You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be by Max Lucado

This small book is comprised of selections from the author’s Cure for the Common Life. It encourages the reader to find God’s uniqueness for his or her life by tracing interests and abilities from childhood on to see the talents, gifts, interests and abilities God built in carefully and purposefully as a design for success.

Max Lucado’s premise in this book is that God’s special plan for each person is revealed in God’s specific planting in each life. Contrary to popular belief, the author says, “You cannot be anything you want to be. But you can be everything God wants you to be.” Since no one possesses every ability or inclination, everyone cannot be everything.

The author encourages readers to know their S.T.O.R.Y, or Strengths, Topic (or passion), Optimal conditions (or motivation), Relationships (essentially, introvert or extrovert), and Yes!, or what brings God pleasure in you.

The book includes warnings against greed and ambition, which can move a person to give up their “sweet spot”, or position of maximum influence, for management or supervisory roles, summed up in the author’s thought that “In a desire to be great, one might cease being any good.” The book concludes by encouraging the reader to take great risks for God, trusting little deeds to help change the world.

This book was a good reminder that God’s ways are not man’s ways. It would particularly be good for an adolescent or young adult.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”