Hopeful-ish : Sadness, Weariness, Donkey Attacks, More Sadness, and Other Stuff You Need the Gospel for

Can the gospel hold up against the hard stuff of life? Stuff like deep sadness, disappointments, doubts, overwhelm, weariness, and if you're Scarlet Hiltibidal and her kiddos even donkey attacks? In her third book Hopeful-ish, and in her trademark hilarity, vulnerability, and honesty, Scarlet answers this question with stories and Scripture that cry out a resounding yes.

Doesn’t it feel like the world has just…changed?  Optimists are wrestling with pessimism. People who were formerly happy and content now look at the world with disappointment and skepticism. Prestigious professional lives are now lived on video calls in Christmas pajamas. Our relationships have taken a hit and we’ve lost people we love, and we all just feel a little beat up, you know? A little sad and tired. Life just doesn’t feel like it used to.

But does it have to be this way? Is hope possible only if life returns to the way it was? Or is hope something you can experience no matter what?

In Hopeful-ish, Scarlet Hiltibidal answers that question with a resounding yes. In her third and much-anticipated book, Scarlet holds the gospel up to the hard stuff—to deep sadness, disappointments, doubts, overwhelm, weariness, and yes, even the pain that comes with random donkey attacks on one’s children (true story). And guess what? The gospel doesn’t just hold up. It proves that hope is possible and radiant, even here. Even in the mess and the heartache and the disillusionment and the losses.

In her trademark relatable, hilarious, and vulnerable voice, Scarlet shares funny and heartbreaking stories, all which ultimately point to God’s hopeful love story we are living in right now. If you need a long walk with a friend who can give you fresh hope and even a few laughs along the way, open these pages, because Hopeful-ish is for you.