Lyn Briggs Designs

In the Introduction to her book, Life Can Be Good Again, Lisa Appelo says that the book is for anyone whose life has taken an unexpected turn, for example, death of a spouse or child, a marriage breakdown, a financial or health crisis, and are navigating the space between the life they wanted and the life they are now living.

Lisa shares biblical hope and practical guidance to help the reader find their footing and move forward well. She reminds us that it may seem hard but with God it is not impossible and what God promises, He will bring about in us and for us.

She covers topics such as (for example), dealing with hard emotions with God, overcoming paralysing fear, anchoring your faith when hope is slowly disappearing, and letting God reshape your shattered heart.

At the start of the book, Lisa promises the reader that even though everything seems hard, you can flourish and you will smile again. It was therefore fitting that the last chapter is titled ‘Finding your smile in Chapter 2’. It was that chapter I found especially encouraging.

When my husband died suddenly, my life changed in the blink of an eye. Nothing was as it was, not only the present but the future and I felt totally adrift not knowing where I was heading. But, as unexpected it was to me, it was not unexpected to God. As Lisa pointed out, you don’t have to understand why God allowed it to happen to trust Him, and at the outset, I made a deliberate decision to trust Him with my present and future because I knew that He never changes and His promises and plans for me don’t change with my circumstances.

Lisa explains that God doesn’t have a Plan B, just a Chapter 2 and even though I never imagined what would happen, God foresaw it and there is as much abundance and good in this chapter of my life as in all the other chapters.

She helped me to see that the pain of loss is not a cul-de-sac which I go around in a loop, but it’s one part of a longer road that God is leading me along. I was encouraged to do as she said when I feel stuck in that pain loop again – tell my heart to start beating again and remind it that it will find joy once more.

I’m thankful that I read this book and it brought understanding and healing in my life and eecommend it to anyone whose life has been shattered by loss.

PS Lisa mentions this song by Danny Gokey. Hope it blesses you.

Until next time

Lyn