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A Joy I'd Never Known Kindle Edition

by Jan Dravecky (Author), Connie Neal (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.7 10 ratings

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One woman’s story of a secret struggle with depression and anxiety—and how she found her way from fear to faith.

Jan Dravecky’s husband, Dave, found God through a difficult struggle with cancer and the loss of a Major League pitching career. Jan faced great adversity in finding her own Christian faith as well—but hers is a more intimate story.

In this book, she tells that story for the first time, chronicling her own painful struggle with depression, anxiety, and loss, and the journey that took her from these dark places to the light of God’s love. A Joy I’d Never Known is sure to be an inspiration to anyone struggling through a difficult period and looking for a return to joy.

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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

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07XD762S5
Publisher ‏ : ‎ RosettaBooks (March 7, 2017)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 7, 2017
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2182 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 211 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,582,971 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,135 in Christian Counseling & Recovery
- #3,394 in Christian Pastoral Counseling
- #6,142 in Christian Inspiration

Customer Reviews:
4.7 10 ratings

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Connie Neal
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Connie Neal is a trusted best-selling author who writes on family, marriage, parenting, communication, and pop culture. She has authored dozens of books that have been featured in Time, Newsweek, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, PBS, Christianity Today, Entertainment Weekly, and media worldwide. She holds a BA in Communication from Pepperdine University; MS in Education, specializing in Instructional Design for Online Learning. She has edited and contributed to five Bible projects (The Life Recovery Bible sold over 3 million; Spiritual Renewal Bible won the ECPA Gold Medallion). She's a respected authority on the Harry Potter books (181 citations on Google Scholar), and a keynote speaker who toured America with Women of Faith. Shifting from books to multimedia learning, she's done instructional design for UC Davis, businesses, and non-profits. Her current interest is using generative AI for good and teaching anyone to prompt results from GPTs using trusted content and natural language.
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Jan Dravecky
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Jan Dravecky co-founded Endurance with her husband, former baseball pitcher Dave Dravecky. She and Dave live in Denver. With Dave, she is the coauthor of Do Not Lose Heart and Stand by Me.
See more on the author's page

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Karen L. Jannusch

A book EVERY woman should read

Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2023

Verified Purchase

Jan’s honesty is a rare commodity. She takes you through the highs and lows of her life, showing that God is with us whether we can feel Him there or not. Thank you, Jan for sharing your journey.

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2017

Verified Purchase

An excellent book that gives hope and guidance.

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2021

Really enjoyed reading of her journey. Honest and real. Encouraging to hear someone on the other side of depression.

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2008

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.

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AngelaR

Life Changing

Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2006

This book absolutely changed my life and the way I previously perceived panic attacks and depression. I am so grateful God led me to this book. Thank you Janet Dravecky for writing your story!!!

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A Joy I'd Never Known Kindle Edition

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