Book Review: He Delivered Even Me, He Will Deliver Even You by Misti Stevenson

 

Book Description: 

Even Me Even You: When I was in the midst of my 23-year trial with OCD, anxiety, and depression, I had little hope to ever be fully healed. I knew of no one who had been. Now that I have been led through my Gethsemane and, with the help of the Savior, am finally healed, I can’t keep quiet about it. I was an avid journal writer from a young age, so this book takes those who want to know how to literally be healed of mental and emotional illness on a live-time, emotion-filled journey. Most books on this subject only tell how to deal or cope with mental illness. My experience brings a new idea that mental illness is curable in this life—I am the proof of this happy idea! What I would’ve given to know of one person who had been healed when I was in the midst of my pain. I wrote my story to inspire others suffering similar challenges—to give them the hope and perspective I wish I had had in the midst of my struggles.

Review:

Even though I haven't had to deal with OCD or depression, this book description intrigued me. I also like to occasionally go outside of my comfort zone for what I typically read, so I agreed to read and review this. 

That being said, I found that I had a really hard time relating to the author, and it took me quite a while to figure out why. Finally, the author helped answer that for me. In one section, she was writing about how her husband was trying to be supportive but really couldn't empathize with her. Then, this is the part that really stuck out to me. She wrote: "My trial had been hard for him to really understand without actually going through it, just like it would be hard for me to understand someone else that couldn't walk when walking comes so easily to me." That described it perfectly for me. The fact that I can't relate to all the trials the author went through doesn't at all diminish how difficult they were for her to go through.

If you are struggling with issues like the author did, this book can hopefully offer you some support as well as ideas of where to turn. It really struck me that through all of the years that Misti suffered with her OCD, she never turned away from her beliefs - just the opposite, her trials helped to make her faith stronger, and she relied on the Lord more and more to help her get through each day. That is a lesson that every single one of us can take to heart, regardless of what we might be going through. In the end, what really matters is turning our lives over to the Lord and letting Him guide us.

About the Author: 

Misti J. Stevenson lives near Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and five children. She loves being a dance teacher, and is known for her canned salsa, blackberry jam, and homemade rolls. She is a huge fan of yoga and loves walking early in the morning with her friends—and she plans on doing both forever. She has always been an avid journal writer, but this is her first book. 

 

Title: He Delivered Even Me, He Will Deliver Even You
Author: Misti Stevenson
Publisher: KayLynn Flanders
Published: June 2013
ISBN: 0989426807
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for a review. 

Purchase: Amazon Deseret Book