Hard Is Not The Same Thing As Bad
There’s a certain kind of blanket affirmation that sets me off. Anytime I see a sign or meme with a truth claim like “you’re doing the best you can, mama!” I roll my eyes and think “You don’t know that! What if I’m not? What if I’m actually an axe murderer?”
Despite the fact that I might just need to calm down about people trying to be nice, believe me when I say this book is full of actual encouragement, not just hazy positive vibes. The author doesn’t know our situation any more clearly than the anonymous memes, but she’s able to give specific, concrete encouragement because the focus is not on us, but rather on leaning into Christ’s strength whether we’re facing potty training shenanigans or heartbreaking betrayal.
The book is mostly geared towards reframing our perspective on the everyday struggles that come with the privilege of motherhood. Yet she also addresses trials that fall under the category of real suffering. There’s also a great section on “hard is not the same thing as good” where she unpacks ways that we might be making our lives unnecessarily harder or refusing to accept God’s provision of rest and refreshment.
Other books by Abbie Halberstadt:
