeze caressed my face. It felt so wonderful to just pause and bask in God’s glory on display. I used the QR code to access the “Day 39” song which was “Another in the Fire” by Hillsong United, as I sipped my cup of tea and listened I felt tears forming, tears of gratitude that I have never been alone in this fight and never will be abandoned nor forgotten.

Highly recommend

From my brief journey through Cindy’s book, I feel that it is a valuable resource that is suitable for both personal use and small-group settings. My plan is to use it as a tool next year, I’ll focus on a devotion each week and really spend my time unpacking each element. I sense that this book will be an integral part of my final stages of healing. YAY!
I highly recommend it, grab a copy today for yourself and bless a friend with a copy.
Many blessings,
Keona

Here’s the sunrise I was blessed to enjoy: