--- product_id: 306476779 title: "When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self-Improvement with the Gospe..." price: "¥5214" currency: JPY in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.jp/products/306476779-when-strivings-cease-replacing-the-gospel-of-self-improvement-gospe store_origin: JP region: Japan --- # When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self-Improvement with the Gospe... **Price:** ¥5214 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self-Improvement with the Gospe... - **How much does it cost?** ¥5214 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.jp](https://www.desertcart.jp/products/306476779-when-strivings-cease-replacing-the-gospel-of-self-improvement-gospe) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Find true freedom and peace for your soul when you discover that God's grace secures what striving never could. In this hustling, image-forward age of opportunity, we feel more anxious than ever. Despite all the affirming memes and self-reflections that dominate social media feeds, approval and worth often seem assigned to what we do rather than who we are. And we end up constantly feeling like we're behind, lacking, and failing—at home, at work, with friends, with God. Ruth Chou Simons knows something about feeling measured by achievement, performance, and the approval of others. As a Taiwanese immigrant growing up between two cultures, Ruth was always on a mission to prove her worth, until she came to truly understand the one thing that changes everything: the extravagant, undeserved gift of grace from a merciful God. In When Strivings Cease , Ruth guides you on a journey to find freedom from the never-ending quest for self-improvement. She shows you how to: Confront the ways you look to superficial means of acceptance and belonging Find relief in realizing self-help isn't the answer because you can't be so amazing that you won't need grace Stop seeing God as someone to perform for and start finding delight in responding to his welcome Let go of trying to rely on your own strength, your own abilities, and your own savvy by truly understanding the freedom Jesus purchased for you With personal stories, biblical insights, practical applications, and touches of original artwork by Ruth, When Strivings Cease will help you see the beautiful truth that God's grace is the only thing you need—because in Christ you are enough. Review: Definitely read this one! - That’ll preach! “When Strivings Cease” is not just about quitting the nonsense of striving, though it is about that too. This book, at its heart, is sharing the gospel in such a relevant way for us in 2021. It’s about rooting up false gospel lies in our lives and holding them to the light of the true Good News to see them for what they really are. Ruth has multiple, wonderful gifts and abilities to write and paint and share her God-given creativity so well. Her personal stories constantly point the reader to scripture, abundantly quoting and referencing the Bible, allowing His narrative to speak over and wash her own, while reminding us that that we can do this too. The deep dive into the cultural references surrounding the Prodigal Son were particularly beautiful and touching to me. I am a huge fan of Ruth Simmons’ books, not just because they are pretty, encouraging, or relatable, they are certainly all of those, but because she constantly points to Jesus, His Truth, His Way, and His abilities over ours. She does that again so well here and I am so thankful for her example and shared wisdom as a fellow Christ follower. Definitely read this one. Review: Listen up!!! - Ruth is like a doctor you’ve prayed your whole life for. It’s like having this disease that you’ve been battling for years, seeing countless doctors and experts but no one’s been able to help. And finally when hope seems to be lost, you find her. It’s as if she’s able to finish your sentences, listing off your symptoms without you even having to tell her what you’re experiencing, finally giving a name to your sickness, and pointing you to the direction of the cure. Before reading this I had no idea that the biggest sin in my life, probably for most of my life, was striving. I didn’t understand what it truly meant, and how by falling down this hole it has brought me not only spiritual and mental anguish, but has affected me on the physical level! Striving almost sounds like the spun positive you would say when asked what your weaknesses are during a job interview. But in reality it’s destructive like any other sin. I’ll be honest, I started this book a year ago, and almost finished it until my pregnancy knocked me out for about a year. But I am happy to go through it again, and probably will need to go through it every year, or more, for the rest of my life. I swear every three sentences Ruth says something so profound and life-changing, I hardly have the time to let it sit and simmer. In my physical copy of the book, I have more highlighted words than not. I can’t even begin to pick my favorite quote. But what much of the message boils down to this: “If there is a gospel of self improvement, it is a damning one. It is not good news at all.” I have bought into the try harder gospel, and through my striving have made “doing better” my god. It’s what makes you skeptical of things you didn’t earn, such as the rest God gives us through His grace. And that’s no doubt why my body started to shut down while I was in grad school, making me so physically ill I was essentially forced to stop. I legitimately don’t know how to relax and stop worrying about doing better. Ruth deserves every star for writing this, and truly I don’t know if I’ve ever read a more life changing book. If I’m truly being honest I still don’t get the contents. I have such a hard time grasping the concepts and really applying them to my life. I really have to lean back, close my eyes, and think hard about how Gods grace is the answer to all this striving. Only then can it start to make sense, but then I still have to go about applying it!!! It’s something I know I’ll have to wrestle with for a long time, but I’m so grateful to have come across this book. