How Jesus can restore and sustain our joy, faith and service.
Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)
Author Dai Hankey is a church planter in Wales 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-energized 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, or Christians who feel like stepping back from the things they are involved in at church.
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 |
| Case quantity | 50 |
| 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
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.
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.
{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.
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.
We have all struggled with the emotions of feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or weary at times.
In Dai Hankey’s book, Hopeward, readers are encouraged back to the hope we have in Jesus and God’s Grace.
With an easy to read format, written from the personal account of the author, this book is an enjoyable and encouraging read!
The book is designed with seven chapters: -Come to Jesus
-Receive from Jesus
-Abide in Jesus
-Feast on Jesus
-Grow in Jesus
-Walk with Jesus
-Run to Jesus.
Each chapter includes things such as a scripture reference, quote from a poem, insights, reflection questions, and a prayer.
There is valuable wisdom to be found in this book, and positive reminders.
This is a timely book, bringing the important gospel message forward.
I received a copy of this book from The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.
I love what Dai Hankey writes as there's a real honesty and openness to his work - this is no different. In this volume, he leads us on a journey towards rest in Jesus, to know the grace and mercy offered to us by him. I don't know about you, but I often get to a point of weariness, when I need not only a bit of physical rest but also some spiritual rest. If you're in a similar position, give this book a try! It'll be a real encouragement!
This book is specifically directed towards those who are weary, struggling, exhausted, and overwhelmed. Henkey takes these emotions that are all too common among Christians, and brings forward the Grace of God and its power to overcome.
The book itself is very simple. I appreciate this as often times authors can over complicate a concept and lose track of the important and valuable areas.
The book is structured with seven chapters: Come to Jesus, Receive from Jesus, Abide in Jesus, feast on Jesus, Grow in Jesus, Walk with Jesus, Run to Jesus.
Each chapter begins with the chapter title and a subsequent description, a quote from a poem, a scripture reference, Hankey's insights, a prayer, and reflection questions.
This is the first time I've read anything of Hankey's and I thoroughly enjoyed his writing style. He was honest, raw and turned everything back to Jesus.
Although this is written with believers as the main audience, I believe those who don't currently trust in the Lord can read this book and gain some valuable wisdom around their despair and potentially see the power of Jesus.
I received a copy of this book from The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.
During a hard season it is often hard to see the Lord walking alongside you. It is often hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is often easy to feel burned out and struggle to lean on the Lord during this hard season. Using his own story of feeling burnout, Hankey intricately weaves together themes of hope, resilience, and leaning on the Lord to bring the reader Hopeward.
This narrative is written beautifully and intricately, which draws the reader into the heart of the story. Hankey's vulnerability also allows the reader to see that they are not alone. He also uses well-known verses to remind the reader that the Lord is loving. That the most loving thing the Lord can do for us is put us through hard seasons so that we are reminded of how we cannot live without the Lord. That we need Him to simply breathe. It is also through these seasons that we often see how far the Lord has carried us. That through it all the Lord has never left you.
"Hopeward," is a beautifully crafted literary work that touches the heart of the reader. Through the course of reading this book, my heart was reminded that no matter what I am going through I can come to the Lord and lay it all at His feet. That no matter what I have done I can come and lay before Him and this is the first step to overcoming a season of burnt out. I highly recommend reading this book even if you are not going through a season of burnt out. This is a book that will linger in your thoughts long after you have turned the final page, and remind that no matter how far you have gone, or how burnt out you are you can fall at the Father's feet and we will welcome you into His arms.
