Every Woman's Battle by Shannon Ethridge

This book is aptly named!  I believe that this book truly addresses every woman's battle with finding sexual and emotional fulfillment.  The society we live in makes it hard for women to be content with what (and who) God has given us.  Society teaches that if we aren't satisfied, we should be, and therefore can do whatever it takes to be satisfied with our lives.  Often that includes having extra marital affairs or divorce.  In Every Woman's Battle: Discovering God's Plan for Sexual and Emotional Fulfillment, Shannon spells out just what an affair is according to the Bible.  Most people think only men struggle with sexual issues.  In her book Shannon makes the case that women also struggle.  Whether its fantasizing, masturbation, or simply allowing our thoughts to dwell on a coworker or friend of the opposite sex, we can cross the line into emotional adultery and it can affect our marriages greatly.  Shannon spells out the different kinds of actions we as women sometimes take that, although they seem very harmless, would actually be considered as adultery in the Bible.  If something as simple as a few thoughts concerning a man other that your husband could eventually lead to a physical affair.  

But there's good news!  In this book, Shannon also gives women wisdom on how to overcome these self-destructing behaviors and to connect with the God who loves us more than anything in the world!  We don't need to search for intimacy in all the wrong places.  God is here, waiting with his arms outstretched, for us to enter into intimacy with Him.  

For me, there were a couple of eye-opening parts of the books that really stuck out to me.  One was a chapter where she talked about common actions that women sometimes take and the reasoning we use to justify the action and proves each one to be a myth.  There was one in particular that I caught myself doing/thinking without really realizing the detrimental affect of it and why it would be considered as wrong.  The second part was the chapter titled "Time for a New Revolution".  This chapter talks about the women's liberation movement and how it has affected women.  Although some aspects of the women's lib was positive, we women are now reaping some no-so-great "benefits" of it such as the role the media plays in making up unsatisfied with our bodies and feeling the need to meet a certain standard in how we look.  

This book really is great.  It's full of insight with scripture to back it up.  And this book is not only for married women, but for singles too.  Shannon describes the guidelines for having boundaries for both marrieds and singles.  I think every woman should read this book!  If you would like to read the first chapter of  Every Woman's Battle, you may do so HERE. 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review.