Honest sharing of the struggle of life and relationship with God. The suthor shares vulnerability in her journey.

Great book... yet extremely convicting.

2.5 stars. Not as well-written as I expected after first reading 2 of her novels. However, although I disagree with her current doctrine and was burdened with her lack of real discipleship, growing up in a baptist church and the daughter of a Baptist lay minister; I still gained a few insights and was challenged to live out my faith with the joy that comes from experiencing God's presence throughout each and every day.

Well, this book falls in the category of book I don't like because the people involved are so stupid. The author is driving herself and everyone around her crazy with stuff (a beyond crazy amount of stuff). She turns her extreme needs to be doing things and achieving to creating a relationship with God, which is just another incarnation of getting graded on how good a Christian you are. Dance of the Dissident Daughter was much better, at least at the time I read it. Maybe you have to be at a certain developmental level spiritually to be able to get much out of the books she writes.

A memoir of SMK’s journey from earning love through action to resting in God’s love. A sweet and contemplative and relatable story.

I love Sue Monk Kidd! Full of thought-ful, thought-filled stories and encounters.

Loved this book. Finished and started again. My copy is full of sticky notes and highlights.

Reread for the 3rd or fourth time. I wanted to reread it before passing it along to a book club member. We had mentioned her latest book at our meeting and it reminded me of Sue Monk Kidd's initial (that I know of) venture into writing books. Well written, personal, well researched. Low-key but honestly sharing her spiritual journey. I wish she'd write a sequel of a personal nature to see where she's been spiritually since the mid-80s!

I found myself slowing down my reading due to the wonderful nuggets of wisdom in this book. I found myself making quality time for prayer and I too, experienced what the author did. We did this in our bible study.

I rarely write reviews, somewhat because I’m not a great writer, but also who really cares about my opinion on a book. I enjoyed Sues book the Secret Life of Bees and so thought I would try this book as well. Honestly, I thought it was another novel. As, I began to read, I was drawn into some areas God was already speaking to my heart. Sue gave a framework to some of my own recent experience. She validated the amount of time change takes. Her valuable practices are a challenge to draw nearer to the heart of God. I have highlighted much of the book. Thanks for the contemplative journey with you, Sue.

This book is interesting from the perspective of understanding the beginnings of a spiritual journey of a writer I admire and appreciate. But there was a long journey between this memoir and Kidd's contemporary work. " Dance of a dissident daughter" is a necessary read to more fully understand Kidd's evolution. Put together... A good study. On its own, this book is rather flat.

Sue Monk Kidd's book, When the Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction for Life's Sacred Questions, is one of my favorite books of all time. God's Joyful Surprise is somewhat of a prequel to that book, written earlier in her married life when she still had small children at home. It tells her journey from a frantically overcommitted life to one more simple and full of God's presence. I appreciate her honesty and transparency about her own spiritual walk. She gives many practical ideas from great spiritual writers and faithful practitioners for learning to live in rhythm with God, hear God's voice, and love like God loves.