Sarah Bessey shared her own experiences of wandering through the spiritual wilderness and offers wisdom and lessons learned along the way.

I found it encouraging to see my experiences are not unique and that there are benefits to the wilderness and rethinking one’s faith. Highly recommend to everyone struggling with the things they’ve been taught or told to believe as a Christian.

this is the kinda book that’s healing to my soul. Sarah has a voice that is uniquely her, but so easily relatable.

Sarah Bessey says this book is about “practices for an evolving faith” - and it is - but for me, even more importantly, it is also a series of love letters to all of us who have been hurt and broken by the church that we keep trying to love. I read only a chapter or 2 at a time, savouring this book and I cried often as I read it, because it felt like Sarah was speaking to my soul. So, yes, read this if you are ready to move forward, bravely, into the wilderness. But also read it if you still just need to sit by a tree with your blanket in the wilderness hoping someday maybe you will be able to get up again. I’m still the second one and I’ll be buying this book when it comes out to reread for that me but also with hope that someday I’ll be the me who is ready to move forward, bravely.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!

My oh my, reading Sarah Bessey's writing is always like having coffee with a friend and getting a great, comforting Canadian bear hug. I imagine that she is the kind of lady that is just so kind, warm, inclusive, and validating, because that is exactly how she writes. This short book is hopeful, and will encourage you on your faith journey regardless of where you are heading or the path you are on. I don't always see eye-to-eye with Bessey on some things, but that's perfectly okay. I still recommend this book if you feel like you are wandering in the wilderness, and you'll find me continuing to read her writing in the future all the same.

This book will help you mature in your faith. Like Sarah Bessey, the circumstances of my life have led me to reevaluate many things related to Christianity.

What Bessey excels at is getting you to ask questions you had formerly dismissed: maybe it's not a bad thing to doubt, or to pray, or to desire justice. Maybe a Christian can also be a feminist. Maybe the goodness we've sensed in Jesus is even calling us to some of these reconsiderations.

I highly recommend this, especially to someone who (unlike myself, actually) feels locked into Western conservative evangelicalism but senses more to Christianity than that.

Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith is a collection of tenderly written letters offering encouragement and companionship for those in “the wilderness” of an “evolving faith”. Sarah valiantly embraces curiosity and gives permission to address doubts with openness and honesty. While I recognize not all will not come to the same theological conclusions as Sarah, I think her book’s overarching themes of hope, compassion, and belonging can be appreciated by many. Thank you NetGalley and Convergent Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Dear Wanderer; Dear Scrappy One;
Dear Companion. It’s words like these that address the reader to begin each chapter. Although much of what Bessey writes is typical, non-fiction prose, I couldn’t help but feel that she was writing a personal letter to me, a fellow wanderer.

If you’ve read any of Sarah Bessey’s other books, know that you’ll be getting a similar kind of experience with this most recent work. When her first book Jesus Feminist came out, my wife bought it and encouraged me to read it as well. Admittedly, her conversational style of writing didn’t really appeal to me. After a few chapters, it ended up back on the shelf. Although written in the same style, her next book, Out of Sorts, really did it for me. That probably had more to do with where I was in my own journey of faith at the time, than anything else. With her latest, Fieldnotes for the Wilderness, it felt like I was having a similar experience - not necessarily loving her writing style, but nodding my head to so much of what she had to say. It really resonated with me, and I think it will do the same for others who have an openness to hear what is being said.

I really appreciated Sarah’s wisdom and humility that came through quite glaringly. She shares so many beautiful stories and speaks with a strong level of conviction, yet prefaces and ends her book with these kinds of words: “I’m not under the illusion that what worked or works for me will always work for you, but it’s been an honour to spend these pages with you, offering up the practices and learnings that have served me well out here in the wilderness.”

Sarah is wise, compassionate, and a voice that needs to be heard, especially by those who find themselves wandering away from familiar structures and systems; those who are looking for new practices and ways of being in the world.

I give it a 4 out of 5. I enjoyed the read, no doubt, but it wasn’t a book that I couldn’t put down.

I was only a few pages into Sarah Bessey's "Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith" when I shed my first tear.

It wouldn't be my last.

In fact, I cried often throughout "Field Notes for the Wilderness," the latest book from the popular Christian author and blogger who is also co-founder of the Evolving Faith conference and podcast.

I first became familiar with Bessey via social media, her warm yet direct spirit appealing to me and my few encounters with her affirming my sense that she's what my Kentucky relatives would call "good people."

I must confess, however, that my tears while reading "Field Notes for the Wilderness" weren't always entirely because of a response to the direct subject. Instead, this "wilderness" that Bessey writes of feels very connected to the last few years of my life as I've lost a limb, experienced bladder cancer (and lost the bladder), experienced prostate cancer (and lost the prostate), acquired a new urostomy, lost my brother, lost my brother, and lost my best friend all within the past four years.

I have, quite honestly, felt very disconnected and very much like I'm wandering.

