I write about Stuff

A Book Review

Picture a woman walking around a lake, rage‑walking really — breath sharp, heart heavy, questions swirling. And somewhere between the shoreline and the sky, she realises she is praying without meaning to. That moment — raw, unpolished, holy — is the doorway into Natalia Terfa’s book.

It All Counts is Terfa’s invitation to stop pretending that faith only happens in tidy places. Through stories of grief, digital ministry, parenting, nature, and the messy middle of life, she dismantles the idea that spirituality must fit inside institutional boxes. Her voice is fierce and tender, funny and theological, deeply personal yet spacious enough for every reader to find themselves inside.

What the Book Teaches — Three pivots

1. Faith is not a performance

Terfa names the shame many carry — the sense that our faith is too small, too unconventional, too broken to “count.” She exposes the lie that God only shows up in church‑approved ways. Her stories remind us that God is already in our inboxes, our grief, our laughter, our exhaustion, our questions.

2. Doubt is not a threat but a doorway

She writes with refreshing honesty about deconstruction, spiritual fatigue, and the ache of not knowing. Instead of offering easy answers, she offers companionship. Doubt becomes a place where God whispers, not a place where God withdraws.

3. Love is the measure of everything

Again and again, Terfa returns to this truth: if it is done with love, it counts. Acts of care, moments of presence, small rituals, imperfect prayers — all of it becomes sacred ground. Her theology is expansive, embodied, and rooted in grace.

Where It Stumbles

Readers who prefer tightly structured theology may find the book too memoir‑shaped, too fluid. Others may wish for more engagement with traditional doctrine. But these are gentle tensions — the book is intentionally spacious, intentionally human.

The Line That Stays With You

The heart of the book could be summed up in this paraphrased truth: “Whatever you are doing, if it is done with love, is enough.” It’s the kind of sentence that loosens the shoulders and lets the soul breathe.

Why It Matters Now

In a moment when many are leaving institutional religion but still longing for God, Terfa offers a path that is honest, inclusive, and deeply rooted in everyday life. She gives permission to belong, to question, to feel, to rage, to rest — and to call all of it spiritual.

This book feels like a friend walking beside you, saying, “You still belong. You are not alone. And yes — it all counts.” It is a balm for the weary and a rallying cry for anyone who has ever wondered if their faith was enough.