Book Review | Aging with Grace
One of the ways we grow in our understanding of God, the world, and ourselves is through the gift of reading. Below is a review of the book Aging with Grace by Sharon Betters and Susan Hunt written by Karin Kruger. We hope that this review is helpful to you.
I recently read a book by Sharon Betters and Susan Hunt titled Aging with Grace. Whether you are 16, 26, or 36, please do not stop reading this review.
Aging with Grace is a book that is God-focused from the beginning to the end. God’s faithfulness and glory takes center stage in this Scripture-saturated book. My soul was nourished and refreshed by the Lord.
Sharon and Susan’s pushback on culture’s definition of flourishing—that it is only for the young—is excellent and biblically informed. As believers, we want to hold to what God says in his Word about flourishing and fruitfulness. Our hope is in God’s faithfulness and his redemption. It is more about whose we are than who we are and what we do.
Sharon and Susan write, “The purpose of this book is not to share clever strategies that will equip you to become a better, older version of yourself. Instead, it’s about what God is committed to do in the lives of his justified ones—women just like you.”
One of the many strengths of this book is Sharon and Susan's acknowledgement of the presence of suffering in all of our lives. They took great care to write with compassion and biblical truth on this reality. This book is filled with scripture—especially from the Psalms—as well as stories and testimonies from suffering women who are being sustained by God’s grace, loving-kindness, and presence. We have a purpose, our lives matter, and our God is a great Redeemer!
I love that they exhort and encourage their readers to love Jesus and love his church. They remind us that we all are called to be missional until we see Jesus face to face. I also appreciate that they make a strong case for the importance of good theology. Our understanding and beliefs about who God is will determine how we live, how we suffer, and how we die.
So, who should read this book? Great question! Regardless of your age, if you are a woman please read it! Although the applications are sometimes mentioned in the setting of aging women, the principles and truths are for all us. Aging is happening to us all, right now. This book will help you age with purpose and with wisdom. I wish I had the opportunity to glean from Sharon and Susan when I was younger. I believe that by reading this book God will equip you and encourage you to age with hope and joy in him.
At the end of each chapter they included a few application questions. I think this will be helpful for personal growth and/or discussion questions in a group setting.
Happy reading dear friends.