Hunting Hope

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY JAN 11, 2016

Pain and suffering are considered as vehicles for grace in Maples's bold exploration of how she overcame struggles to find solace in Scripture and the presence of God. A survivor of lupus and a stroke when she was only 20, Maples (Twelve Clean Pages) poignantly tells of countless mishaps that reinforced several beliefs of hers: blame paralyzes, pain is a clarifier, scars inevitably define us, persisting in prayer is essential to wholeness, and God uses our experiences to prepare us for the challenges of the future. She makes ample use of Scripture to ground each chapter in a specific lesson. Maples relates a unique method for handling difficulties when she feels she is about to lose control, repeating to herself, "This is just an exercise!" Giving in to the process of self-improvement and maintaining confidence in the work of God gives her a way forward in even the darkest moments. Readers will appreciate Maples's candor as she lays out her pain and feelings of inadequacy in plain sight and will find comfort in her uplifting lessons for overcoming personal difficulties of any kind.