Rediscover the God of joy, who defies the suffering of this broken life—from the author of Not Forsaken.
When Jennifer Greenberg escaped her abusive childhood home at the age of twenty-one, she found that few Christians knew how to encourage her. Platitudes such as, “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” “Forgive and forget,” and “Have faith!” left her feeling misunderstood and alone. Would she ever be whole again? Could joy exist for someone so broken?
By discarding false theology and toxic positivity, Greenberg discovered joy beyond anything she was taught in church: joy that’s a gift from God. In her new book, Defiant Joy, Greenberg shares this groundbreaking hope as she explores:
– why philosophies like the prosperity gospel and legalism fail us
– how Jesus is with us amid our sadness, disappointment, anger, and anxiety
– how God’s joy far exceeds any emotion we can muster
Preorder from your favorite bookstore.
God doesn’t want you to pretend you’re okay. Discover the freedom of living beyond performance faith. Embrace a joy that shines in defiance of the darkness.
I grew up thinking I needed to pretend to be happy. If people knew how sad or scared I felt, I thought they might think I was a disappointing daughter, or even a fake Christian. I wanted to “honor my father,” and be strong for my little sisters. Most of all, I wanted to please God. So I hid my pain and worry imagining that I was being who they needed me to be.
But we have a God who has suffered. He is no stranger to pain, loss, grief, or betrayal. One day I realized, “If Jesus can carry my sins to the cross, surely, he can carry my shame and anger too. My suffering, fear, loneliness, and heartbreak. Surely, God is big enough.” That moment was the seed that grew into Defiant Joy.
FAQs
“As Jennifer Greenberg unpacks the lies that we’ve been told in church, Defiant Joy is a respite from the spiritual condemnation sometimes lobbed at the suffering. An important book for our complicated times, Defiant Joy is a literary, warm embrace. Greenberg’s honesty, candor, and biblical insights provide a roadmap through the chaos of life and help broken people rise into wholeness through a patient, loving, and just God.”
—Nancy French, author of Ghosted: An American Story
“Jennifer Greenberg is full of the right kind of defiance and the right kind of joy. This book shows us how the word “joy” is not the treacly, sentimental synonym for happiness many think it is. This book shows you how to find that kind of genuine joy, not through the shortcuts that are really cul-de-sacs, but to find it the long way around, toward a different kind of Way altogether.”
—Russell Moore, Christianity Today
“Jennifer Greenberg shows that joy and sorrow don’t have to be mutually exclusive. If you fear that joy may not be possible after all you’ve endured, Defiant Joy is going to be balm in your hands.”
—Heather Thompson Day, author of I’ll See You Tomorrow
“Whether you are in the midst of a season of sorrow or you are in a season of abundance, you’ll benefit from reading this Scripture-saturated resource.”
—Daniel Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement and author of Agents of Grace
“Simply put, Defiant Joy is a book that you just can’t put down. Jennifer Greenberg weaves together Scripture and her own story with humility and the perfect touches of humor as she reminds the reader that there is joy to be had, no matter the pain in your past or your present circumstances.”
— Talitha Piper Moore, cohost of The Dwelling & Co. podcast
“If you find yourself in a season of wondering whether you’ll ever know happiness again, this book will offer a quiet contentment that boldly defies the agonies of our experience, as we say to the evils of this world, ‘In Christ, you cannot steal my joy!’”
— Dr. Keith A. Evans, associate professor of Christian counseling at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
“Jennifer Michelle Greenberg shows us the true path of Defiant Joy, a compassionate and triumphant work of applied theology that holds up in real life. This book is a gift to all who are searching for hope.”
— W. Lee Warren, MD, neurosurgeon and Christian Book Award–winning author of Hope Is the First Dose
“Jennifer and Jesus have labored ever so gently to heal her soul, and as a result, she handles her own story with a holy tenderness. In Defiant Joy, she invites readers to do the same redemptive work, with her and Scripture as trustworthy guides. For it’s in walking the sacred path of redemption that we find great joy, the joy of our Lord.”
—Traci Rhoades, author of Shaky Ground
No matter where you are in life, God is with you.
As the author of Not Forsaken: A Story of Life After Abuse, Jennifer Michelle Greenberg has risen to become one of the foremost voices against child abuse in the church. She writes for Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention. Jennifer also develops resources for Christian leaders and counselors to help them identify abusers, respond responsibly to crisis situations, and minister to abuse victims and survivors in a wise and loving manner. Besides her theological and ministerial work, she enjoys writing adult fantasy and science fiction novels, singing, and composing music. Jennifer and her husband, Jason, live in Texas with their three young children.
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