When Joy Came to Stay [Paperback]

Karen Kingsbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2006

Maggie Stovall is trapped inside a person she’s spent years carefully crafting. Now the truth about who she is—and what she’s done—is bursting to the surface and sending Maggie into a spiral of despair. Will she walk away from everything, or can Maggie allow God to take her to a place of ultimate honesty—before it’s too late?

Maggie Stovall.

One of the golden people. She has it all together. At least on the surface…

Ben Stovall.

Godly husband. Successful attorney. Has no idea of the darkness about to overtake his life…

Amanda Joy.

Child of society. Abused, broken, thrown away. But her trust in God is still alive…


When Joy Came to Stay is the heart-wrenching story of one woman’s

descent into the shadows of depression, her husband’s search for

understanding, and a precious child’s unwavering faith.



"Kingsbury’s poignant tale of a lost and broken family and how they experience God’s

miraculous healing is a sure guarantee to bring hope and joy to her readers."

—Melody Carlson, bestselling author, Diary of a Teenage Girl series


"A thought-provoking account of the battle of depression in a believer’s life. It leaves

no doubt that God is loving, merciful, and faithful."

—Nancy Moser, author, The Mustard Seed series

Story Behind the Book

“Each of my novels is a piece of my heart. Where Yesterday Lives was my first-ever novel, and as such it is somewhat autobiographical. The childhood story of Ellen Barrett, her love for her parents and siblings, is my story—though her current story and struggles are fictional. On Every Side sheds light on the struggle for religious freedom in today’s climate; something I am passionate about. Finally, When Joy Came to Stay is the story of one woman’s battle against depression and the secrets of her past.” —Karen Kingsbury

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Karen Kingsbury is one of America ’s favorite inspirational storytellers, best known for her Life-Changing Fiction™. She is the author of more than thirty emotionally gripping novels, many of which have been adapted for film and television. Previously a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times and a People magazine contributor, Karen lives with her husband and six children in the Pacific Northwest.

Product Details

• Paperback: 387 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books; Reprinted edition (September 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590527518
• ISBN-13: 978-1590527511
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.1 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury is America's #1 inspirational novelist. There are nearly 20 million copies of her award-winning books in print, including several million copies sold in the past year. Karen has written more than 50 novels, ten of which have hit #1 on national lists.

Karen's newest novel, Unlocked, released Oct. 12 and has stayed in Amazon's top fifty for the past few weeks. Unlocked debuted at No. 3 on the New York Times Bestsellers list. Another recent and popular title of Karen's is Shades of Blue - the story of a 28-year-old ad executive who is six weeks away from marrying the girl he loves. But as he prepares for his wedding, something brings up his past girlfriend - a girl he dated in high school. He realizes he can't go forward and say, "I do," until he goes back to Holden Beach, finds the girl he loved back then, and tell her he's sorry.

Karen's novel Like Dandelion Dust is the subject of a major motion picture currently in theaters. Like Dandelion Dust stars Academy Award winning Mira Sorvino and Barry Pepper, along with Cole Hauser and Maxwell Perry Cotton. The film has received more than 30 awards in the Film Festival Circuit including numerous Best Picture awards. Several of Karen's books are currently under theatrical development.

Karen's most recent series - the Above the Line Series, which began with Take One, in March, 2009 and wrapped up in June, 2010 with Take Four. The series is about two producers looking to change the world with the power of film. The Above the Line series also includes Karen's popular characters from the fictitious Baxter Family. The Baxters were first introduced to readers through the five-book Redemption series, and then the five-book Firstborn series, and finally the four-book Sunrise series.

Dubbed by Time Magazine as the Queen of Christian Fiction, Karen has also been a featured guest on the Today Show, Fox News, USA Today, and numerous other television programs and magazines. Her fiction has made her one of the country's favorite storytellers. Others of her emotionally gripping titles include the 9-11 Series, Even Now, Ever After, and Between Sundays.

Karen is also a public speaker, reaching more than 100,000 women annually through various national events. Karen and her husband, Don, live in the Pacific Northwest with their six children, three of whom are adopted from Haiti.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful message of God's grace and forgiveness, June 21, 2001

By 

Beverly "bevreader" (Mississippi) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Joy Came to Stay (Paperback)

Maggie Stovall had been living a lie for many years in both her private and public life. As she struggles to maintain the persona of Maggie that everyone knows, she gradually loses control of her life. As her depression deepens, she deserts her church life, her foster children, and finally her husband. Unable to take the pressures of day to day living any longer, she puts herself in a mental hospital and serves her husband with divorce papers. The ensuing story is twofold; plot one deals with Maggie's struggle to overcome her past and her depresson while plot two involves her husband's delving into Maggie's past while searching for answers. Entwined in these two ongoing plotlines is the story of a little girl who is "lost" is the foster care system and only wants someone to love her. Kingsbury's plots and subplots will keep you reading, and this is a wonderful story of God's redemption and unconditional love.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic inspiraitonal tale, February 3, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Joy Came to Stay (Paperback)

Everyone who knows Maggie Stovall feels she lives a pleasant life. However, while her mask to the world may look nice, inside her mind Maggie wonders if she is going insane. Wherever she happens to be, Maggie sees an image of a child and that takes it toll on her leading to clinical depression.

Maggie knows she is at a crossroad, but has doubts she can take a righteous path to happiness even with God's help. The depression is becoming so debilitating, her marriage and foster caring are in jeopardy. Will she give in or will she allow God to escort her back into the light?

WHEN JOY CAME TO STAY is an inspirational tale about finding God vs. surrendering to depression. Surprisingly, Kate Kingsbury does not provide pat answers and simple Hallelujahs to cure the ailing Maggie. Instead, readers will feel the lead character's growing pain and actually sympathize to the point that when the tale is through, the audience will feel emotionally and mentally drained. This is definitely an inspiring tale for those readers suffering from depression and anyone who needs a lift.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book!!!, February 3, 2002

By 

Melissa A. Kolben (Chattanooga, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Joy Came to Stay (Paperback)

After reading "A Moment of Weakness", I didn't think Karen Kingsbury could have written a better book. Boy,was I wrong! "When Joy Came to Stay" is such a wonderful read! I never knew what depression was all about, but now I feel I understand it better, and have deep sympathy for anyone that has ever gone through it.
Please read this book! You'll be glad you did!