Publisher's Synopsis
Ever found yourself without the mental health you need in order to thrive? Is it sometimes hard to manage your emotions well, even though you pray, read your Bible, and serve others? Does God seem to be some illusive presence that you just can't seem to sense or hear?This practical and yet, intensely personal book will give readers a different model for moving towards emotional maturity. Learning to sense God enjoying her by using the Immanuel Approach, no matter what, turns out to be the beginning of an intimacy with the Creator that the author never dreamed possible. Wholehearted living begins with joy, that feeling you get when someone is glad to be with you. Joy has the power to manage all that goes on inside of us... when there is enough of it. Unfortunately, however, for many of us there is very little joy inside compared to the shame, fear, sadness, anger, and hopeless despair that swirl about. The result of this imbalance is emotional shutdown or meltdown, which leave us unable to fully connect with those around us. Depression and addiction run rampant when joy is lacking. And yet most of us are never shown healthy ways to deal with our emotions, to express them well, and to build the joy we need in order to endure the hardships of life. Showing you the process towards emotional maturity is precisely what Back to Joy intends to do.Not a "how-to" that simply gives you steps to follow, Back to Joy: An Intimate Journey with Jesus into Emotional Health and Maturity actually shows you-What it looks like to sense God's enjoyment of you no matter what through the Immanuel Approach-How going back to your past can free you to wholehearted living in the present-That your needs are valid and that God wants you to learn to receive-What suffering well looks like when you have been attacked-The radical mission God is on to seek and save all that was lost in your life and in the lives around you, including your mental health! By reading intimate journal entries spanning 18 years of her life as a Missionary, Relational Coach, Pastoral Counselor, daughter, wife, friend and mother you will see how Jesus has gently cared for the author, revealed His truth to her, healed traumatic memories, convicted her when she was stuck in harmful paradigms, and ultimately led her into emotional maturity and wholehearted living. Toni's book is an inspiring statement that you do not have to settle for a mediocre relationship with the Creator of the Universe. What are you waiting for? His delight in you can and will radically change your life as you let Him lead you back to joy and into emotional maturity.
