A Faith That Will Not Fail: 10 Practices to Build Up Your Faith When Your World Is Falling Apart

Business coach Cushatt (Relentless) encourages readers in this earnest yet flawed entry to build a solid faith foundation to weather life’s storms. The author, who has endured divorce, single motherhood, and cancer, starts out with a question she’s frequently been posed—“How do you still believe, after so many reasons not to?”—before outlining 10 broadly defined practices that kept her grounded during moments of struggle. One is humility, which via shared vulnerability and activities such as confession can improve one’s relationship with Jesus (“God is compassionate toward our human predicament”) and others. Meanwhile, worship gives believers the “time to consider the magnitude and mystery of God,” and while doing so, they should contemplate God’s “nearness,” just as God stayed close to protect the Israelites as they left Egypt. Throughout, “five-minute faith-builders” help readers apply Cushatt’s lessons (“What is one action you can take to assume a posture of humility today?”). Though the author’s approach sometimes feels overly granular and offers relatively routine lessons (the value of forgiveness, trust in God, etc.), her earnest advice will provide encouragement to those looking to deepen their faith. This has its moments, but readers will need to sift through the filler to find them. (Mar.)