Rediscover the God of joy, who defies the suffering of this broken life—from the author of Not Forsaken
“A gift to all who search for hope.”—W. Lee Warren, MD, author of Hope Is the First Dose
When Jennifer Greenberg escaped her abusive childhood home at the age of twenty-one, she found that few Christians knew how to encourage her. Platitudes such as, “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” “Forgive and forget,” and “Have faith!” left her feeling misunderstood and alone. Would she ever be whole again? Could joy exist for someone so broken?
By discarding false theology and toxic positivity, Greenberg discovered joy beyond anything she was taught in church: joy that’s a gift from God. In her new book, Defiant Joy, Greenberg shares this groundbreaking hope as she explores
• why philosophies like the prosperity gospel and legalism fail us
• how Jesus is with us amid our sadness, disappointment, anger, and anxiety
• how God’s joy far exceeds any emotion we can muster
God doesn’t want you to pretend you’re okay. Discover the freedom of living beyond performance faith. Embrace a joy that shines in defiance of the darkness.
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"As Jennifer Greenberg unpacks the lies that we’ve been told in church, Defiant Joy is a respite from the spiritual condemnation sometimes lobbed at the suffering. An important book for our complicated times, Defiant Joy is a literary, warm embrace. Greenberg’s honesty, candor, and biblical insights provide a roadmap through the chaos of life and help broken people rise into wholeness through a patient, loving, and just God."
— Nancy French, author of Ghosted: An American Story
Jennifer Greenberg is full of the right kind of defiance and the right kind of joy. This book shows us how the word “joy” is not the treacly, sentimental synonym for happiness many think it is. This book shows you how to find that kind of genuine joy, not through the shortcuts that are really cul-de-sacs, but to find it the long way around, toward a different kind of Way altogether.
— Russell Moore, Christianity TodayJennifer Greenberg shows that joy and sorrow don't have to be mutually exclusive. If you fear that joy may not be possible after all you've endured, Defiant Joy is going to be balm in your hands.
— Heather Thompson day, author of I’ll See You TomorrowWhether you are in the midst of a season of sorrow or you are in a season of abundance, you'll benefit from reading this Scripture-saturated resource.
— Daniel Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement and author of Agents of GraceSimply put, Defiant Joy is a book that you just can't put down. Jennifer Greenberg weaves together Scripture and her own story with humility and the perfect touches of humor as she reminds the reader that there is joy to be had, no matter the pain in your past or your present circumstances.
— Talitha Piper Moore, cohost of The Dwelling & Co. podcastIf you find yourself in a season of wondering whether you’ll ever know happiness again, this book will offer a quiet contentment that boldly defies the agonies of our experience, as we say to the evils of this world, ‘In Christ, you cannot steal my joy!’
— Dr. Keith A. Evans, associate professor of Christian counseling at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological SeminaryJennifer Michelle Greenberg shows us the true path of Defiant Joy, a compassionate and triumphant work of applied theology that holds up in real life. This book is a gift to all who are searching for hope.
— W. Lee Warren, MD, neurosurgeon and Christian Book Award–winning author of Hope Is the First DoseJennifer and Jesus have labored ever so gently to heal her soul, and as a result, she handles her own story with a holy tenderness. In Defiant Joy, she invites readers to do the same redemptive work, with her and Scripture as trustworthy guides. For it’s in walking the sacred path of redemption that we find great joy, the joy of our Lord.
— Traci Rhoades, author of Shaky GroundBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!