Replacing Self-Improvement with Life-Transforming Grace: A Guide to When Strivings Cease

Kindle Customer: A friend bought this book for me in hardcover and after reading a few chapters, I purchased the Kindle version for myself so I could easily have it with me for trips, reading in the dark at bedtime, etc.

In the face of a culture of validation through the power of hustling, girl-bossing, and self-love, this book is a true Godsend. Ruth does an amazing job of exploring how true validation, strength, and power to affect positive change in the world comes not from our singular and exhaustible efforts, but through the renewing and restoring power of God's all-encompassing love for us.

As someone who grew up surrounded by faith and Christianity, I feel like even then, the understanding and application of the potency of what God has given us freely is sometimes lost in the mire of day to day activity. This book provides a beautiful roadmap to understanding the restoring relationship that He is offering. And the artwork throughout the book is lovely!

United States on Nov 01, 2023

Chariane: I really wanted to like this book and study, but I could not get past the first chapter. I completed the study with our group, but I doubt that I ever finish the book. The premise is timely, but it feels heavy and monotonous.

United States on Oct 25, 2023

HcK: I could not decide whether or not to leave a review. I buy hundreds of books from different sources each year and review very few - roughly dividing what I read into 80-20: eighty percent wasted money; twenty percent have something about them. Ruth Chou Simon's book falls into the 20% - and right up the top of that; I mean squeezing up against the boundary of greatness.

The first half (roughly) is brilliant. She has a touch of straightforwardness that meets the subject face-on. Too many people want something sugar coated - possibly so that they can keep trying again and again. As a Transactional Analysis Psychotherapist, I know the "Try Harder" driver that keeps a lot of people 'wanting' - and keeps others in ££ (or $$!) - with little significant change. Often aimed at teens/20s+, these endless self-self-self books are changing our cultures, for the worse (in my opinion). Ruth Chou Simon's book steps over all that and says it as it really is.

BUT... then around the middle, it drops over a cliff - becomes sexist in speech, patronising, lecturing, boring (the writing, not the subject). I could not believe that there would be another chapter, after chapter - and I...

United Kingdom on Sep 17, 2023

A.P.: This arrived quickly and looks great I can't wait to start reading it.

United Kingdom on Jan 28, 2022

Faith Yap: What a timely book!! A refreshing look at what drives us to push through so much of life and how God's grace and provision changes how we can live, to be productive and joyful at the same time, to stop striving and yet live more to the full, with greater freedom and peace. I know in my head God's grace is sufficient, this book does a great job of taking that truth and making it practical, what does that look like in this life, what might be stopping me living that out. The conversational style of this book was so good for me, like sitting down with a good friend and sharing heart struggles and searching scripture together to seek His guidance. I've been going through my highlights again and am so encouraged, asking God to let His truth in sink in and really permeate my life. May it do the same for you too.

Australia on Oct 21, 2021

Sara Nadine Thomas: Sitting down with this book is like having a conversation with a dear friend who really gets it, who has stood in your shoes and can empathize with the struggle of not measuring up, feeling unseen and unwelcome. Ruth is not afraid to call it like it is and push back against the trend of self-help, do more to be better, 5 step plans to arrive in this world. But then she draws you close and reminds you that while you can never possibly be enough, you don’t have to be. You are not alone or unseen and you can stop carrying the weight of trying.
I found it to be so encouraging to read chapter after chapter that had me saying, “Yes! this is exactly how I feel!“ and to be reminded of this counter cultural truth that I don’t have to be enough because Jesus is; I am welcome and belong simply because Jesus says I am. Ruth reminds you, with honesty and gentleness, that God’s grace is sufficient and unfailing. If you’ve ever found yourself battling fear and shame and questioning your worth and welcome, let Ruth pull you along the journey to remind you that your rest and worth are in far more capable hands than your own.

Canada on Oct 13, 2021

Emily Maxwell: "Take your eyes off everything you think you need to be amazing and be amazed instead at God's grace." -Ruth Chou Simons; When Strivings Cease

In a society so focused on "ME" and self-help/self-love, this book is EXACTLY what everyone needs. We can't better ourselves, our relationships without first growing our relationship with God! He is the answer to everything! If we truly accept him into our lives, fully accept his grace, that he miraculously gives so freely, our self-love, self-acceptance, self-forgiveness will come so easily. That then carries over to our relationships with others.

"We can't know true freedom if we expect grace to make us merely better, rather than completely new."

"God sees us as beloved and unblemished - he sees us as he sees his perfect son, Christ. He chooses to apply grave and call us forgiven because of himself, not because we've proven our worthiness. That's why we can't work to forgive others until we first receive Christ's forgiveness of our own shortcomings. Grace make it possible for us to stop trying to fix others and forgive them instead, on account of God's favor when we can't quite muster up our own."

God's grace...

United States on Oct 12, 2021

Katie F.: For a long time all of the posts about self-improvement, creating your own happiness, and being "your best" have bothered me. This book is about that message and how it does not match up with the message of God's grace.

I follow a lot of Christian women on social media and have always felt connected with Ruth Chou Simons' artwork and artistic message. I purchased this book because I feel like I'm always "striving" to do the things I THINK I'm supposed to do. I get anxious, and grumpy, and struggle to be my best at anything at all.

"When Strivings Cease" really hit home for me. It's a beautiful message of God's grace, and what it means to truly walk in his grace. What idols do we have in our lives? Things that we think are from God but are from ourselves? We worship our idols of self when we focus on our success (of self or by self) on this earth and not the real meaning of Jesus, forgiveness, and grace. No, this doesn't mean we can't have good things in our lives, but we have to look at the big picture of God's kingdom and how he wants us to be a part of it. Honestly, I was pretty embarrassed with myself while reading this book because I know that this is how I live...

United States on Oct 12, 2021