Into this wandering, I began encountering different writers - some Christian, some not. These included Bessey, Nadia Bolz-Weber, the late Rachel Held Evans, Beth Allison Barr, and even Miroslav Volf (whom I affectionately call my favorite theologian).

"Field Notes for the Wilderness" essentially plops us down in the midst of our deconstruction of faith, really an evolving of faith (evolving being a term I find more inclusive and accurate in my case), and nurtures our faith, our curiosity, and our desire to live into our beliefs that haven't always had space in organized religion.

Bessey writes about practicing wonder and curiosity as spiritual disciplines, mothering ourselves with compassion and empathy, making space for lament (I cried a lot here) and righteous rage (I probably should have been angry here, but I cried some more), finding good (and in my case healthy) spiritual teachers, and moving toward what we are "for" in this life.

Bessey isn't a prescriptive author. She certainly writes what has worked for her, however, her writing presents itself as more companion and mentor than anything else. She's the kind of author you want to run into at a conference (sadly, I never have) and she strikes me as a safe space for one to confess that ever-evolving faith (and we sure need those safe spaces).

By the end of "Field Notes for the Wilderness," I felt heard. I felt seen. I felt nurtured. I felt fed. There is one line, the very last line (at least in my ARC Galley of her book) of chapter 16 that still leaves me in tears every single time I think about it.

Available with a companion guided journal (and I strongly recommend reading the book first), "Field Notes for the Wilderness" feels like that unexpected creek you find when you're wandering in the wilderness.

"Field Notes for the Wilderness" is Bessey at her very best, a coach and mentor and friend for an evolving faith offering presence, nurture, coaching, mentoring, a few gentle nudges, and a whole lot of love.

I read and enjoyed Bessey's spiritual formation book Spiritual Practices for Soul Care: 40 Ways to Deepen Your Faith. To explore my journey of faith with this new book is a privilege. NOTE: it will be published in February 2024 ... so put it on your advance reading list and set up a "notification of publication" with your bookseller.
It's worth it. Why?

If you feel like your journey of faith has landed you in the wilderness - scrub-land and deprivation on every hand, or maybe even in the desert - where it seems there is no life, nourishment, or water for you, this set of 2 books will provide sustenance and refreshing along the way.

You'll see the path behind and around you as it is: God's provision for developing in you depth, character, and trust. I highly recommend the book but then also hope you pick up the journal and work through it. If you yourself are not in this season, you will gain empathy, words, and a spiritual companion (the author) to give solace others who walk through their grief, pain, and doubts.

The journal offers prompts, prayers, and questions to guide you through an honest appraisal of where you are and where the Holy Spirit is leading you.

I may not agree with all of Bessey's theology, but that's ok. Her understanding of God-among-us in the unlovely times, in the times we feel unwanted and unwelcome, is unmatched. Get the book. Remember, it's coming soon.

Sarah Bessey is a well-known Christian author, speaker, and co-founder of Evolving Faith. I've enjoyed all of her previous books, so when I saw that she has a new book coming out, I quickly requested it! "Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith" is a guidebook for those who are questioning their long-held beliefs. I found this book incredibly helpful for the season of life I'm in, and I highlighted a good amount of the book. Bessey does a fantastic job of talking about heavy topics, but making it feel okay and even necessary to question your beliefs. I especially appreciated her assertion that God is not angry when we're questioning, but rather, "God meets us in those places of space [questioning] even more than when we are pretending to have it all figured out or cam our souls full of our own opinions and certainties."

I found this book incredibly helpful and will read it again, I'm sure. I highly recommend it for anyone who is questioning their beliefs. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Another great book by Sarah Bessey for those finding themselves in the spiritual wilderness. Written in the style of letter to a friend, this is a user friendly format and broken into topical chapters. There are parts you will disagree with, parts you will agree with and sections that make you think. And that's what this book is designed to do, to make you think about your faith and what questions you still want to ask. Highly recommend this and will definitely be re-reading when I get my pre-ordered copy in the mail.

I received an advanced reader copy via NetGalley.

I received a pre-read advanced copy of this book and I didn't even realize this was the book I needed. I love Sarah Bessey and follow her and evolving faith but this book broke me open. I have been struggling internally with my faith but it isn't really my faith I am struggling with, it is the expectations and contradictory behaviors of the church in recent years. Perhaps I was lucky before to not see it as much as the past couple of election cycles and covid 19 but it has been so overwhelming. She speaks the words that I have been feeling with so much grace and love and I have worked through and processed so many of those emotions because of this book. I feel that I am turning a corner back to my faith and prayer and love for Jesus. Thank you Sarah for naming and helping me feel that I was not alone. I know others feeling similar ways and cannot wait for this book to come out to the world.

I am a fan of Sarah Bessey's previous work and blog, so I was looking forward to reading "Field Notes for the Wilderness." The book is full of gentle wisdom and practical ideas for one's spiritual journey. I recommend this for anyone who is struggling to redefine their faith and/or to find their place within (or without) the church. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC. This is simply an astounding book written with beauty, clarity and hope. Sarah is among the best writers of faith memoirs of the generation and this book is no exception. Her words are more beautiful and more hopeful than I knew I needed and I will be buying the hard copy so that I can read and re-read.

