I stumbled across Sarah Bessey kind of by accident. I posted a quote of hers on Instagram, without knowing who she was, and a friend and fellow bibliophile expressed that she loved her writing. So I asked to borrow this book as its tagline is “Making Peace with an Evolving Faith”. Without going too much into it, the word “evolving” is definitely what I would use to describe my faith at the moment. I’ve been wrestling with a lot of questions, doubts and silence for a few years now. Many people would call this period “the wilderness”. So I was intrigued how Bessey would approach this rather vulnerable time in a person’s faith.

I was not disappointed. I found this book convicting yet forgiving, honest yet kind, moving yet funny. It was like a tall glass of water to this weary soul. To hear that it’s not just me and that actually this period can be birthing a new, stronger, deeper phase in my faith was so relieving to hear.Many times whilst reading this book it felt like I was reading my own words, it just “got” me.

Sarah Bessey is totally and utterly in love with Jesus, but she is so honest and open about her struggles with church and aspects of theology. She tackles Theology and Change in a chapter titled “Everyone Gets to Play”; she tackles reading the Bible and how it can speak to you and set your heart on fire again; she tackles the Church, the bits different denominations do well and not so well; she tackles community, friendship, the Holy Spirit, Heaven, grief and lament… This book is so rich and so deep, yet I read it in about 5 days (granted, I’m a fast ready). 
I’d highly recommend it to anyone else who feels like they’re in “the wilderness” at the moment, and any other Christians who are looking for a new Christian book to read. You may not enjoy the way she writes, as my friend said, she’s very poetic and personal. But I loved it and I’m looking forward to reading more of hers. A beautiful, life-giving, faith-restoring book.