Title: Finding Spiritual Whitespace
Author: Bonnie Gray
Major Themes: Christian Living, Devotional
Synopsis: After a panic attack when she discovers she still has unprocessed childhood trauma, Bonnie Gray embarks on a journey to healing…and invites us to take the journey to freedom with her.
Ever since reading a mention from a blogger I appreciate, I’ve wanted to read Finding Spiritual Whitespace. I know it’s been a blessing to many people, and I thought it could be an encouragement to me, too. So recently, when I finally took the time to pick it up, I was very excited about what I’d learn through this book! Unfortunately, I think I must have read it at the wrong time—there was a lot going on, and I can’t focus as well on nonfiction as fiction, so I don’t think I got as much out of it as I could have. Something for me to remember for later, when other busy seasons come! Even with my lack of attention, though, there were some really good points made in this book.
Starting with when the author first attempted to write this book, and the panic attack that ensued from that, we follow her journey to healing. Her life growing up wasn’t easy, and with unprocessed feelings related to her parent’s divorce when she was only six or seven years old, she had a lot to work through. Her mother was not encouraging, either, so forgiveness had to be directed that way, too. And as the author worked through her memories of the past, she tried to see a deeper picture of who God is, and what His desire for her life looked like as well. This book is all about passing those discoveries along, but more than that you are invited into the journey of processing your own path—walking through it with the Lord in order to find healing.
Most of us, I would guess, have pain from the past in one way or another. And from that perspective, I think Finding Spiritual Whitespace would be helpful to a lot of people. The author is telling her personal story, but she also does a lot of redirection back on to Jesus and what He wants us to learn and do, which I appreciated. Walking through grief—of any kind—is a process, and she didn’t try to make it into a step-by-step fix-all. Her goal in here is to help women to take a step back from their lives, look at what moves them in the deepest parts of their souls, and use that to not only grow closer to Jesus, but heal from their past.
I think this book would be a great devotional for people. Each chapter is fairly short, and starts with a bit of a story, continues with some spiritual lesson, and ends with some action you can take in your physical or devotional life. I would love to take more time to think through each of the points in here, because I feel like there’s a lot of good one could gain from it. Overall, if you’re looking for a way to come away from your life and find rest in the Lord, or if you’re wanting to know more about that “be still and know” thing, Finding Spiritual Whitespace might be an encouragement in your journey.
I requested a free review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.
WARNING: Someone takes God’s name in vain in the preface. Expletives are mentioned in ch. 5. A boy touches a girl very inappropriately in ch. 10. Swearing is mentioned in ch. 12. A kiss is told of in ch. 15. The word “go—” is used in ch. 20.
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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