2016 Must Read: I Was Blind (Dating) But Now I See by Stephanie Rische

I have to admit it.  Even though I am now very happily married, the message of Stephanie Rische’s book I Was Blind (Dating) But Now I See, really appealed to me.  There was a time when I was single, and I desperately wanted to be married.  I experienced a lot of the things that Ms. Rische talks about, from well-meaning friends, to family jokes that stung more than a little.  What I appreciated most about this book was that it is not a way to change yourself so a man will love you.  I guess those books have their place, but sometimes a single girl needs something more.  I also appreciated the fact that this author doesn’t tell single women that they are somehow wrong to desire a man in their lives.  So many times I’ve read and heard it said that single people should enjoy the “season” they are in now, without wishing for more.  I even read a book by one husband/wife team that indicated you aren’t ready for marriage until you’ve learned to enjoy life as a single person.  These sentiments sound good on the surface, but they just aren’t true.  I believe that God puts the desire for companionship in every person, and we aren’t wrong to wish and pray for a mate.  Ms. Rische wasn’t shy about admitting that she desired a husband, prayed for a husband, and even doubted God along the journey.  Her story is sometimes funny, sometimes painful and always heartfelt. 

This is not a book about finding a husband.  It’s not a guide that tells girls what they can do to snag a man.  It’s a series of lessons about coming to the realization that God knows what He’s doing all the time, and His grace is always sufficient.  It’s about coming to terms with disappointments in life, and moving past them.  It’s raw and honest.  So many times I could feel Stephanie’s pain, and I remember times in my life when my own heart cried, “This isn’t fair!”  But I found in my life, the same as Ms. Rische, that God is faithful in all things.

I wish that I had I Was Blind (Dating) But Now I See during my single years.  It is not only great lessons about living as a single person in a world full of married people, but it is full of encouragement for people in all walks of life.  It includes encouraging passages from the Bible, but also from someone who’s been there. It might seem odd to include this book in my “2016 Must Read” series, and you might think that if you’re married, or not looking to get married, this book isn’t for you.  But I think this book is applicable for anyone who is in a season of waiting, wishing and maybe even doubting.  Maybe you won’t relate to the stories, but the lessons remain true.  If we’re honest, I think we’d all admit that we’ve had times when we couldn’t understand what was going on in our lives, or why it seemed that God wasn’t answering our prayers.  Here is a lesson about waiting, while wanting, to help us see that grace is always there waiting for us with open arms.

Happy Raeding!

Lyndsie

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.