This fall author Chris Paris takes readers on a journey with Desperately Seeking Direction. The book is for readers looking for direction in a time between,
“I’ve been called by God” and “Where do I go from here?”
Paris gives a better and closer look at Joseph’s life, diving deep into the biblical language of the “meantime” and how Joseph got to “the right time.” He includes that sometimes the meantime and the right time can go hand in hand with each other. I think this quote from the book fits Joseph’s life well,
“Sometimes we don’t get what we want, but we just might get what we need.”
Joseph didn’t want to go through what he did, but because of his circumstances, he was able to be in charge during the famine and take care of himself and his family.
You will not only get a look at Joseph’s life but also King David, Samson, Paul, and Moses. The author gives a different approach to their lives beyond what we typically have heard and explores how they handled their trials. I learned so many insightful nuggets and it changed my perspective on several issues as well.
When I’m reading nonfiction books, I don’t want to just say “that was a good book” and move on; I want to learn something from the book. Paris does not just write a good book; he teaches you so many things—such as when he talks about mosaics being works of art made of tiny broken pieces joined together to create a beautiful picture. Mosaics may not look like anything important up close. However, when we step back and look from a distance, we can see the artist’s intended form. Ultimately, mosaics represent wholeness despite brokenness. I can relate to feeling like God’s mosaic painting—broken yet whole.
The author has questions and key takeaways at the end of each chapter. He also has his testimony at the end of the book and while he says it’s optional, I highly recommend that you read that part too. His testimony gives insight that he’s not just writing a book on a certain topic. He knows exactly what he’s writing about because he’s been through the meantimes and the right times.
This book is for everyone who is desperately seeking direction. Yet even if you’re not in a season of seeking direction, I highly recommend you pick this book up and read it. Pastors, youth pastors, and Hyphen directors, I highly recommend getting this book into the hands of your high school and Hyphen students. I am at the target age of the author’s intended audience, and I found this to be helpful and a book that I would read again.
This is a book review by Lacey Pate. Lacey is an avid reader and loves to strengthen herself with Christian literature. As expressed above, Lacey is at a stage in life where she can relate to this message. Many young adults hold questions about their future, but as she stated, this book can help anchor you when your head is filled with questions. If you would like to purchase the book, Desperately Seeking Direction by Chris Paris, please follow this link: https://pentecostalpublishing.com/search?q=desperately+seeking+direction