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #17,627 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #29 in Christian Salvation Theory (Books) #32 in Adult Christian Ministry (Books) #76 in Motherhood (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,378 Reviews | ## Images ![When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self-Improvement with the Gospe... - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81aKhDTtk8L.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Definitely read this one! *by J***E on October 19, 2021* That’ll preach! “When Strivings Cease” is not just about quitting the nonsense of striving, though it is about that too. This book, at its heart, is sharing the gospel in such a relevant way for us in 2021. It’s about rooting up false gospel lies in our lives and holding them to the light of the true Good News to see them for what they really are. Ruth has multiple, wonderful gifts and abilities to write and paint and share her God-given creativity so well. Her personal stories constantly point the reader to scripture, abundantly quoting and referencing the Bible, allowing His narrative to speak over and wash her own, while reminding us that that we can do this too. The deep dive into the cultural references surrounding the Prodigal Son were particularly beautiful and touching to me. I am a huge fan of Ruth Simmons’ books, not just because they are pretty, encouraging, or relatable, they are certainly all of those, but because she constantly points to Jesus, His Truth, His Way, and His abilities over ours. She does that again so well here and I am so thankful for her example and shared wisdom as a fellow Christ follower. Definitely read this one. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Listen up!!! *by W***Y on May 7, 2024* Ruth is like a doctor you’ve prayed your whole life for. It’s like having this disease that you’ve been battling for years, seeing countless doctors and experts but no one’s been able to help. And finally when hope seems to be lost, you find her. It’s as if she’s able to finish your sentences, listing off your symptoms without you even having to tell her what you’re experiencing, finally giving a name to your sickness, and pointing you to the direction of the cure. Before reading this I had no idea that the biggest sin in my life, probably for most of my life, was striving. I didn’t understand what it truly meant, and how by falling down this hole it has brought me not only spiritual and mental anguish, but has affected me on the physical level! Striving almost sounds like the spun positive you would say when asked what your weaknesses are during a job interview. But in reality it’s destructive like any other sin. I’ll be honest, I started this book a year ago, and almost finished it until my pregnancy knocked me out for about a year. But I am happy to go through it again, and probably will need to go through it every year, or more, for the rest of my life. I swear every three sentences Ruth says something so profound and life-changing, I hardly have the time to let it sit and simmer. In my physical copy of the book, I have more highlighted words than not. I can’t even begin to pick my favorite quote. But what much of the message boils down to this: “If there is a gospel of self improvement, it is a damning one. It is not good news at all.” I have bought into the try harder gospel, and through my striving have made “doing better” my god. It’s what makes you skeptical of things you didn’t earn, such as the rest God gives us through His grace. And that’s no doubt why my body started to shut down while I was in grad school, making me so physically ill I was essentially forced to stop. I legitimately don’t know how to relax and stop worrying about doing better. Ruth deserves every star for writing this, and truly I don’t know if I’ve ever read a more life changing book. If I’m truly being honest I still don’t get the contents. I have such a hard time grasping the concepts and really applying them to my life. I really have to lean back, close my eyes, and think hard about how Gods grace is the answer to all this striving. Only then can it start to make sense, but then I still have to go about applying it!!! It’s something I know I’ll have to wrestle with for a long time, but I’m so grateful to have come across this book. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This isn’t a one time read, you will pick it up over and over in every season of life! *by M***A on October 14, 2021* Ruth Chou Simons touches on a topic that we all know a little too well. Standards. Self-made standards, not thinking we are enough for anyone, not enough for ourselves or even God. We try and measure up to everyone else. We set the bar so high that we start to think that we will never reach our goal. Envy, discontent and selfishness sets in. She reflects back on her own life and shares how her daily walk with Christ has blossomed through God’s word and how it has turned those exact thoughts into contentment when surrender took place. Her stories and God’s truths are woven together into a beautifully written book that will help you remember how great our God is. “God desires to prove his faithfulness through our surrender in our weaknesses, but so often we choose to resist his help, clinging to our own determination to prove ourselves strong. We’d rather limp along in our striving than surrender in weakness.” Because of God’s sacrifice, because of God’s love, because of God’s forgiveness and because of God’s grace, GOD IS ENOUGH. This book is for everyone. God’s word is true and living, so whether you’re longing to find peace in your every day life and need to stop measuring yourself up to standards of the world, or you’re in a season in fellowship with sisters in Christ, When Strivings Cease is the book! It isn’t a one time read, you will pick this book up over and over in every season of life! ## Frequently Bought Together - When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self-Improvement with the Gospel of Life-Transforming Grace - Now and Not Yet: Pressing in When You’re Waiting, Wanting, and Restless for More - Emmanuel: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.jp/products/306476779-when-strivings-cease-replacing-the-gospel-of-self-improvement-gospe](https://www.desertcart.jp/products/306476779-when-strivings-cease-replacing-the-gospel-of-self-improvement-gospe) --- *Product available on Desertcart Japan* *Store origin: JP* *Last updated: 2026-10-30*