Wednesday, December 25, 2019

About the Book

Book: Rest for the Justice Seeking Soul

Author: Susan K. Williams Smith

Genre: RELIGION / Christian Living/Devotional

Release Date: November 12, 2019

Susan K. Williams Smith is a minister and activist who has been on the front lines of social and racial justice for many years. As she has marched shoulder-to-shoulder to resist systematic oppression, she has heard the same question over and over: “How are we going to get through this?” Rest for the Justice-Seeking Soul was birthed out of those cries.

Here is a soul-care manual for social justice-seeking believers who stand in constant vigilance against all forms of racial, class, and gender oppression. The fight for justice and equality is an exhausting daily grind—and the work is never over. That’s why it is incumbent upon all who speak and advocate for the less fortunate to practice self-care. You can’t fight when your tank is empty.

In response to the many calls and emails she has received from friends, clergy, and strangers who are in utter despair and even deep depression, she has created ninety daily devotions to provide a daily spoonful of hope and encouragement, a healing balm to “strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees”(Hebrews 12:12). Lift your gaze upward toward a better future by allowing God to restore harmony and focus in your soul and justice in your community. Our God is bigger than whoever is oppressing you. As the old hymn states, “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.”

Click here for your copy.

About the Author

Susan K. Williams Smith is an ordained minister, musician, writer, and activist living in Columbus, Ohio. She has written for the Washington Post and Huffington Post, as well as her blog, Candid Observations. She currently serves as one of the tri-chairs for the Ohio Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. She also serves as national scribe for the African American Ministers’ Leadership Council (AAMLC), and communications consultant for the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference. The founder of Crazy Faith Ministries, she is a graduate of Occidental College and Yale Divinity School, and earned a D.Min from United Theological Seminary. Her previous book, Crazy Faith: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives, was published by Judson Press.

More from Susan

In response to calls and emails from friends, clergy, and strangers who are in utter despair and even deep depression in these political times, I’ve created ninety daily devotions to provide a daily spoonful of hope and encouragement, a healing balm for justice-seeking believers and social activists.

The title of the book led me to believe that i would be reading a book that would calm my soul and give me peace. I didn't find that much in the book. The first few pages into the book I felt like the author was yelling a battle cry and to take up arms. I know that many people have suffered from discrimination and I have always stood up for all the people. I don't see color, gender or anything, just a person that God loves.

I'm not to sure I agree with this statement; " The experience of being in the dark teaches us what we need to know and provide us with the elements needed for survival." I was taught that we need to turn away from darkness and go to the light where God is. He is waiting to give you hope and protection. The book is designed for a ninety day reading but I couldn't finish it. There are many sections in the book where I didn't agree with the author .

This statement sealed it for me and knew I couldn't read anymore from this book. " And just as privileged white people do themselves and society a disservice by not acknowledging their privilege, we all do God a disservice by not acknowledging our privilege."

Jesus doesn't see color. This book feels more like it is trying to push an agenda, rather than pushing a message for loving thy neighbor. I want us as a whole to teach the younger generation that yes there is racism still going on, but we need to all stand together to fight for that to go away. What this book has done in my opinion is start a rally against each other and not fight for the rights of all people. I cannot recommend this book and will leave it up to readers to decide if they want to pick up a copy of themselves.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.