How many women don’t believe themselves to be beautiful? I couldn’t find any statistics, but they are apparently legion. In her book, Invisible, Ginny L. Yttrup shows how 3 different women hide from life, from liberty, and from the pursuit of full happiness. Yet, she doesn’t let either of them stay there. As they evolve in the book, readers gain an opportunity to do the same
Through some vivid and life-like characters, she showcases how common are the self-images that women of different ages and life stages wrestle with. No two characters are alike, yet they share some interesting commonalities which extend beyond the geographic area where they encounter each other.
Not only do they encounter each other, they have life-altering encounters with God. One bears a tattoo that proclaims Imageo Dei, the image of God. It takes a while before the truth that she is truly made in God’s image begins to sink into Twila’s soul. Since it’s in such a visible place, others see it as often as they see Twila.
There’s also Ellyn and Sabina, and their cloud of true friends and colleagues. Something has occurred in each of their lives which makes them feel like they are “less than.” But with combined power, prayer, and faith they all come to view themselves in a fresh light.
It’s interesting how easily they each can identify the apparent solutions or shortcomings of one another, while their own solutions elude them. But when they come to turn their eyes upward to God, and inward to self, they find refreshing. They also discover the impetus for some positive changes.
These characters were borrowed from real life. The catalog of problems and issues presented in the book are also true-to-life. With such realism, it’s hard to deny that Yttrup has tapped into a wellspring of truth. She touches a deep place within the reader, she evokes some strong emotions and pulls at some truths nestled within each of us – that we could stand to see ourselves in a better light, as well as treat ourselves with more mercy and love.
Praises to Yttrup, she has been the fly on the wall of our collective souls. She has offered a fresh breath of self-forgiveness. She has shined a light of undeniable truth.
A must-read for anyone who is still short on believing that God created them in His glorious image, Invisible is an invitation to come out of hiding. It gives us three great characters who are like us, and they emerge out of life’s background and stand center stage in a light of glorious truth.
Through these women, readers gain courage and a new perspective. Thank God for the timely and gracious work on Ginny L. Yttrup. Our souls have been thirsty for a book like this, for balm to our damaged souls. Our lives have been lacking of friends like the three women, who beckon from the pages and invite us to join their ranks as women who totally love and accept themselves, embrace their deficits, and showcase their strengths without apology.