You Can Begin Again by Joyce Meyer

When life gets tough it is easy to give up. Meyer’s message to her readers and to those who have been through this dark valley is helpfully summed up by her in one sentence: ‘Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you’ve been through, it’s never too to begin again.’

You Can Begin Again
By Joyce Meyer
Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN No: 978-1-444-78536-4
Reviewed by: Jo Regan

Joyce Meyer is an international Bible teacher, preacher, and author. Her no-nonsense and direct approach is apparent in her writing as much as it is in her TV and radio show, Enjoying Everyday Life. Her book You Can Begin Again reads well and reflects Meyer’s practical approach to Christian living.

When life gets tough it is easy to give up. Meyer’s message to her readers and to those who have been through this dark valley is helpfully summed up by her in one sentence: ‘Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you’ve been through, it’s never too late to begin again.’

The book is divided into three sections, ‘New beginnings’, ‘What’s stopping you?’, and ‘Today is your day’. Meyer seeks to help the reader to discover God and to grow in their relationship with him through forgiving those who have hurt and wronged us, and letting go of the past. She draws on her own experience of life and grounds her teaching in Biblical truth and practical advice.

Meyer has the gift of encouragement and her book seeks to encourage the reader to follow in the footsteps of the characters in the Bible who God has given a second chance and a fresh start. David, for instance, was a shepherd boy who took a fresh approach to the giant of an obstacle that was before him in the form of Goliath. He was a shepherd with an apparently dead-end job who was given a fresh start when he was anointed king of Israel.

It is a book that continues to remind the reader of God’s grace, forgiveness, and love for His people. Meyer also points out that we are called to be true to ourselves and to be the person who God has made us to be, rather than having to be a carbon copy of anyone else. Our focus then should not be on criticising others but in our own walk and relationship with God. Meyer takes us gently by the hand and encourages the reader down the path of healing and wholeness.

This book would be helpful to those who are particularly struggling with past hurts and are either new to, or young in, the Christian faith and those who need to be reminded that God gives all of us a fresh start.

The Revd Jo Regan is a Baptist Minister and keen blogger

Baptist Times, 21/08/2015

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