I’m starting a new chapter today.
There comes a time when there’s no more turning back.
I don’t want to be tired anymore.
I don’t want to feel worn or weary — inside — even though on the outside, I step through my days strong and capable.
But, when the night falls and the early morning dawn sometimes give me a taste of the quiet, I remember.
I was made for more than this.
Maybe you ache for rest, deep inside. Maybe you feel the same way too.
You Still Remember
Even though you’ve been journeying well by swallowing all that has caused you pain, loss or faded dreams — you still remember.
How softly autumn rain feels on your skin. How much you once loved to laugh. Dance. Write. Paint. Or swim.
You still remember.
What it felt like to lie on your bed on your tummy, bare legs swinging back, turning pages of a good book. Or how smooth your pen wrote as it traced your days in a journal.
You still remember.
How you loved confiding in your best friend, talking until your ear hurt from being pressed against the plastic receiver.
How intimate it can be to be close to God, confiding in stories and living them alongside eachother. As friend to friend.
Longing For Rest
And though you’ve told yourself that things have changed — that maybe you have changed — you catch glimpses of yourself longing —
{for space}
{to breathe}
{feed your soul}
{to just be you}
In all these moments and more, you are touched with your need — your longing for rest. Soul rest.
My Most Intimate Stories Written For You
Finding Spiritual Whitespace:
Awakening Your Soul To Rest
(releases today!)
Maybe you feel as I do — that it is time to make room for you, for God, for rest.
Maybe you feel as I do — that it is time to live a better story of rest.
In my darkest season through anxiety, stress and brokenness, I wrote a series of letters to confide in you about my journey to find rest.
I uncovered these intimate stories at the cusp of a life-long dream — when I was unexpectedly launched into a debilitating journey through painful memories, panic attacks and anxiety. Childhood trauma triggered by the writing of a book. PTSD.
I wrote these soul-baring letters and bound them in a book of intimate stories for you. It took me three years to write it. And today, my book is releasing into the world to you!
Finding Spiritual Whitespace: Awakening Your Soul To Rest
Listen to me tell you as I tell you about this book. Click here to watch a short video about my story. It’s time to take a new journey to find rest.To uncover your stories.To understand why rest has become hard. To uncover your stories. To understand why rest has become hard. And explore how rest can become yours again.
It’s time to find your spiritual whitespace.
Whitespace. It’s the space on a page left unmarked used to make art beautiful. It gives the eye a place to rest, to bring out all the beautiful colors and images. You and I are God’s artwork. We need space to rest, so we can live a beautiful story.
I’ve written this memoir-driven guidebook — with chapter by chapter journaling prompts and group discussions questions so you can:
~ move beyond surviving to find rejuvenating rest
~ uncover the you God made: explore what feeds your soul
~ discover practical ideas to create space in your heart and schedule to rest
~ understand how your personal story shapes how easy or hard it is to receive self-care and soul care.
~ be inspired with hope, peace and encouragement
Take The Journey of Rest With Me
Take the Finding Spiritual Whitespace journey to make space to rest, despite whatever chaos and stress clutters our everyday lives.
Take the journey of self-discovery with Jesus. Let’s live a better story of rest. Together.
Purchase a copy of the book for yourself and your friends. Because rest isn’t a journey we need to take alone. We need each other.
Because some stories can’t be told on a blog. They are so intimate, they can only echo in the sacred space of the printed page. Letters from my heart bound together for you.
Let’s be kindreds. Let’s meet between the pages of Finding Spiritual Whitespace.
~~~~~
Pull up a chair. Click to comment. Today is a day to celebrate!
{ You In The Acknowledgements } You brought me here with your love and support in the darkest season when there were no words. Thank you for carrying me with prayers and kindness every step of the way.
It’s right there in print. I’m grateful for you. A special thanks goes to you today for journeying with me when my voice was broken. You gave me the courage to make this book real. Thank you. You’ve changed my story.
Let’s Celebrate!
