Mr West wrote from his heart. There was a bit of repetition, but I think it was on purpose to get his point across to the reader.

This book Matthew West talks about his experiences through the pandemic and how it shook and then shaped his faith. He goes into very personal stories about how he felt like God was 6 feet away and how he had to get back to the foundations of his faith abs remember that He is the God who stays so if He feels far away, it’s you whose moved, not Him. I enjoyed his recollections of his very first “come to Jesus” moment on the blue couch in his childhood home and the countless times since that he has had to have a come to Jesus moment with the God who stays because life gets messy. There are so many humorous anecdotes given but always backed with scripture to support how he was able to see his way through and I liked seeing the meaning behind some of his songs.
This would make a great gift and a good book to have on hand when you need a little pick me up some days to remind you that God is always with you

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review

1 star
As soon as I saw Lysa Terkyst write the forward, I realized I couldn't read this book. If he follows her, I have no desire to read anything by him.

I enjoyed learning more about West in this read, and the stories that inspired some of his recent songs. He's very personable, and has a great sense of humor; both of these shine throughout the book.

That being said, I have mixed feelings about books stemming as much out of covid/the pandemic as this one did--sometimes the content simply felt #toosoon. The pandemic isn't really "over." We're still in it; it's (probably) (hopefully) making its way toward being endemic; regardless, its impact is all over the place. So seeing a ton of pandemic references throughout the read, and all the words that go with it ("unprecedented," for one), made me a bit twitch-happy--I'll admit.

There were also a few points of concern for me in the read. Lysa TerKuerst wrote the foreword, and Christine Caine gets a decent-sized mention in the book. I've read a couple TerKuerst books and definitely found elements helpful, though she and I may differ theologically in some areas; I only know Caine's name in connection with some concerning "theology" and recent claims of plagiarism within her books and speaking engagements.

Topically, the Enneagram also gets a bit of press, and West also mentions how God uses hard times to make us "the best versions of ourselves." (Interesting timing to read that part today, as one of my church's pastors preached just this morning on Romans 8:28-30 and how God "works all things for good according to his purposes"--which is ultimately to sanctify us in/to the image of Jesus). Maybe it's semantics, but maybe not. Whatever West's intentions, which I absolutely want to believe the best and be optimistic of, I feel that element could have been clearer.

I am in no way saying we all need to agree on all the things here--but I also want folks to go in with eyes open.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for an advanced readers edition of this book! I’ve always been a fan of Matthew West’s music, so I was immediately intrigued when I saw this book on NetGalley. It’s lighthearted, yet reflective during deeper conversations. It almost felt like reading journal entries at times due to the conversational/reflective tone. A tad but repetitive towards the end for me, but it didn’t necessarily take away from the flow of the book.

The God Who Stays is a solid three star read. In it, Matthew West shares how he came to faith and how God continues to show His presence even during challenging times, like the pandemic. It is an easy read with a conversational tone, and it is clear that the author is passionate about hearing and sharing stories (his and others’). I think if you’re a fan of Matthew West’s music, you will really love this. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced review copy.

Matthew West is a Christian singer/songwriter. His newest book is based on the lyrics of his song, "The God Who Stays." This was written in response to the world shifting when Covid hit, and everything we knew changed. But He is the God who stays. It is an excellent reminder that God is the one constant in life.

I really enjoyed this. If you are a Christian, this will help you remember Who you serve. If you are not a Christian, this book will tell you who God is.

Family friendly and highly recommended.

I always enjoy reading books that include personal life experiences from people whose voices I've heard and know. I completely read this book in the author's voice! This was a beautiful look at getting back to the basics of our faith. Using the backdrop of 2020 when the world shut down and his tour stopped for months, Matthew West explores how he found himself "socially distanced" from God and how he came to remember the holy moments of days past to find himself seeking out God's character, as the God who stays. Harkening back to his first "come to Jesus" moment and thinking through countless times that God has proven Himself faithful, West reminds us of the importance of drawing near to God and sharing life with others, pulling from his own experiences. I enjoyed and chuckled at the humorous anecdotes; and several of the points that were driven home brought me to tears. I enjoyed the use of personal stories to drive home those points as well and it was good to see behind the veil of his public persona. This book really made me think about my own faith journey and how I've viewed God, particularly in recent years. This is one I'd recommend for those who need a little reminder of who God is or those who want to know who God is. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

The God who Stays
by Matthew West
Pub Date: Sept.6, 2022
Thomas Nelson
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Matthew has an incredible ability to impact lives and inspire others through his music and ministry. I have seen him in concert and have felt the hand of God on my life when I thought He was done with me. Keep trusting Him.
The God that STays reminds us that he is forever with us in our lives, no matter what. I believe this book will be an encouragement to people who read it. I am preordering it for our library.
4 stars