1 Peter: Sustained by a Living Hope, A 5‑Week Study, Mariel Davenport - A Review

Mariel Davenport’s five‑week study 1 Peter: Sustained by a Living Hope is a warm, encouraging, and easy‑to‑follow guide through the book of 1 Peter. Using the TEND method—Take time to pray, Examine the Scriptures, Notice the lessons, and Do what it says—Davenport helps readers grow in a steady, simple rhythm that makes Scripture feel approachable for anyone.
The study offers gentle guidance for believers who feel scattered, misunderstood, or weighed down by life. Davenport continually brings readers back to Peter’s message of living with a steady hope rooted in our identity in Christ, not our circumstances. Each week connects beautifully to this theme, making the study feel clear and uplifting.

One of the best parts of this book is how well it teaches you to study the Bible for yourself. Davenport’s prompts, journaling pages, tools, videos, and leader helps make this an excellent resource for personal study or group use. Whether you’re new to Bible study or experienced, the structure feels supportive and meaningful.

Her focus on remembering who God has made you to be is especially encouraging. The study invites readers to rest in their inheritance, trust God’s promises, and live with confidence. The practical application steps help turn learning into real spiritual growth.

This study fits well in women’s ministry settings as part of the God Hears Her collection, but its message is helpful for any believer seeking hope and stability. It’s a wonderful resource for small groups or personal quiet time—and I will most certainly be purchasing hard copies for myself.

★★★★★

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and Our Daily Bread Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Being guided through 1 Peter in the tending way is a complete blessing. Especially when this world is so crazy and when life seems full of trials, It is so encouraging to go slowly through Scripture and really ponder what the Word says. This study helps us remember the promises of God in such a way that it impacts everything!

I chose this thinking it would be something light I could casually work through. That plan went out the window real quick 😭

I actually started this during Lent, so for me it became a lot more personal than I expected. It wasn’t something I had planned or even thought about doing. I was honestly just passing time, but it turned into something deeper. It felt like an awakening in a way I didn’t see coming.

I started it with a coworker, and it ended up becoming something we both genuinely looked forward to. It became our little reset during the day. We would read, then end up talking way longer than expected about life, stress, faith, and everything in between. It didn’t feel forced, it just naturally led into real conversations and reflection for both of us.

What really stood out to me was how engaging it is. I wasn’t even waiting day to day like you normally would. I was actually excited to move on to the next exercise. That’s how pulled in I was, which surprised me.

The story of Peter had a bigger impact on me than I expected. His story feels real in a way that’s hard to ignore. He had faith, but he also had doubt. He was bold one moment and afraid the next. He messed up, denied Jesus, and still found his way back. That part hit me because it reflects real life. We are not consistent all the time. We fall, we question, we distance ourselves, and still somehow we are called back.

That made me reflect on my own life. There have been moments where I felt off track, disconnected, or just going through things without direction. Not because I didn’t care, but because life gets overwhelming, distracting, and sometimes a little unhinged 🤭. But reading that reminded me that messing up doesn’t cancel everything. It doesn’t disqualify you. It just means you’re human.

The journaling sections are where it really hits. It’s not surface level. It honestly reminded me of a shadow work type of workbook because you are unpacking your own thoughts, patterns, and emotions alongside Scripture. Some parts were easy, and others had me sitting there like, okay wait, why is this calling me out like this 😭

I also appreciated that it doesn’t come off as overly preachy or unrealistic. It meets you where you are. Whether you are grounded, overwhelmed, or a little unhinged 🤭 it still feels real and approachable.

Overall, I would definitely purchase a physical copy when it is available. It works great on your own, but doing it with someone else made it even more meaningful for me. It turned into something I didn’t expect, but honestly something I needed.