“You Were Never Meant to Do It All” by Kelly M. Kapic

Having previously read Kapic’s You’re Only Human, I was excited for the opportunity to read through this accessible approach to the same content. In both of these works, Kapic tackles our need to recognize and embrace our God-given limitations, to realize our finitude and humanity are both gifts to us.

The full-length You’re Only Human is an excellent and highly recommended read, but I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated this reworked version in You Were Never Meant to Do It All. First, it made the content bite-sized and palatable. For someone who might already be wrestling with the demands on their time, an abridged and easier-to-read format would surely be welcomed. As Kapic accentuates in the introduction, each entry is 850 words or less, so they do not take long to read. Second, the formatting into a 40-day devotional allows the content to be more slowly digested. Embracing our limitations and reworking our mindset to see them as gifts is certainly a process. The format of this devotional, then, creates the space for that work to take place.

Each day’s reading also includes several questions for reflection, which make for great journaling prompts and interactive experiences with the reading. As such, this devotional would be either a great companion to anyone reading You’re Only Human or as its own stand-alone read. One does not need to have read or to be reading the other work to fully appreciate and benefit from the content of this devotional.

If you feel the expectations placed upon you, either rightly perceived or not, have become too much to bear—If you have ever wondered what it is God expects of you exactly—I strongly encourage you to slow down and pick up this devotional. Do the work within it and allow your wrestling with the content and questions to help you see the beauty that comes in humbly acknowledging you cannot do it all nor were you ever meant to.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Baker Press for the opportunity to read through this advanced reader’s copy in exchanged for my honest review and opinion.