Never Enough: Confronting Lies about Appearance and Achievement with Gospel Hope (Ivill)

Let’s admit it, we want to be beautiful and successful. But could these marks of being an empowered woman actually be idols requiring our slavish devotion? If you have struggled with this, you probably know the feeling that you will never be pretty or perfect enough. In Never Enough, Sarah Ivill discusses issues related to body image and performance as she shares about her past addiction to thinness and fitness. In the process, she confronts five common lies women of all ages fall prey to and points us back to our acceptance in Christ, where we find the true solution to our pursuit of beauty and success.

Five lies we are prone to believe:

• My ways are better than God’s ways, and my wisdom is better than His wisdom.
• I have to look like “her” in order to be beautiful.
• My worth is defined by whether or not a man loves me.
• My significance is based on my success as defined by my superiors.
• If I had what “she” has, I would be more satisfied than I am now.

Read Sample Pages

Contents:

Foreword

A Note from Sarah

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Naked and Ashamed

2. Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

3. Longing for Love

4. Girl Power

5. The Comparison Cage

6. Addicted to Thinness and Fitness

7. The Truth Will Set You Free

Bibliography

Author:

Sarah Ivill (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) is a Reformed author, wife, stay-at-home mom, Bible study teacher, and conference speaker who lives in Matthews, North Carolina, and is a member of Christ Covenant Church (PCA).

Endorsements:

“Never Enough is a rich theological book that wasn’t penned from a theological ivory tower. It was written from Sarah Ivill’s heart as a life message grounded in biblical truth. Her transparency and practical insights invite women, young and not-so-young, to dismantle the world’s deceptive definition of beauty and achievement with the power of the gospel. The author leads us straight to Jesus to embrace His truth that sets us free. As women learn to replace error with truth, the chains of spiritual bondage are crushed and Christ alone defines our worth, beauty, and significance—setting us free indeed!”

—Leslie Bennett, women’s ministry initiatives and leader connection blog manager, Revive Our Hearts

“After discipling and counseling countless women who have struggled with eating disorders on the college campus over the past five years, I find that this is one of the most effective books at addressing the overwhelmingly common struggle of body image for women in today's culture. Not only does Sarah Ivill speak to the issue directly but she even does the hard work of digging down to the motives of our hearts as women. This is certainly an amazing resource for women of all ages today!”

—Joni Clayton, director of development, Campus Outreach Charlotte

“In Never Enough Sarah Ivill shows the reader that Christ is always more than enough. With beautiful vulnerability and rich theological insight, Ivill invites her readers into her own struggles with shame, comparison, and the search for her true worth. She explains how the truth that set her free is an offer to all as she points us over and over again to the hope of the gospel and the power of Christ. I highly recommend this study!”

—Courtney Doctor, coordinator of women’s training and content, The Gospel Coalition; speaker, Bible teacher, and author of From Garden to Glory: A Bible Study on the Bible’s Story

“God faithfully challenges and encourages me when I read Sarah Ivill’s writing. He challenges me through her scriptural depth and the beautiful way she applies God’s truth to the ‘real stuff’ of life, like body envy, ministry discontentment, or success comparison. And God encourages me through Sarah’s ability to unpack His trustworthy promises of love, sovereignty, and provision into the areas of life in which we each need consistent reorientation to ‘bounce our eyes’ back to Jesus Christ. Never Enough is a wonderful gem for all who struggle to believe that they are precious in God’s sight.”

—Ellen Mary Dykas, women’s ministry coordinator, Harvest USA

“What a beautiful narrative of grace and redemption! Sarah's story is unique to her, but her testimony of God’s unchanging faithfulness will minister to every woman who reads this book. Sarah shows us how to apply biblical truth to our struggles with these sinful addictions and magnifies the sufficiency of Christ’s finished work on the cross on our behalf.”

—Gloria Furman, author of Labor with Hope: Gospel Meditations on Pregnancy, Birth, and Motherhood  

“Sarah opens her heart and shares her story, and she opens the Word and helps us think biblically about addictions. This is a valuable resource for those struggling with any addiction, those who love them, and those who disciple girls and women. It is really for every woman who wants to know the Truth that sets us free.”

—Susan Hunt, former PCA coordinator for women’s ministry

“Sarah’s vulnerability draws us into the journey of her painful trial. She invites us to join her in finding hope, healing, and comfort as she takes us from the sting of shame to Jesus singing over her in triumph. ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God’ (2 Cor. 1:3–4).”

—Bernie and Pat Lawrence, senior associate pastor and wife, Christ Covenant Church

“Never Enough contains wonderful biblical wisdom in a voice we would love for our daughters and granddaughters to hear. Sarah clearly and compassionately understands the body-image and approval struggles women go through (especially when they are younger) and points them to how they can find their significance, beauty, and perfection in Christ. We love how she weaves in the stories of women in the Bible and her own story as she addresses these issues so effectively. Our favorite summary is ‘Christ frees us from the slavery to girl power so that we can be servants filled with His power.’”

—Jim and Caroline Newheiser, biblical counselors, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte