In Bloom: Trading Restless Insecurity for Abiding Confidence

Title: In Bloom: Trading Restless Insecurity for Abiding Confidence
Author: Kayla Aimee
Series: N/A
Genre: Study/Devotional
Publishing Date: February 6, 2018

About the Book: 

Every woman is intimately acquainted with feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. Whether fueled by a culture of makeover shows, by the lingering memories of mean girls, or by events much more wounding to the soul, we can become so conditioned by self-doubt that it becomes our inner monologue.
What we want is to be free of shame and comparison, to turn our uncertainty into a bold confidence. But to flourish in our own skin, we first have to rewrite the narrative.
In this fearless, funny, and refreshingly relatable chronicle of her own metamorphosis from the insecurity that once held her captive, author Kayla Aimee unfolds the blueprint for women to:

• Identify the deep-seated sources of our assumed inadequacy and replace them with steadfast truths of scriptural affirmation
• Replace our need for approval with the enduring promise of acceptance
• Uncover our purpose, unlock our potential, and celebrate the God-given gifts in our unique personality

To every woman who longs for belonging, this journey through Kayla’s inviting prose, biblical promises, and journaling prompts will help guide her from restless insecurity to a beautiful becoming.

Review:
WOW! I had no idea I had a long-lost twin I never knew about! From her short stature (I’m 4’9″), to her fear of escalators (odd I know, but my brain holds the same logic), it’s almost as if I’ve discovered my very own alter-ego. Although not for all the same reasons, I was picked on as a kid as well. As an adult I try to put on a brave face as if I’m not at all affected by it anymore, but the truth is the scars run deep. During my late teens and early twenties, I had a few friends that really worked with me, speaking scripture and encouragement into my life to battle against the lies Satan had made me believe about myself. Kayla’s book was such an encouragement on so many levels because she shared the very pieces of her life that people are afraid to reveal. In the age of social media, people feel an ever-growing need to portray a life of perfection. Unfortunately churches today don’t help very much with this either. Instead of people feeling free to come and share their burdens, they are often led to feel guilty for the very pieces of their lives that weigh them down. I have spoken with people who have said that they don’t share about their anxieties because the reactions they receive (although from well-intentioned people), only make them feel lower, and it causes them to “beat themselves up over beating themselves up.” When you beat yourself up over not being able to “rest in the Lord” and someone tells you that all you need to do is “rest in the Lord,” do you see how that can be a problem?

Even if for the simple message of “you are not alone,” this book is an amazing comfort for anyone struggling with anxiety, fear, insecurity, and/or feelings of inadequacy (So basically everyone). First, Kayla shares her own struggles so that you can understand that you are not alone. Then she shares the comforting truths from God’s Word, and how we can apply those truths to our own lives. She shares both the words that help, along with those that really don’t. This book can not only help the person struggling, but also the person trying to help.

I laughed out loud more times than I can count while reading this book. Even while talking about the “tough stuff,” Kayla was able to add humor that would make you laugh uncontrollably. Having said that, I also cried a few times. In fact, I cried while reading the introduction. So I guess that’s a sign I needed this book! As someone who likes to underline and write notes, I personally recommend the print version of this book for that very reason. I cannot recommend this book enough, especially for women and teen girls today. Please read it! If you don’t think you need it for yourself, read it anyways because it will help equip you to be able to encourage others.

*I received a free copy from B&H Publishers and Kayla Aimee in hopes of an honest review. I am not required to write a positive review. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

Rating: 

Age Appropriateness: The author herself is a mother of two young children. While she shares a lot of parenting stories, she also shares that her struggles started when she was very young. I would consider it a good read for teens and adults, but also think it could be beneficial for a tween to read with their mother or other female role-model.