Jamie Ivey - You Be You: Why Satisfaction and Success Are Closer Than You Think

In You Be You , Jamie inspires us to be all God created us to be, and do all weve been purposed to do. In her down to earth, tell it like it is, transparent, and humorous way, Jamie dispels the lies many of us believe about ourselves and invites us to accept that who we are in Christ is exactly who we need to be in order to outwork his purposes in the world. I love this woman, and you will love this book.

Christine Caine , founder A21 and Propel Women

Fresh. Encouraging. Inspiring. In You Be You , Jamie Ivey invites readers to readily raise their voice, accept their God-given uniqueness, and find freedom in who theyre becoming regardless of what theyre doing. No matter what stage of life youre in, Im confident this resource will make embracing your God-given identity and the eternal weight of your calling a palpable reality.

Louie Giglio , pastor of Passion City Church, founder of Passion Conferences, and author of Not Forsaken

This book is an unhurried afternoon coffee date with a truth-telling friend who wants you to flourish. Jamies honesty is refreshing and will point you to the God who has purpose for both your days and the giftings you possess.

Ruth Chou Simons , artist, national speaker, and bestselling author of GraceLaced and Beholding and Becoming ; founder of GraceLaced.com

Over the years, Ive felt the sting of not measuring up. Ive looked at others, wishing I had their spark, their ability, and their creativity. Looking around only made me less excited about what God put inside of me. I love that we have a good friend like Jamie who helps us recognize how our unique God-given talents were never meant to be buried under mounds of comparison. Instead they are to be recognized, celebrated, and used to bring God glory in the ways only we can. What a gift this book will be to your soul!

Lysa TerKeurst , #1 New York Time s bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries

In You Be You , Jamie Ivey helps you discover yourself while echoing the biblical truth necessary in order to do so. She takes you through a three step process of finding, accepting, and becoming yourself. I would recommend this book for anyone who has lost touch with or never really discovered their true self!

Alena Pitts , actress in War Room and author of the Lena in the Spotlight series

An empowering, game-changing book on purpose, calling, and the unrivaled value of your unique story. Jamie is an emphatic cheerleader for women in all seasons of life all over the world. Through her raw and vulnerable story-telling, hilarious perspective, and refreshingly practical application of biblical truths, youll finish this book with the realization that living boldly in your callingexactly as God made youis more accessible than youve ever imagined. Give this book to every woman you know, and lets witness callings activated all over the world.

Hosanna Wong , author, spoken word artist, and international speaker

This book is so needed right now. In a world where we are desperately searching for direction and affirmation in all the wrong places, Jamie points us to the only One that matters. Its refreshingly honest and hopeful, and youll find your shoulders relax as you read the truth in these pages. If youve ever felt like you lost yourself in life, read this book!

Christy Wright , #1 national bestselling author and host of The Christy Wright Show

The vulnerable way that Jamie invites us to journey with her to the realizations shes arrived at is both refreshing and intimately inspiring. I am so very grateful for her gentle voice that speaks truth to places where its sometimes hard to hear, only to bring healing to any person willing to listen. Her words shine a light with humor and sincerity, and to anybody willing, can genuinely help You Be You.

Laurie Crouch , host of Better Together , Trinity Broadcasting Network

Copyright 2020 by Jamie Ivey

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

978-1-4627-4974-4

Published by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification: 248.84

Subject Heading: CHRISTIAN LIFE / SELF-ACCEPTANCE / SELF-PERCEPTION

Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are taken from the English Standard Version ( esv ), ESV Text Edition: 2016. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Also used: New International Version ( niv ), NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Cover photo by Dylan Reyes. Makeup by Lisa Proctor.

Styling by Amber Lehman and Beth Lehman, Jandyworks.

Published in association with Jenni Burke of Illuminate Literary Agency: www.illuminateliterary.com

It is the Publishers goal to minimize disruption caused by technical errors or invalid websites. While all links are active at the time of publication, because of the dynamic nature of the internet, some web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed and may no longer be valid. B&H Publishing Group bears no responsibility for the continuity or content of the external site, nor for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.

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Chapter 1

Good Time for a You-Turn?

I often wonder what it feels like to have a midlife crisis. Do you all of a sudden wake up one day and wonder if youre on the right track? Do you look around at your life and decide youre just not enjoying it anymore?

The times Ive seen a midlife crisis played out on TV, it always involves a man leaving his wife and kids and driving off into the sunset in a sports car with a girl half his age. The happy couple is usually smiling real big, their hair blowing in the wind, and they most definitely have their hands up in the air.

Personally, I think that sounds like the start of a crisis, not the end of one.

So maybe a midlife crisis is not what Im having. But I did sit in my counselors office recently and ask her the kinds of questions that sound like a crisis of some sort could possibly be on my horizon.

• Who am I?
• What am I here for?
• Does this all matter?
• Who cares?
• Am I succeeding?
• Am I a failure?

The ironic thing about these questions is that its not the first time Ive asked them, and I doubt it will be the last. Maybe youve asked them too. Its our nature to want to matter, to be special, to make a difference, to win at life. And its natural in our pursuit of these things to evaluate how we might be doing on that quest. It drives some of us into a counselors office, some of us into late-night strategizing sessions with our girlfriends. Unfortunately it might even drive a few of us into that sports car analogy where we just plain choose a new life.

Sometimes for me, these questions become my way of trying to forecast the future, imagining what my life will be like when Im old and gray. I can see my husband, Aaron, and myself sitting on our back porch watching our great-grandchildren frolicking in the pool. Because, yes, Im almost certain we should live in a house with a pool so our kids will bring their kids, and their kids will bring their kids, and everyone will love going to the old persons house who has the great pool!

I see Aaron wobbling over to his grill where hes preparing burgers and veggies. I see myself pouring lemonade and bringing out the cookies. Store-bought, naturally. Because if Im not baking homemade cookies at forty, you can be sure I wont be doing it at eighty. I might be old, but I wont be dumb! Ill still know how to get my people home to hang out with me.