My email inbox blinked with an incoming message. I blinked, not believing what I was seeing. Would I be interested in reviewing former Flyleaf front-woman turned solo artist and motivational speaker, Lacey Sturm’s new book, set to release October 4, 2016, entitled The Mystery: Finding True Love in a World of Broken Lovers? WOULD I?? I promptly I wrote back that indeed, I was interested in reviewing the book. Meanwhile, inside I chuckled that the real mystery to me was who would say no to that kind of request? When it comes to life, there are few things – family aside, most days – that I love more than books and music. A book by a musician and woman I have admired for over a decade? Clearly, the question answered itself.
When my copy came days later, I tore into it, taking in every word. And then, I stopped. Even knowing Lacey’s deep and very public faith in Christ, I was a bit blown back by the immediate references to Christ and the Bible. I am not sure what I expected. As someone who has struggled with faith her entire life, I wasn’t ready for this level of immersion in “God is All Love” talk. Therefore, I almost turned away from it and closed it. But, as I reminded myself, I’d promised I’d continue. And, a little voice told me to keep going. So, I grabbed a pack of highlighters, some Post-Its, and onward I went. I am so, so glad I did.
Lacey openly discussed her own struggles with love, life, and faith in this deeply moving novel of hope over destruction. In her life, fathers always left. She had no relationship with her biological father. Due to that, she remembered yearning for a relationship with a male role model in her life as a father. Therefore, she grew up with an orphan mentality. She always felt something missing from her life that could only be filled by a father. And, she used this mentality to continually push people away. She did not want to not let them hurt her again like she’d been hurt in the past. It was this mentality – of never being enough – that led Lacey down some of the darkest paths of her life.
Where she once thought all was lost, she found renewal and a new path in her life in Christ. She was able to overcome her own human shortcomings. It was then that she found a path to her one Great Love – God in Jesus Christ himself. At one time she was embroiled in a destructive emotional affair with a married man whom she admired. During this time, Lacey questioned her own faith limits. She even contemplated calling it quits on this gorgeous experience called life.
However, through a relationship with the band’s youth pastor, who she viewed and respected as a father figure, and his wife, a mother figure to her, she began to remember her own worth. And, through their loving, patient guidance she created a loving, pure, holy relationship with the faithful, good man who became her husband.
In The Mystery, Lacey told the story of losing what she had perceived as love in her first marriage. This led her to mistaking acceptance and a sense of being wanted as love. And, finally, she regained the Truest Love she had ever known. She decided to marry Jesus – to purify her heart and spirit. This made her ready for her husband, Josh. Using letters from her brothers and sisters in Christ – ranging from the youth pastor whom she calls “Papa Eric” to Brian “Head” Welch from Korn, Joshua Sturm to Lacey’s own sister, Joelene – Lacey spun a tale of love and never-ending, uplifting hope. This book is a true testament to the faith that has driven Lacey’s successful and passion-fueled life.
At times passionate, while constantly being honest and raw, much like Lacey’s own vocal stylings, this book is one not to be bypassed by anyone who wants to understand what truly drives one of Rock and Roll’s Princesses at her very core: her unending, undeniably strong faith in her Heavenly Father, the one who never leaves. “…it is the heart of God for us to live reconciled and in unity.” In this world of uncertainty, division, and pain for so many, Lacey Sturm’s parting message in The Mystery is one of hope and love: two of our greatest unifiers.
Laid out like a self-help book of sorts, a map for relationships in other ways, this book is one that I believe every single person can come away from with being changed in some way. My copy of this book is riddled with highlighted passages, and a crown of Post-It notes sticks out of the top of Lacey’s head on the cover. To say that I enjoyed it would be an understatement. It moved me, made me laugh and ache, and brought me to a closer realization to the person and passion that is Lacey Sturm.
At first, I believed this book was sent to me to restore my faith. In reality, it restores faith and love for the world from God himself. It’s a real, refreshing, and relatable reminder from Lacey that, as far as she’s concerned, in our darkest moments, we only need to look up to our Father for the grace and comfort we all deserve – a true Father’s love.
I would recommend The Mystery: Finding True Love in a World of Broken Lovers to anyone who has known loss, who has had their faith shaken, and who seeks a sense of renewal in something greater than themselves. Lacey’s story is as honest as it is spiritual, and it is because of those two things that I feel this book is yet another gift from Lacey to the world.
Preorder Lacey Sturm’s The Mystery: Finding True Love in a World of Broken Lovers here at Amazon, or grab your copy in person wherever books are sold when it hits shelves October 4, 2016. It gets big love from this heathen-at-heart Rock and Roll writer!
Book Review by Devon Anderson, Rock Revolt Journalist/Managing Editor
*a copy of the book was provided for an honest review*
