Hiding From God: From Façade to Freedom

In the story of Beth Bennett's spiritual journey, she is transparent and vulnerable in her account of the personal battles she has experienced. She details the struggle of a woman born into a family of Christian pastors and missionaries. As the youngest of five, she faced the life as a preacher's child who was expected to be perfect. She tells how she felt judged for not marrying a man in ministry like her sisters did. She was alarmed by the hypocrisy and pharaseeism she saw in the church at large, as well in some of her own life experiences. Always trying to "measure up" in an environment that was legalistic and strict, she attempted to be a good Christian while hiding behind masks of piety and pride. Facing a very difficult marriage, God met Beth in her pain, exposing the impurity, anger, rebellion, and hypocrisy in her own heart and life. God took her through a dramatic personal revival when she was at a point of walking out of the church and out of her marriage. He shepherded her through ten more years of living with a man controlled by rage. A separation, after years of unhappiness, was the event that God used to change her husband and to show her more that God needed to do in her heart. Several years of fruitfulness followed, but unforgiveness toward her husband for all the difficult years rose in her heart. Roots of bitterness again clogged her heart, hindering her walk and her fellowship with Him. Facing the issue of forgiveness, Beth tells of the process God's Spirit used to bring her once again to repentance and renewal. She gives thanks to God who has transformed her marriage into a happy, loving one, and blessed her family.The author then shares the lessons God has been teaching her on issues such as comparing herself with others, striving to please God and others in her own strength, transparency, reputation, thought life, disappointment, anger, loneliness, rejection, aging, healing, blessing and cursing, and most importantly - the unwavering, pursuing love of God the Father.