Joy I'd Never Known, A [Paperback]

Jan Dravecky (Author), Connie Neal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1998

For Jan Dravecky, joy came after she released control over her life . . . into the hands of the God who had been waiting to receive it. A Joy I'd Never Known traces Jan's painful journey from control to surrender, winding from her protected childhood through a series of tragic losses, her husband's cancer and the ultimate amputation of his arm, the downward spiral of a devastating clinical depression, the lack of understanding on the part of fellow Christians, and finally, to hope, growth, and joy as Jan found the help she needed. Jan's gripping, personal story sheds much-needed light on depression, anxiety attacks, and the need for a balanced, surrendered lifestyle. And for all who feel the lingering shame of emotional trauma or the need to 'keep it together' at any cost, this book offers empathy and hope for change . . . and points the way to a joy beyond imagination.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Like her husband, Dave, and his miraculous return from cancer to the pitcher's mound, Jan Dravecky experienced her own comeback. Jan's, however, was played out not on a baseball diamond, but in hidden chambers of the soul. Her painful journey from control to surrender wound from her protected childhood through a series of tragic losses, the downward spiral of a devastating clinical depression, others' lack of understanding, and finally, to hope, growth, and joy as Jan found the help she needed. Her gripping, personal story sheds much-needed light on depression, anxiety attacks, and the need for a balanced, surrendered lifestyle. To those who feel the shame of emotional trauma or the need to keep it together at all costs, this book offers empathy and hope and points the way to joy. Now in softcover.

From the Author

Jan Dravecky co-founded Outreach of Hope with her husband, former baseball pitcher Dave Dravecky. She and Dave live in Colorado Springs. With Dave, she is the coauthor of Do Not Lose Heart and Stand By Me

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310219418
• ISBN-13: 978-0310219415
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,123,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, March 29, 2008

By 

Andrea "Readaholic" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Joy I'd Never Known, A (Paperback)

I immensely gained from reading this book. This book is the true story of a Christian woman who "thought" she knew what Christianity was all about - mostly by being helpful and in control and people-pleasing, and looking and acting a certain part. I know this to be true of so many people (especially the "in control" and the "looking and acting a certain part"). She, like so many people, thought Christians had perfect lifes and nothing ever went wrong. I especially agree with her (on page 24) where she says: ". . . valuable lessons I could not have learned by staying on the high road where the sun always shines".

Another one of her quotes that I was really thankful to read is on page 198: ". . . lie out there (that the church sometimes supports) that we are to look and act a certain way". That really hit home for me because of something I had been through.

She is open and honest in this book. We realize that true Christians (and people trying to become such) are just like anybody else. They don't have any special "grace" to make them be "perfect" and "unbroken".

I would recommend this book to anyone. Whether you're going through a rough time, or have unresolved or unanswered anger or issues, or wondering why your life isn't perfect, or wondering why you have to put on a front to make it appear that your life is perfect, or just if you are or want to be a Christian - and that covers everyone who would be interested.

There's so much I could say about this wonderful book, but I don't want to say much more, because I want people to be able to read this book without me giving anything away. But to sum it up, I will say that after she gave up her control, and let God be in control, she found joy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great ! Wonderful insight and struggling ! A must-read !, April 22, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: A Joy I'd Never Known (Hardcover)

Jan is a tremendous inspiration to all women struggling with control issues but are not admitting it to themselves or others. Her insights into how being in control controlled her life is truly a gift from God. Ms Dravecky pulls from the bottom of her heart strings in order to share her life's struggles and triumphs. I read this book last summer after having lost the job of my dreams on short notice and without prospects of another one. Feeling her pain and rejoicing in her ability to get to the other side because of her strong spiritual beliefs enabled me to gain strength in my own battle. Being in control is not always in our best interest is the lesson here, as difficult as that may seem to most women in that position. A great book !

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great ! Wonderful insight and struggling ! A must-read !, April 22, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: A Joy I'd Never Known (Hardcover)

Jan is a tremendous inspiration to all women struggling with control issues but are not admitting it to themselves or others. Her insights into how being in control controlled her life is truly a gift from God. Ms Dravecky pulls from the bottom of her heart strings in order to share her life's struggles and triumphs. I read this book last summer after having lost the job of my dreams on short notice and without prospects of another one. Feeling her pain and rejoicing in her ability to get to the other side because of her strong spiritual beliefs enabled me to gain strength in my own battle. Being in control is not always in our best interest is the lesson here, as difficult as that may seem to most women in that position. A great book !