TWO Special Book Launch Giveaways:
Lisa Leonard Hearts Connected Necklace &
Times Of Refreshing Journal
I’ve created TWO giveaways to celebrate the launch of my new book. I hope you’ll enter both giveaways! Enter by Friday 6/6 midnight PST.
GIVEAWAY #1: {35 Winners} Times of Refreshing Journal from DaySpring
My hope is that this wiro-style journal with a handart inscribed Scripture cover inspire your to capture your voice and your ideas — as you take your own soulful journey to rest and find spiritual whitespace.
Click here to enter the Times of Refreshing Journal Giveaway
GIVEAWAY #2: {15 Winners} A Gold Connected Hearts Necklace by Lisa Leonard PLUS Times of Refreshing Journal Gift Set Giveaway from DaySpring
I love wearing this beautiful necklace as a visual reminder that Jesus’ heart is interlocked with mine with rest. The necklace also reminds me that I am God’s daughter of worth (gold). I hope this encourages you as you take your journey to find rest with God.
To enter this special giveaway, purchase a copy of my book Finding Spiritual Whitespace. Winners of this giveaway will need to provide proof of purchase in order to claim their prize. I’m so excited about taking this journey of rest between the pages of this book, friends.
Let’s bring as many people with us as we can. And for more ways to join me on this journey to rest, including information about my private Finding Spiritual Whitespace Facebook Group, please check out my 21 Days of Rest Challenge over here.
Thank you so much for all your kindness and support during this book launch, friends. Your thoughts and stories continue to amaze and inspire me. I’m so grateful that we can journey together.
Read about Spiritual Whitespace from Authors You Love
{click on the endorsements below to visit my friends and read about their Whitespace}
“Why I’m Breaking Up With My Quiet Time” by Lysa TerKeurst
“Help when Your Life Feels Too Busy” by Holley Gerth
“Finding Spiritual Whitespace” by Tsh Oxenreider
( Ann Voskamp shares words of grace at A Holy Experience )
25 Comments
I started the book yesterday, and if I didn’t have to take care of my children. LOL I would not have put it down. It is so beautifully written and raw. I can’t wait to read more today. Thank you for sharing your story, so boldly and bravely, with us.
Congratulations, Bonnie! Thank you for guiding us on this quest of rejuvenating rest. I am joining you. I no longer want to feel so weary and tired inside while trying to be strong on the outside. I’m discovering more and more that I love to encourage or nurture others, but I don’t like to nurture myself. My tank is on empty… I want to learn how to love and nurture my own soul and not feel guilty or selfish about it. I want that deep leaning into Jesus, to be quiet and listen to His heart, instead of overwhelming myself over trying to be so self-sufficient, trying to figure things out or “fix” problems myself. My life needs to change. I don’t want to be so stressed with doing for others what they expect of me instead of resting in who GOD made me to be. I am far too caught up in “doing” instead of just “being.” God bless you, Bonnie. May God give freedom wings to many through this book!
I am avoring each word and feeling so many different things, grace, healing, release. Not only am I rejoicing over this wonderful day with you, I am feeling blessed by this offering of yours, beyond what I believed would be! So funny, as I just read your post, I had to smile at the opening…today on Instagram I started to write “no turning back” but then deleted it. Ironically there the words are right there at the start of this post…God whispes to we kindred, I tell you! Congrats, and Hooray! The book is a blessing, am honored to be a part of it’s launch- thank you, Bonnie!
Hi Bonnie,
Such a huge hug for you! I’m so proud of you and want you to know know that you have given me permission to be easier on myself. And by easier, I mean that at the stoplight yesterday, I felt guilty for wanting to take just the length of time of the stoplight to put my worries aside and think about His Light. I though about you and how you’ve been so intentional in resting and healing. This is what I need and thank you for going before and showing me the way is safe and good…Because He is Good and Safe!
Funny. I almost put this in my cart at Amazon yesterday but wanted to read more about it before I did. My daughter, Tami (Journey to a Healthy Life), is reading it and recommended it. I will have to check it out more. Hope it goes well for you Bonnie.
