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How Jesus can restore and sustain our joy, faith and service.
Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)
Author Dai Hankey is a church planter in Cardiff and founder of Red Community, a Christian charity that fights human trafficking in Wales. Speaking from a personal experience of burnout, he comes alongside weary Christians to explore what it looks like in practice to really lean on Jesus and enjoy his rest.
This positive and encouraging book takes readers on a hopeward journey with Jesus from despondency to joy. They will discover how Jesus can restore and sustain them, and they will be re-energised to carry on serving him in a joyful and manageable way.
This is a great book to give Christians who feel weary, overwhelmed, stressed or discouraged.
Introduction
1. Come to Jesus
2. Receive from Jesus
3. Abide in Jesus
4. Feast on Jesus
5. Grow in Jesus
6. Walk with Jesus
7. Run to Jesus
Closing words
| Contributors | Dai Hankey |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781784989095 |
| Format | eBook |
| First published | September 2023 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Good Book Company |
From its opening pages, Dai Hankey’s Hopeward had my heart gazing at Jesus as my greatest need and greatest hope in the world. This book is gritty, powerful and rich with good news. I didn’t realise just how much I needed to read it. Dai writes as one who knows what it means to hold on to hope through the inevitable dark seasons of life. I thought often of the words of 17th-century pastor Thomas Watson, who wrote, ‘When God lays men upon their backs, then they look up to heaven.’ That is exactly what Dai does through each and every chapter. Here you will find not only the light of biblical theology but also the warmth of pastoral tenderness and personal experience. No matter where you are in your walk with Jesus, this is a book that will, I am confident, put fuel in your tank and rekindle fire in your heart
Full of the fresh air of grace, this book is like gospel rehab for the weary. Short and simple (in the best sense of the word!), and yet full of honest, heartwarming and healing truth, reading this will do your heart good.
If you have come to the point of collapse, or you fear that you will soon fall or you dread that there is nothing left then Dai Hankey is writing for you. As well as for me. Hopeward is an honest, warm and kind book for Christians who are struggling to feel anything like hope. It is honest, warm and kind because that is how Dai writes, but more because he writes about Jesus. The deep and clear focus on how the Lord himself is all we need when we have nothing left will bring hope. This book will not bring you back to Christ, it will show how Christ comes to you, and brings you back to life.
This books presents the Gospel to the weary and burdened in a brief but beautiful way. Great example of why lots of different people should write books - it wasn't academic in feel but deeply personal - I greatly appreciated that. Recommended for those in a difficult season or preparing for one.
When I first seen this advertised I knew it was a book I needed to read... and soon. I've not long finished it and I found it so helpful and insightful. It was easy to read as the chapters were not too long and I could really relate to the author's experience. The prayers helped me to engage with God throughout the book and the questions were helpful to reflect on what had just been read and to process a way forward
This book is raw, powerful, and rich in gospel truth. It is one man’s testimony from the pit of defeat to the feet of the One who says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). It is a book brimming with hope and through seven chapters guide you on how to: come to Jesus, receive from Jesus, abide in Jesus, feast on Jesus, grow in Jesus, walk with Jesus, and run to Jesus.
It is a book that truly blessed me and encouraged me. Highly recommend!
I received a copy of this book from The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.
“If we could fully grasp the true depths of Christ’s love for us, we would not be able to stop ourselves from coming to him and clinging to him with desperate faith for all that he is worth.”
Hopeward is truly “gospel grace for the weary soul.” Dai Hankey is a pastor that found himself burned out and in deep distress during a particularly challenging season of ministry.
As someone who’s found himself in great need of the rest only Jesus can give, he walks the reader through a 7-step journey to help us find rest for our weary souls—
Come to Jesus
Receive from Jesus
Abide in Jesus
Feast on Jesus
Grow in Jesus
Walk with Jesus
Run to Jesus
This book was full of Jesus, the gospel, and grace. It was an encouraging read that served as an amazing reminder of where our hope is found.
I also loved the prayers and discussion questions that closed out each chapter. I see myself reading this again and going through it more slowly in the future. Definitely worth the read!
I received a copy of this book for free from The Good Book Company in exchange for this honest review.
This is such a good read as the tone was inviting and full of grace but there was also invitations/challenges for one to consider. I felt that this overall was an easy read but there is a lot of opportunity to dive deeper into the content. I know that I finished this book feeling so encouraged.
I loved the reflection questions at the end of each chapter that invite you to dive deeper and apply what you just read.
Overall this book would be great to go through on your own or with a small group!
I did also really appreciate the layout of this book and thought that overall it was all aesthetically pleasing but added to the content.
Thank you to the Good Book Company for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Pastor Dai Hankey shares spiritual reflections and personal stories in this book, encouraging Christians who feel weary and are struggling to endure. He writes about his experience with ministry burnout and spiritual exhaustion, and he reflects on the rest and hope that Jesus provides. Each chapter explores a different theme related to spiritual growth, and these chapters are short and easy to process, with example prayers and reflection questions at the end of each one.