There was a lot to like about this book. Sarah writes with a warmth and compassion that really comes through on the page. Her message of God's love for wherever you are, and it being ok to doubt and question comes through clear.
That being said I struggled with some of this book. I have had plenty of time in the last few years where I have questioned and reconsidered aspects of my faith, and may even now still visit the wilderness from time to time, but I have not arrived in the same place as Bessey. In a few places, although she says it's ok to end up wherever we find ourselves, it felt like she was really trying to say is that where she has ended up, especially around the issues of the LGBTQIA+, is the right place. I also don't like how she refers to God, including Jesus, by feminine pronouns and descriptors. I am as egalitarian as they come, and yet, the bible clearly describes God as a father, not mother, and Jesus was an actual historical figure who was male, and I don't know what she gets from changing how she portrays Him other than to be able to emphasize the more loving and caring aspects of His character, but you don't need to change a gender to do that.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I'm not exaggerating when I say I will be buying this book for every friend who has struggled with the church. Bessey is able to articulate the pain and struggle as well as the hope for better, and in my opinion no one else compares.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read, and enjoyed, all of Sarah Bessey's books. But this was definitely her best one yet.

Sarah Bessey's writing always hits home. In this book, she's writing for all of us in the wilderness, searching for meaning and connection with God, and it's personal because she's been there too. The central point to her writing is that God loves us, no matter where we find ourselves, and she offers hope for each of us as we move through different places of understanding. As always, her writing is warm and compassionate, and her personal anecdotes and use of Bible verses serve to drive home important points. While she has obviously spent a lot of time thinking about and weighing her beliefs, she doesn't claim to have all of the answers, which allows the reader to formulate their own thoughts on the matter.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Field Notes for the Wilderness is a courageously hopeful collection of practices set to encourage Christians in their faith. Written specifically to those who feel like they are wandering in the wilderness, disconnected from community and are in the process of deconstructing their faith, Sarah shares from her own experience and the principles she's gently put into practice to find inner healing as well as build spiritual community.

As someone who has recently left the Church and is wrestling with their faith, I find Sarah's writing to be like a beacon of hope and a helpful reminder that although entering and living in the wilderness is painful and grief filled, it doesn't have to always be that way. Sarah oh so kindly reminds us wanderers that there is a great invitation for us to find healing, belonging and to learn how to faithfully orient ourselves toward Love. While not a step-by-step guide book, the principles shared are important foundational values for the faith journey and prepare the way for the accompanying journal mentioned in the book.

As always, Sarah writes in such a relatable way, and reading Field Notes is like receiving a hug from a trusted friend at the time you need it most.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

There is a lot to love in this book, even though I was troubled by some of Bessey's statements.

This book is written with such wonderful compassion. I appreciated Bessey's vulnerability and her warm kindness. There were parts of the book to which I related so much, and it made me feel seen, for which I am very grateful. Her anecdotes were often touching and illustrative. There is also some good information including specific strategies - for example, how to work through grief - which is great, since this book is titled a "Field Guide." However, the strategies are not prescriptive; they are there to try and see what works. (For more specific strategies, I also read her guided journal; I found the questions helpful, so I would recommend that one as well.) I felt that a lot, though not all, of Bessey's statements of God were helpful in reminding the reader of God's love for us and that He does not give up on us. That is hugely important for those of us who are in the middle of reconsidering and/or reconstructing what we believe.

My experience in the church, however, was apparently different from Bessey's, which might be part of why some of her statements bothered me (for example, the idea that evangelicalism "runs on agreed-upon half-truths and lies," when my churches have always been open and gracious, encouraging people to be honest about their feelings, and that therapy is okay, etc.) Some of the criticisms that Bessey levels against religion aren't really against Christianity itself so much as people's misapplication of it (after all, Jesus wept!!). It bothered me that her approach to Scripture felt so inconsistent; she quotes some verses with great reverence and hope, yet she completely disregards others (e.g., she calls God "Mother"... I'm a feminist too, but that doesn't mean we have to call God female). My faith is still what Bessey calls "evolving" (a very useful phrase), but I'm not ready to throw out centuries of scholarship and cherry-pick Bible verses just based on what I like or don't, even though that would be more fun. Maybe if I read some of Bessey's other works, I would get a better understanding of why she calls God "Mother," doesn't believe in Hell, etc., despite what the Bible says. Right now though, it just felt ironic to me since she has a whole chapter on truth.

So, even though Bessey and I are not in the same place in the "wilderness," and I had to take some of her ideas "with a grain of salt," I appreciated her warmth, general thoughtfulness, and her excellent writing. I took notes so I can look back on this book again and again; I hope it will help me get through a difficult season.

I am very grateful for the free eARC, for which I was not required to provide a positive review.