Back Roads to Belonging: Unexpected Paths to Finding Your Place and Your People

At one time or another, shifting seasons in family, friendships, employment, and communities will bring each of us face-to-face with the feeling of being on the outside looking in. Because we are made for connection, this will often lead us down one of two roads. Either we will hop on the popular but crowded highway that asks us to do whatever it takes to get noticed, or we'll stand still, paralyzed by the fear that we're not important, loveable, or worth other people's time and attention.

But what if there is another way? With an understanding voice that will speak into your own circumstances, Kristen Strong walks beside you along the less traveled but more satisfying third way--the back road way--to belonging: remaining in Christ and relaxing into the unique role God has for you. Along the way, you will learn simple, doable actions that not only will help you feel and know that you belong but will welcome others in as well.

My Rating: 5 Stars

"Making friends is hard. Expanding our belonging place is hard." 

This quote from chapter 11 of Back Roads To Belonging: Unexpected Paths to Finding Your Place and Your People perfectly sums up why I had to read this book! As someone who has fought loneliness and insecurities form pretty much all my adult life, when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. It was a great read! It's got practical advice about to find the place where you belong along with stories from the author's own life experiences as well as stories from people she cares about. Add in scriptures and  stories from Biblical characters as well, all work together to make this a fantastic book. As someone struggling to find her place at a new church and who has felt rather disconnected from social stuff for about a decade, this book was something I desperately needed. The older I get, the more I find how hard making friends is as an adult. In my teen years as well as in my 20's, making friends was a breeze. In my 30's? It has become nearly impossible! This book will hopefully help me change that-or at least help me to be more patient in the "growing" times. Either way I am glad to have read this book and it will have a place on my keeper shelf.


I received this book from the RevellReads program and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.