A few months ago I received an email asking me if I wanted to host a giveaway for Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl. The moment I read the title I thought to myself, “I could have written that book!” Yes, I was a boy-crazy girl to say the least! Then I read the subtitle, and it described me even more – “On Her Journey from Neediness to Freedom.” Believe it or not, that describes me, too. Even though I’m married, I’ve been slow to learn those hard lessons of neediness, which is really a form of idolatry. That’s why I consider myself a “recovering single.” I sure wish I had this book several years ago.
Paula Hendricks, the author of Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl, is a single woman in her 30’s who shares with the readers how God revealed to her more of Himself through her struggles with boy-craziness. Her journey started as a teenager and continued throughout her 20’s until she finally found freedom. Now her desire is to use her weakest area to show God’s strength (Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl, page 136). She uses much of her own, personal journal entries to take us on her journey.
On page 136 she writes her prayer for this book:
“Through this book, God, would You give girls a vision so far beyond just getting a guy? You can do anything. You can provide me and every girl our there with a husband, even if it seems humanly impossible. You can also do so much more. You could raise up an army of girls who know and trust You, understand and believe the gospel, and work hard to advance Your kingdom rather than wasting their lives dreaming of guys. Would you use this book to switch their focus?”
So often we think that there’s nothing wrong with being boy-crazy – that’s it’s what all girls do at some point or another. However, I think most of us can relate to Paula’s story and understand how being obsessed with boys and making them idols is a sin, and it keeps us from experiencing the fullness of God’s presence in our lives.
About the Book
Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl is organized into two parts:
1. The Searching (Doing It My Way)
Chapter one begins with Paula sharing her realization that having a boyfriend was an idol in her life. Then, she gives us a short “Boy-Crazy Quiz” to see if boys are idols in our lives, too. You can take the quiz for yourself here.
In chapters two through nine, Paula humbly shares with us her struggles. She talks about issues with her dad, temptations she faced, lies she believed about beauty, obsessive thinking, being jealous of other girls, and fear of relationships.
2. The Breaking and Remaking (Relinquishing Control)
This is where Paula begins to find freedom. This is my favorite section!
Paula ends chapter 10 by writing:
“For the first time, I understand that Jesus didn’t die to forgive me of my sin but leave me in it. He died to forgive and to free me from the power of sin. Suddenly I realized I didn’t have to be jealous of that pretty girl. I didn’t have to covet every guy I saw, I didn’t have to hate that guy for not liking me. I wasn’t powerless anymore. I facet, in Christ I was no longer that helpless, hopeless, boy-crazy girl. I had a new identity now: I was dead to sin, alive to God, and in Christ jesus. My only job? Believing it to be so and living in light of that truth.” (Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl, page 94)
In chapter 11, Paula gives us a better understanding for “guarding your heart”, a concept that is difficult for many single women. Chapter 12 writes about how being a student of God’s Word prepares us for inevitable suffering to come.
Chapter 13 is probably my favorite chapter. It’s the one that spoke to me the most. In this chapter, Paula explains how we should respond to suffering. She writes on page 116,
“I had no idea when I decided to follow You, Jesus, that it would be so costly. That I’d have to bear in my body the ‘marks of Jesus Christ.’ I know I’m not being torture physically, but You’ve put Your finger on what is dearest and closest to my heart – the dream of marriage and ministry with a man who is wholeheartedly following You. May this suffering refine me so I resemble You, my every-loving, humble, suffering God.” (Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl, page 116)
And finally, in chapters 14 through 17, Paula unpacks for us the truth that our lives are really not about us, but about God, and about His purposes that He wants to accomplish through us.
Who Is This Book For?
This book is for any woman, regardless of age, who struggles with making men and marriage idols in their lives. At first glance, you may think this book is best suited for teenage girls, and I agree with you, this is an excellent book for teenage girls. However, this book shouldn’t just be read by girls in their teens. Boy-craziness (or should I say boy/marriage idolness) is a problem for many women even in their 20’s, 30’s, and beyond. As I have shared with you, I struggled with making men and marriage idols into my early 30’s.
And you think that once you get married all of this ends. Well, the secret is, my friends, it doesn’t end. Whatever sin you struggle with outside of marriage, you will struggle with inside marriage, usually even to a greater extent. Therefore, every single woman needs to read this book. I told Paula in an email that it is such a blessing God revealed these truths to her now, while she’s still single.
What I love most about Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl is Paula’s humility. It’s not easy to admit that you’re boy-crazy, and yet so many of us are! Paula shares with us her deepest thoughts and struggles so that we can find freedom ourselves.
This week I’m giving away 3 copies of Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl! Enter to win below! And check out Paula’s website at PaulaWrites.com where you can find more information about her including some goodies!
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