Out of the Dark

My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God's Joy

By: Mandisa Lynn Hundley, Suzanne Gosselin, Natalie Grant

Narrated by: Zakiya Young

Grammy award-winning music artist Mandisa tells an inspiring story of peaks and valleys, trials and joys, wins and losses. Through her gripping narrative, she shows that our choice to trust God can not only overcome our need to understand why bad things happen, but can help us to embrace a life of joy and freedom.

Out of the Dark is Mandisa’s exploration of the journey she’s taken from when she first became a Christian to her rise as an American Idol finalist and receiving multiple Grammy and Dove Award nominations, as well as the dark and challenging times she experienced along the way. She writes personally and openly about the hardships she has faced and the way she felt betrayed by God, but also about how God has brought her out of the valley into His glorious light. Along the way, she also shares her struggles in learning how to love her body and care for her health.

Just as Mandisa’s Grammy-award winning song “Overcomer” was topping the Contemporary Christian Music charts, her friend for whom “Overcomer” had been written passed away. After losing this close friend to cancer, despite months of prayers on her behalf, Mandisa descended into depression, isolating herself and turning to her familiar friend, food, for comfort.

Throughout Out of the Dark, Mandisa uses her experiences to address the following themes:

• The pain of grief and loss
• Surviving abuse
• Embracing true beauty and a healthy body image
• Coping with severe depression
• Healthy―and disordered―eating
• The role of faith in hope and healing
• Letting go of shame
• Following your unique calling and passion
• How friends and family are crucial for healing
• The challenges of 2020, including protecting mental and emotional health while navigating a public health crisis, quarantining, and coping with racial injustice
• Trusting God daily for hope and healing

In the darkness, Mandisa knew God was there―but she wondered if she could trust Him. Even at her lowest point where she saw no human way forward, God was at work, powerfully redeeming her story and calling her out of the dark.

Mandisa tells her story with warmth and vulnerability, challenging us all to focus on God’s purpose for our lives, surround ourselves with friends who will fight for us, and face life’s challenges with courage and faith. If you’ve ever found yourself in a dark place as the result of grief, depression, or loss, Mandisa’s story will reassure you that even when you’re walking through dark valleys, God can and will lead you on a path to joy and hope.

©2022 Mandisa Lynn Hundley, Suzanne Gosselin, Natalie Grant (P)2022 One Audiobooks

Such a beautiful story and Soul!!

Such a beautiful Story and Soul! I just came across her book after hearing about her untimely passing. May she Rip.

LOVED HER STORY!!

This helped me so much. With things I have been struggling with. I have even started to listen to the podcast.

Encouraging, Uplifting, Inspiring

Encouraging, uplifting, inspiring. That's what this book was for me. I like how open, vulnerable, and transparent Mandisa is in this book. She sheds like on how many people feel when it comes to grief, loss and being self-conscious about their weight. I also like how she touches on depression, anxiety, isolation and how that can really lead you on a dark path away from the Lord. She did a good job of showing people how you can reach for God in those times of darkness and serve Him with all your heart.

Loved this

I chose this rating because I too am over coming depression. What I loved is that you included scriptures into this book. Thank you for sharing this wonderful book Mandisa.

Powerful!

Though I found this book a while, after it was published, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would highly recommend it, and feel that it is honest, real, eye-opening, and encouraging.
Thank you Mandisa! Rest In Peace. 🙏🏼

God is good and He is for us always

Some of the narration seemed off -I’m one who prefers the narrator to be the author of these books

So very real and given at just the right time.

Loved Mandisa’s transparency and willingness to admit her struggles and how God redeemed her and the verses she held tight to in her journey.

Beautiful, honest. Gives God all the Glory!

Uplifting and encouraging. Your story reminds me of why I read the Bible and pursue a real relationship with Jesus. I love the idea of turning scripture into prayer.

Real

Mandisa was such a beautiful person and talent. Her struggles were also very real. God has her in his arms now.

what if we were real?

"you can't go back to the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending." c.s. lewis this book is real and honest.