The Comeback by Louie Giglio

I don't know how to get myself back. It's been almost three years, and I am still not who I was. I am beginning to think this is permanent. I am different person...more fragile, more protective, and more isolated. It has also made me stronger, more gracious, and more outspoken. The negative is so swirled together with the positive that I can't separate the two. It is my new normal. I have come to realize in the past few months that my comeback journey is not what I expected. A comeback doesn't always look like one.

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I have been thinking long and hard on my journey and how to get back to what I once was. So I was surprised to find there is actually a book for that! It is by one of my favorite speakers/authors, Louie Giglio. The Comeback: It's Not Too Late and You're Never Too Far uses the personal stories of the Bible and the modern world to illustrate how we can come back from devastation in our lives. I love that throughout the book Louie focuses on HOPE which was my Word of the Year for 2015. We could all use a little hope when things are not going our way. 

Louie starts out with his very personal story of dealing with anxiety and depression. Since I have struggled with both of these, I could totally related to what he was saying. He then goes on to write about the crucifixion, the story of Joseph, the prodigal, the resurrection, and a few more stories to illustrate how we get a comeback. Throughout the book there are lessons we all can use to help us as we comeback from loss, our sin, or maybe even the sin done to us. Here are just a few:

• Praise Him regardless of the circumstances.
• A comeback is not a payback.
• God is bigger than the consequences of our sins.
• God knows exactly what you are looking for, and He knows how to get it.
• Jesus is enough.

If you are struggling to comeback from devastation from a loss, your own sin, or deep hurt dished out to you, Louie's book is so worth the read! I will leave you with probably my favorite quote from the book...a picture of the ultimate comeback.

To get out of your coffin and smile at the folks gathered for your funeral, that's the ultimate comeback. Or--switching to first-century cultural patterns--to walk out of a tomb, living and breathing, smiling and holding out your hands to friends so they can check your scars to make sure it's really you, looking not at all pale and sickly but better than the best version of yourself that there's ever been, that's the ultimate comeback.