Very rarely do I give books a 5-star rating on my reviews, but here is one winner that absolutely deserves it.  I received it for review.  Empty Promises by Pete Wilson will hit home with anyone searching for a more meaningful life.  The thing is, as Wilson describes, you might not even realize that you’re searching.   Plan A didn’t work out?  Plan B turned out not-so-good?  Can’t figure out a Plan C?  This book is for you.

Generally, I am happy with my life.  I count my blessings, say my prayers, hug my children, and kiss my husband every day.  Teaching fulfills me and blogging is fun.   We have a roof over our heads, food in our fridge, and a garden that is growing.  Mostly we have good health (working on that one).  We have everything we need.   Still, there are times of dissatisfaction in my life that I can’t quite overcome.  Sometimes there are days like that, sometimes weeks.  Wilson attributes these moments as empty promises…..”things” that we turn to to fill our emptiness, but things that are never quite as good in the end as they seemed in the beginning.   Losing 10 pounds seems like a great goal until you meet it and still feel like you need to lose more.  Maybe the promotion wasn’t as great a step up as you expected.  Maybe that raise was spent faster than you could earn it.   Those are just examples of empty promises.

Through personal vignettes, Wilson addresses many needs that people tried to fill in their lives from acceptance and love,  to careers, finances,  and pretty much anything you can imagine.  There is something for everyone in Empty Promises.  I haven’t read a devotional  (or any book, really) that struck a chord with me like this in a long time.  Wilson uses scripture to support his suggestions and scaffold his message.   He cross-references his points with a multitude of scholars and writers such as C.S. Lewis.   I feel that God spoke to me through Empty Promises.  I pray He’ll speak to you, too.

(Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from BookSneeze for purposes of this review. The opinions posted are 100% mine.  I wish I could buy this book for everyone in the world!  The link is my affiliate link; Savings in Seconds will receive a small kickback for your purchase through the link.  It doesn’t cost you a penny!)