I read your incredible book over the weekend. I was unable to put it down until I had read your whole story. I must admit I skimmed a lot of it to get to the end. Then I began to read it the way it was meant to be read – slowly, thoughtfully and underlining. What a beautiful and gentle book that is speaking to my soul. While my story is different from yours there were times my soul joined with yours. Congratulations on having the courage to share with the world how God worked and continues to work in your life.
COngratulations!!!! Such an exciting day! I praise God for the way He has met you on the road, shouldered you through the bends, and carried you when the rocks piled high. We need Him. And in sharing this testimony, you’ve shined a light onto all our paths, giving hope and serving as a reminder that we need each other. With this launch, there is a start of a new season for all of us, and I look forward to walking it. Together 😉
[…] Bonnie writes the following on her blog page as a reason for the book. […]
[…] find Bonnie’s Day 3 blog post here. She explains a little bit on how her book came about during her own personal quest for soul rest, […]
Hi Bonnie,
What about those who already purchased your book through Barnes and Noble and other book dealers and threw out the receipt? 🙁 How do we enter the contests?
Your journey to discover rest and spiritual “whitespace” captivates me and draws me to learn more about your experience. I pray that your words and insights will rejuvenate my inner being and bring rest to my heart. I’m sure the difficulty of PTSD made you seek “whitespace” and it is now a blessing to yourself and others seeking such a path. Thank you for writing this book and becoming open and vunerable. I will be praying it will bless many readers.
I feel so blessed to be part of your book launch team. The writings on your blog have been so helpful in my own life, but sharing your stories and insights in your book has taken me into a deeper level of healing. Our stories run parallel in many ways and my own walk through repressed memories surfacing, PTSD, and healing with Jesus has been guided by God to this place at this time. It would take too long to share, but only God could have orchestrated my inner healing journey to bring me to your blog, and your book. God is so good! I pray for you, and I give thanks for your courage as you step out in faith and provide a safe place for others to heal in the pages of your book. Blessings, friend.
Bless you! So glad you have fought through with God’s help all the way to the end…to write and publish your book. I pray it will bless many!
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you, Bonnie, and I look forward to reading your new book. 😀
What an experience to read your book. I have read it and now I am going through it slowly, journalling as I go. I started reading and journalling but I couldn’t wait to read more so I read it and have now come back to journal. Thankyou. I have worked through a lot of stuff over the years and have journalled a lot of my own story, but your questions are making me go even deeper. Thanks for your courage and honesty.
Vicki
So thrilled for you dear friend. Praying for your heart as I have so many times the last three years. Love you friend. Thank you for your continued journey of being real with your readers on your blog and now in your book.
[…] over to Bonnie’s blog, Faith Barista and enter to […]
Congratulations! So excited for you. This is a banner day. May the Lord bless you and give you joy in your launch party and reading tonight. Peace of Christ to you.
“Because some stories can’t be told on a blog. They are so intimate, they can only echo in the sacred space of the printed page. Letters from my heart bound together for you.” – I think this is so true. Thank you for sharing your precious stories in your beautiful book. It feels like such a beautiful gift, and the time that I’m taking to read it, and the gentleness of your example and encouragement help me to keep going. Enjoy your book’s birthday 🙂
I am so moved by your story, brings up so many similar feelings.
Your writing strikes a deep and real chord in all of us….were all broken and have learned ways to protect ourselves. However,there comes a time when God begins to do a work of restoration so we dig up the old and replace with the new. Blessings on you for being willing to be that voice!!!
[…] Bonnie Gray has just released a book that drags the past out of the closet and into the grace-filled light and peace found only in […]
Oh my goodness, I googled you last night because I fell in LOVE with your title!! Would live to win this!
Congratulations!
After learning about your new book (on Chatting in the Sky blog) I stopped in the local bookstore and was delighted to find one copy (just waiting for me)…Thank you for your braveness in sharing your personal story, Bonnie. Blessing to you as you inspire others to find their own spiritual whitespace.
that makes my heart smile to hear God bring us to meet between the pages, Linda! grateful to be kindreds on this journey.