Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Staff Book Review


It Is What You Make of It

Justin McRoberts
It Is What You Make of It: Creating Something Great from What You've Been Given

Artist Info: Justin McRoberts's Profile / Discography
Genre: Christian Self-Help
Page Count: 208 Pages
Street Date: June 1, 2021
Website: JustinMcRoberts.com

When it comes to people who do it all creatively, Justin McRoberts is among that crowd. Getting a start in the Christian music industry, he has since expanded his output to writing books, being a pastor, hosting a podcast, and coaching artists. Given those pastoral and coaching elements, it makes sense why his latest book is called It Is What You Make of It: Creating Something Great from What You've Been Given. This self-help type work is filled to the brim with positivity, quirky stories, and plenty of pointers on how to look at life from a different angle.

The structure of the book is fairly straightforward; there are 14 chapters, each with their own highlighted story and main point. The stories can range from the humorous (like encountering a teacher who keeps an inflatable cactus in his cabinet) to somber (such as moments of falling out with friends). Telling lots of stories in order to prove a point is a common technique today, but it often muddles the point when your brain has to keep straight just what the stories are metaphors for. McRoberts' style, though, works better since each chapter has only one story to focus on. This gives the book less of a "self-help" feel and adds in a sort of short story element. He also spends so much time with whatever anecdote he's relating that the point sticks with the story. For instance, I will probably always remember the connection behind the inflatable cactus narrative.

The lessons themselves are very encouraging and McRoberts' positivity is infectious. The overall point conveyed is that we shouldn't just settle for the mindset "it is what it is." When friendships break or dreams don't pan out the way we thought, instead of growing depressed about it, we should try to figure out what God is allowing us to do with it. Personally, having recently bought a house with lots of problems, McRoberts' book has helped me keep an upbeat perspective whenever a new leak is discovered or something breaks. The points themselves, while helpful, feel more "power of positive thinking" than rooted in the Bible. He does use Bible verses and is clearly coming from a Christian worldview, but most of the time the stories are what drive the points more than a thorough Bible study. This isn't necessarily a bad thing--nor does it negate what he's saying--but the lessons do feel more fluffy than weighty at times.

Still, It Is What You Make of It is a quick and easy read that, given some time and thought, can influence how you see the world. McRoberts is witty, fun, and positive, and his pastor's heart is clearly seen. If you feel you are more of a pessimist, or struggle with where your pursuits are going, this book could be a helpful resource. It may not be the deepest work on the subject, but its simplicity is potent enough to where its effect could linger longer than any memory of the book.

- Review date: 6/15/21, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

. Publisher: Thomas Nelson
. Page Count: 208 Pages
. Street Date: June 1, 2021
. Buy It: Amazon.com

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Book review page

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images