Colliding with Destiny - By: Sarah Jakes

 I recently received a complimentary copy of Colliding with Destiny: Finding Hope in the Legacy of Ruth from Bethany House. I really enjoyed this book. The book of Ruth is one of my favorite stories. No, not just because it's one of the only books of the Bible with a female name, or because it's a love story (though, I do love a good love story). This book helped me. Some of the things she brought up in the book pricked things in my heart. The book is setup in a very devotional-like style. She has questions at the end of each chapter and a sample prayer to help lead you in your own prayers on how that chapter can help you. The chapters are all short, sweet, and to the point, yet they find a way to reach deep into the heart of the matter.

I love books, where I feel like the author is being completely open and honest, and I feel like Sarah did this well. She is open about things that are normally taboo in the Christian circle, such as teenage pregnancy, divorce after an unfaithful spouse, etc. It's always so encouraging to see someone go through these things, and still press on for Christ and be used of Him. The story of Ruth in itself is about leaving your past behind and reaching forward. It's a story of grace. Ruth was considered an infidel because she was from Moab. She married Naomi's son, but he passed away shortly after they were married. After the death of Naomi's husband and two sons, she decided to go back to her native land. Ruth was given the choice to leave her mother-in-law and return to Moab, but she refused to return to that life. To make a long story short, because of her refusal to return to her past, the Lord blessed her with a new husband and family and even a spot in the lineage of David.

Sarah has a fresh approach with her examples/illustrations she sets forth in the book. She took real life situations and turned them into ways for the Lord to show Himself. I loved reading stories about her life and then see where she reflected and saw God's hand. How amazing is it to know that we have a God that works in our every day life, even when we don't see it at the time?! I'm not a big fan of the word "destiny" as a Christian, because I feel like most people use it in a mystical way. Merriam-Webster defines the word "destiny" as "a power that is believed to control what happens in the future". I truly believe that God has a specific will and destiny for our lives and that we are to choose Him and His ways for our lives to be truly blessed.