Summary

In Jesus Calling, Sarah Young shares personal messages she believes she has received from Jesus during her quiet times of communion with God. These devotional readings, written from Jesus's point of view, offer comfort, guidance, and peace for everyday life. Young emphasizes the importance of living in God's presence, trusting in His plan, and finding strength in weakness. The book includes a short devotional for each day of the year, followed by relevant Scripture verses. The book begins with Young's introduction, sharing her personal experiences that led to the writing. Brought up in an academic family, her initial search for truth found intellectual answers at L'Abri, where the splendor of the Alps opened her heart to God. In that idyllic setting, and again in Atlanta while grieving a lost relationship, she felt an overwhelming Presence she calls "Sweet Jesus." She pursued a "Christian" life that some might consider exemplary, completing degrees at Covenant Seminary and working alongside her husband, Steve, in church-planting ministry in Japan and Australia. However, it was in the midst of facing melanoma and uncertainty surrounding visa applications that her pursuit of God's presence deepened, inspired by Andrew Murray's The Secret of the Abiding Presence. In Australia, experiences of spiritual warfare in counseling prepared her for deeper darkness and bathed her in God's light. She began to listen to God with pen and hand, recording messages, inspired by the devotional God Calling. These writings have helped her grow closer to God. Themes of peace, thankfulness, and trust are central to Young's messages, reflecting both her personal needs and what she finds common to those she meets. The readings aim to offer comfort, guidance, and strength from God's perspective, woven with Scripture references for deeper understanding. Each daily reading invites readers into an intimate relationship with Christ, emphasizing his constant presence, love, and guidance in their lives. Jesus Calling is designed for daily practice, offering gentle reminders to live in God's love and to trust in His ways. It challenges readers to live within the boundaries of today, relinquishing their own plans and desires to make room for the adventure of walking closely with Christ.