Book Review: Empty Promises by Pete Wilson

Even though I already had a stack of books by my bedside when I discovered that Pastor Pete Wilson had a new book coming out, that didn't stop me from jumping at the chance to review his new one called Empty Promises, courtesy of BookSneeze. I first became familiar with Wilson when I read his Plan B book, a book which covered the topic of what do you do when your life doesn't turn out like you thought it would. I read it during a time when I was struggling with where my life was and why certain dreams were coming true for everyone it seemed but me. I loved Wilson's honesty and his ability to take Scripture and apply it to exactly where I was at. Because of that, I couldn't wait to read Empty Promises.

In this book, Wilson examines several common idols that many of us struggle with including achievement, approval, power, money and beauty, and how they are all simply empty promises---things that we think will bring us pleasure and joy, but in the end, will simply leave us longing for more.

Most of us have a longing for something that we feel like if we had then our lives would be complete, then we'd be truly happy---maybe you long for a higher position at work, maybe you long for a child, maybe you long for a spouse or maybe you long to be more beautiful or have more money. None of those things are bad, but they can become idols when you look to them to complete you, when you look to them to satisfy the empty parts of yourself that only God can truly fill. Wilson uses Scripture and everyday life examples to show the reader how they can start to turn their focus from their desires to focusing on Christ. 

For myself, I see how the devil has used the empty promises I've believed to steal joy from my life. God has truly blessed me, but I've spent more time than I care to admit longing for dreams and wishes and things that I hoped would be different. It's easier said than done sometimes to focus on the truth when you long for something so much that it hurts some days, but the truth is there is only One who will ultimately satisfy our heart's longing and He's already here right beside each of us. We just have to let Him into our lives and hold onto Him---He's waiting.