Recommended Reading - "Anonymous" by Alicia Britt Chole

"Anonymous" is a very refreshing and accessible book to read on a topic most of us Christians don't like to think about - those times in our lives when it feels like no one is taking notice of all the work we've been doing, whether God or the people around us. I'm not sure where a lot of us get this idea, but for some reason people in the church seem to think that if you're not being celebrated or appreciated for the service you give in the church or the work you do at your job that you are somehow being maligned or taken advantage of. Success is equated with people's recognition of you or being given a leadership position. When our dreams take a long time to actually come to term, or when we have to work for a long time without reward, many of us ask if God is really there or if He really knows what He's doing with our lives. Ever been there? I sure have. The ironic thing is that so often we get frantic to be fruitful because its uncomfortable to admit we are in that place.

I had never heard of Alicia Chole before she came to Cornerstone and gave her testimony in February 2009. I don't tend to read a lot of female Christian writers that aren't over 50, for some reason. But I was intrigued by the way that she honestly tackled some of the things most Christians don't like to admit are a regular part of the Walk. Instead of condemning people for being in a time of hiddenness, or trying to encourage them to work frantically to get out of it, Alicia goes straight to Scripture and the missing 30 years of Jesus' life to talk about how important it is to our growth to have these uncomfortable "anonymous seasons", as she calls them. God Himself treasures those times in our lives when we are revealed for who we are down to our bones, those times when He can have us all to Himself because we are laid bare before Him. Those are the periods He can work freely to make us strong enough to hand the dreams and plans He has for us.

I found this book to be encouraging, thoughtful, and above all wise. It really pays to have an accurate view of the seasons of your life so you don't miss what God is saying to you. Whether you've been a Christian for a long time or a little, this book will give you plenty to reflect on and be encouraged by.

Find out more about Alicia Chole at her ministry site, TruthPortraits.com.