Restless:  Because You Were Made for More

By:  Jennie Allen

Genre:  Women’s Ministry/Christian Growth

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

“You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You” (Saint Augustine).  I cannot say enough about this book!!  I feel like “EXCELLENT” would be an understatement.  Jennie Allen is a terrific writer (and a great speaker) and I look forward to delving into more of her books and studies.  In this book, she talks about the restlessness we all feel and what God wants to do with the threads of our lives.  She walks you through the process with challenging questions and journaling exercises.  She includes many of her own personal experiences, and it makes the reader feel as though they are sitting in the same room hearing from a friend.  She ties everything together so beautifully.

If I had any wariness about the book, it would only be a couple doctrinal blips on the pages.  She mentions a few times attending seminary, which may make some uneasy.  However, she is seems clear about her husband’s role as pastor and her role as a leader in women’s ministry.  There are also two incidents where she briefly mentions (in passing) alcohol, which makes me think that if we sat down and discussed the topic that she would not agree with the same doctrinal stance of total abstinence that the Free Will Baptists have taken.  However, she does not weigh heavily on the subject, and I don’t believe it is enough to detract from the greater merit of the book as a whole.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’  . . .  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:26-27).  As I read through the book, this verse kept coming to mind.  As the Women’s Ministry leader in our local church, I kept thinking about all the ladies that have attended our studies and I have come to know personally.  I thought about their unique talents, abilities, passions and life circumstances.  It dawned on me that all that is good and used for good in their lives comes straight from the character of God.  They are made in His image.  What a wonderfully dynamic God we serve!

I encourage you to read this book, share it with someone you love and live out the passions God has placed on your heart and in your life!!