By Allie Beth Stuckey

You need to love yourself before you can love others.

You’re perfect the way you are.

You determine your truth.

These messages have wound their way throughout our culture, touted by Christians and non-Christians alike. Women, particularly, are targeted with this message of self-sufficiency, self-care, and self-help. But these, and other self-promoting messages are just as sinister as the lie spoken by satan in the Garden of Eden. Author Allie Beth Stuckey unpacks five lies that have insidiously replaced God with the god of self, and gives scriptural alternatives that point to the truth. 

Pros: This book was a super easy and quick read. I really appreciated the way the author cut to the heart of the issue: idolatry. Anything that stands in the place of God is an idol, no matter how prettily it’s packaged. And though the self-reliance/self-love packaged deal looks attractive, it is a cheap knock-off of the true peace and comfort that God offers. Anything other than God will let you down, but the inevitable crash when you rely on the idol of self will hurt the worst. Yes, you are valuable, yes, you have dreams and ambitions, but, ultimately, your worth is in God. True fulfillment is only found in Him.

Cons: Allie Beth Stuckey is a podcaster, so, while that helps this book read like a conversation, it can lend itself to some rambling tangents. There are a few minor points that I feel could use some caveats. But, overall, the message is pretty rock-solid.

Bottom Line: True fulfillment is never found in yourself, but in the One who created you.