However, even though this book offers wonderful encouragement from the gospel, it only deals with spiritual matters. This would be much stronger if Hankey had cast a broader look at burnout, addressing other causes and solutions. We need Jesus, and that is the most important thing, but we also need to drink enough water, get enough sleep, process griefs and traumas, and not drive ourselves into the ground with too many commitments.
Some people have deeply healthy spiritual lives while also feeling worn down by their circumstances, and this book's emphasis can unintentionally lead someone to think that if they're still struggling, then they don’t have enough faith. Hankey never suggests that trusting in Jesus will make your problems go away, and he encourages people to seek counseling if necessary, but the sole focus on faith issues here will prevent the book from being as helpful to as many people as it could be.
"Hopeward" is a helpful guide to cultivating your spiritual life in the midst of stress and discouragement. The writing style is very conversational, and this book will appeal to people who are looking for a quick read with deep spiritual encouragement. Even though I wish that the author had addressed more facets of burnout, this will be helpful for many Christians, and it is a solid choice for both personal reading and church discussion groups.
Note: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange to an honest review.
“If we could fully grasp the true depths of Christ’s love for us, we would not be able to stop ourselves from coming to him and clinging to him with desperate faith for all that he is worth.”
Hopeward is truly “gospel grace for the weary soul.” Dai Hankey is a pastor that found himself burned out and in deep distress during a particularly challenging season of ministry.
As someone who’s found himself in great need of the rest only Jesus can give, he walks the reader through a 7-step journey to help us find rest for our weary souls—
Come to Jesus
Receive from Jesus
Abide in Jesus
Feast on Jesus
Grow in Jesus
Walk with Jesus
Run to Jesus
This book was full of Jesus, the gospel, and grace. It was an encouraging read that served as an amazing reminder of where our hope is found.
I also loved the prayers and discussion questions that closed out each chapter. I see myself reading this again and going through it more slowly in the future. Definitely worth the read!
I received a copy of this book for free from The Good Book Company in exchange for this honest review.
{full review posted here: https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/hopeward-gospel-grace-for-weary-souls-book-review}
In the weariness of our day to day, the failures, the complications, the endless needs, we collapse, uncertain of whether we have what it takes to press on.
In Hopeward: Gospel Grace for Weary Souls by Dai Hankey we find encouragement in oasis, to put our feet on the ground, follow the path, and hold onto hope again.
When we find ourselves worn down and weary, whether we’re troubled by our circumstances or the struggle toward maturity in the Christian life, the author writes from a place of knowing to guide us hopeward in the renewal and restoration we can only find in Christ.
A few lines of poetry begin each chapter to set the stage for each topic. (These culminate at the end to create a beautiful poem titled, Hopeward, as a free download). He invites us to the feet of Jesus with our burdens to find rest and discover grace. You’ll find 3 questions to end each chapter to help you reflect on the truths presented.
If you’re weary, let this resource take you hopeward.
The voice of a fellow sojourner, who’s been downtrodden before, understands what we’re feeling and shares with us how to find hope again.
*A big thanks to The Good Book Company for the complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to post an honest review.
BOOK REVIEW 📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“If we could fully grasp the true depths of Christ’s love for us, we would not be able to stop ourselves from coming to him and clinging to him with desperate faith for all that he is worth.”
Hopeward is truly “gospel grace for the weary soul.” Dai Hankey is a pastor that found himself burned out and in deep distress during a particularly challenging season of ministry.
As someone who’s found himself in great need of the rest only Jesus can give, he walks the reader through a 7-step journey to help us find rest for our weary souls—
Come to Jesus
Receive from Jesus
Abide in Jesus
Feast on Jesus
Grow in Jesus
Walk with Jesus
Run to Jesus
This book was full of Jesus, the gospel, and grace. It was an encouraging read that served as an amazing reminder of where our hope is found.
I also loved the prayers and discussion questions that closed out each chapter. I see myself reading this again and going through it more slowly in the future. Definitely worth the read!
I received a copy of this book for free from The Good Book Company in exchange for this honest review.
I wrestled with whether I should give this one 3 or 4, but it ended up being 3 solely due to personal preference. I personally prefer books that are a bit more formal, less example based, less conversational. However, I know plenty of people who would love this book, so if your style is books that feel like a chat with a friend over a cup of tea, this one is for you. It did made me laugh out loud a couple of times!
The content itself was encouraging. Plenty of scripture laced throughout. I personally felt it could have dug a bit deeper with the pieces of scripture it used, but again, personal preference. It felt light touch.
Overall it was an easy read. It took me a few days and I do know people who would gratefully receive this as a gift. It just wasn’t the right book for me.
