01/31/2022
In this contemplative guide, Voskamp (The Way of Abundance) encourages readers to recognize God’s presence amid overwhelming challenges. “God has always been a WayMaker, making more than merely a way through,” Voskamp argues as she urges readers to trust that God has a path for everyone, even when the way ahead appears bleak. To deal with this uncertainty, Voskamp recommends adhering to her “SACRED way” (stillness, attentiveness, cruciformity, revelation, examine, doxology) and embracing Jesus’s example by finding holiness in the darkest of times. For instance, she defines practicing “stillness” as pausing and trusting God’s plan, “revelation” as consulting scripture, and “cruciformity” as surrendering oneself to God as Christ did on the cross. The dreamlike prose drifts from personal anecdotes to biblical analysis to enigmatic aphorisms, moving from the disappointment of Voskamp’s abruptly shortened honeymoon, to a reflection on psalm 139, to the thought that “you can’t control the waves—but you can control the way of your sail.” In the end, the advice amounts to a sensible if somewhat vague and formulaic road map for navigating trying times, and while the flowery writing meanders, it does produce such insights as “presence heals pain.” Soul searchers may appreciate the aphorisms, but others will want to stake their own path. Agent: Bill Jenson, WKJ Agency. (Mar.)
