“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30; NIV)

With this well-recognized portion of Scripture as the foundational theme, author Kerri Weems shares insight to walking harmoniously with God’s will in her new book – Rhythms of Grace: Discovering God’s Tempo for Your Life. Released from Zondervan in the fall of 2014, Rhythms of Grace is clearly written from the point of view of a woman who has been there, done that. With empathy and humility, Ms. Weems takes readers on a journey from burnout to hope, from over-burdened schedules to the tempo of God, and the pace of grace.

A few of the many valuable dimensions contained in the pages of Rhythms of Grace include:

– A carefully organized layout includes three sections, each one building on the previous. The main divisions are Foundations of Rhythm (Shalom, Sabbath, and Grace), Pacesetters and Peace Stealers, and helpful guidance and resources to Set Your Rhythm – And Keep It Going.

– Ms. Weems shares endearing and interesting personal anecdotes and metaphors that bring the concepts of her teaching to life in a memorable way. From skiing trips to expecting her first child, each story is clearly written from the heart.

– At the end of each chapter, a selection of thought-provoking questions allows time to reflect on the ideas presented. Most importantly, the final question of each section requires readers to look upwards and inwards, to discern what the Holy Spirit might be saying in regard to the topic.

Certainly the messages of Rhythms of Grace are universal to many women, at least to varying degrees. Haven’t we all felt the burdens of our schedules, and tried to escape the fear that we are running in a hamster wheel, getting nowhere fast? This book addresses these frustrations, and brings the light of God’s truths to the forefront of our focus. Although gems of wisdom will surely be gleaned from each chapter, a downside to the book is the emphasis on working-mother family situations, which may prove difficult for some readers to relate to. Additionally, because the book is centred on rhythm and pacing, the structural suggestions of scheduling with grace may feel overwhelming and ill fitted to those with unusual or less-than-concrete daily routines.

Overall, however, Rhythms of Grace holds an abundance of wisdom and truth-infused guidance pointing towards aligning your life with God’s holy tempo. As Ms. Weems states, “Just as God spoke order into chaos and brought forth creation, His voice can and will bring order into the chaos of your life as you listen closely to the Spirit and step into the rhythms of grace.”

*** This book was provided courtesy of HarperCollins Canada, in exchange for my honest review.   It is available for purchase at bookstores from Zondervan Publishers.