When Joy Came to Stay

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This book did a really good job of dealing with 2 issues: 1. The foster care system and 2. Depression and the masks that people hide behind to hide their problems. The book described how flawed the foster care system is in allowing abusive people be foster parents and how some kids are shuffled from home to home, as Amanda was. The book also dealt sensitively with the subject of depression. The book talked about how depression is not a weakness, but how depression can be caused by years of stress, as Maggie was under with her secret about her baby. The book also mentioned that for some people, that medication can be an answer to prayer. Maggie was thinking that good Christians didn't get depressed and was afraid of what people would think of her, yet, as she learned through her treatment program, that is not the case.

After reading "A Moment of Weakness", I didn't think Karen Kingsbury could have written a better book. Boy,was I wrong! "When Joy Came to Stay" is such a wonderful read! I never knew what depression was all about, but now I feel I understand it better, and have deep sympathy for anyone that has ever gone through it.Please read this book! You'll be glad you did!

When Christ enters our lives, it's a feeling you will never forget. Christ worked a wonderful miracle for Ben and Maggie. Maggie shut down her heart to her husband and to Christ. She had such a massive secret and deep depression, she shut her whole world out. Is what Maggie finds out is, Christ did not shut her out. He helped her through her feelings about her daughter as well as her husband. Kingsbury once again does a tremendous job on a novel. Depression does happen to Christians. Kingsbury shows us with the Lords strength and scripture, He does lead us to joy. This is an incredible story of Maggie and Ben Stovell, then enters Amanda, Maggies daughter she gave up for adoption years ago. Ben thought he married a wonderful, pure virgin. If it wasn't for the dedication and devotion from her husband Ben,and Orchards Hospital, Maggie would have been lost. Through Christ they both learned to forgive each other and find Joy in the end. This novel sends a strong message about depression and how Christ never leaves us, even if you think you have left Him. Get your tissues ready!

Maggie Stovall had been living a lie for many years in both her private and public life. As she struggles to maintain the persona of Maggie that everyone knows, she gradually loses control of her life. As her depression deepens, she deserts her church life, her foster children, and finally her husband. Unable to take the pressures of day to day living any longer, she puts herself in a mental hospital and serves her husband with divorce papers. The ensuing story is twofold; plot one deals with Maggie's struggle to overcome her past and her depresson while plot two involves her husband's delving into Maggie's past while searching for answers. Entwined in these two ongoing plotlines is the story of a little girl who is "lost" is the foster care system and only wants someone to love her. Kingsbury's plots and subplots will keep you reading, and this is a wonderful story of God's redemption and unconditional love.

Everyone who knows Maggie Stovall feels she lives a pleasant life. However, while her mask to the world may look nice, inside her mind Maggie wonders if she is going insane. Wherever she happens to be, Maggie sees an image of a child and that takes it toll on her leading to clinical depression. Maggie knows she is at a crossroad, but has doubts she can take a righteous path to happiness even with God's help. The depression is becoming so debilitating, her marriage and foster caring are in jeopardy. Will she give in or will she allow God to escort her back into the light? WHEN JOY CAME TO STAY is an inspirational tale about finding God vs. surrendering to depression. Surprisingly, Kate Kingsbury does not provide pat answers and simple Hallelujahs to cure the ailing Maggie. Instead, readers will feel the lead character's growing pain and actually sympathize to the point that when the tale is through, the audience will feel emotionally and mentally drained. This is definitely an inspiring tale for those readers suffering from depression and anyone who needs a lift.