Why Someone Should Read 'Fully Beloved'

Thoughts and hopes now that my book is in the world.

I’m following the lead of someone I like on Substack (Alan Noble). On the day his new book released, Noble posted a heartfelt essay on what he hoped his book would do, who he wrote it for, and how readers can help get out the word.

While my book’s been out in the world a few weeks, I felt inspired by his post to give a sketch here of my book, offer a couple of thoughts on how it might benefit you, and suggest how you can help others discover it. I also share below some early reactions to my book from Amazon and Goodreads reviews.

The What (and Why)

Fully Beloved begins with a simple, searching question: Am I loved? Maybe no question nags at us more; perhaps no question matters as much. We live in times when loneliness seems epic, even epidemic. Surrounded by people, we may still feel cut off, ghosted—distant from one another, unsure where we belong. We can even feel disconnected from God, our prayer times dry.

The Christian story dares to answer the question about our belovedness with a God who draws near, who shows up in Christ to share in the brokenness of our lives. Here is a striking and often overlooked vision of God: not solitary, but richly relational,—a triune communion of love. And not just in God’s own eternal being: Already God’s been delighting in us. Doing all that can be done to invite us and draw us close again.

So what can seem abstract or confusing turns out to be vividly personal: before we ever existed, God was already in relationship, already delighting in love that now gets shared—with us.

In my book, lean heavily on stories, one reason I think a number of online reviewers pegged the book as quite readable. I interweave contemporary stories, biblical wisdom, my own raw experience, and ancient insights to help readers discover a more relationally rich faith. Some of the stories I share feel intense, and, as one reader put it, unflinchingly honest.

I offer the book hoping readers will discover the steady care of a Father, the self-giving love of the Son, and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit—inviting us, even in our aches and longings, into the very life of divine love.

The Who

I have found that many Christians have more or less given up on the Trinity, thinking it too complicated and too intimidating, except for brainy Bible study leaders or a brave soul with a PowerPoint diagram. I have found, in contrast, that the biblical picture of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit warms, not complicates our view of God. This ancient picturing of God can help our prayers flourish and mature. It can bring to our faith more settledness and greater expectancy. And the picture of an intimately loving God heal us in our brokenness and fears (as one commenter on my book testified, as noted below). God in God’s three-personed self profoundly answers the question about weather God cares—whether we are God’s beloved.

For this reason, I believe the book will help the traditional church-goer in need of fresh insight and real help in praying. But I also envision readers on the fringes of church communities or the Christian faith finding encouragement here. A friend suggested he even found me “winsomely evangelistic.” Additionally, I see Fully Beloved as a resource for Bible studies, adult Sunday school classes, or other small groups. (A free guide for reflection and discussion ideal for groups is found on my website, and I’ve written for Bible Gateway a downloadable, concise survey of biblical passages.)

How You Can Help

The world of publishing has changed.

There are plenty of books coming out but fewer readers. And the traditional ways of getting a book passed along (bookseller recommendations, ads, magazine reviews) are less reliable. As Alan Noble says, “Basically the only way [a] book gets into the hands of the people it can help is if you share it, tell someone about it, hand it to them, buy them a copy, or review it on Amazon and/or Goodreads. … The most important thing is people who read and love books telling other people that they read and loved a book.” Word of mouth, in other words, makes the difference. Perhaps you will feel moved to highlight my book. Or tell your pastor or friend about it. Or give it as a gift.

And if you are active on social media, perhaps you will check out (and recommend) my posts on Facebook or X. Or visit my website and Substack. “Liking” them, forwarding them, just getting the word out helps so much. And especially consider telling your own followers what you found helpful in my writing.

Reviews from Others on Amazon or Goodreads (just a smattering):

* “[A] wonderful book. It is written very well and is easy to follow and understand. It is perfect for anyone struggling with life’s many troubles or just wants a fresh awakening to God’s deep love for His children.”

* “I loved this book! One of the best I’ve read when it comes to navigating what we actually believe about God’s love for us through dark, dry, and disappointing seasons. In particular, I thought the breakdown of Love in the three persons of the Trinity was profound. Extremely insightful and beautifully written!”

* “I think even the most fervent Christians have moments where they doubt God’s love, and it’s really no question as to why. … Especially those of us who had difficult, unloving childhoods. I grew up moving around, raised by a mother who tolerated my presence, but made it clear she’d have been happier without me. Now, as an adult heading into middle age, I still deeply struggle with my self-worth and my relationship with God.

“This book has already made me cry multiple times, and I’ve felt a release of pain that I’ve been holding onto for years. [The author’s] writing is down to earth, understandable and compassionate. He uses his own experiences, biblical references, and writings from well-known authors to help weave an understanding of a loving, compassionate and relational God, our Father (and the Trinity).”

* “Fully Beloved is a deeply meaningful and encouraging book that speaks directly to the heart. … Through personal stories, biblical wisdom, and reflections from spiritual voices like St Augustine, Julian of Norwich, and Emily Dickinson, this book creates a rich and comforting journey toward understanding God’s love in a deeper way. … What makes this book especially impactful is how it acknowledges both heartache and hope. The author does not shy away from pain or struggle but instead shows how brokenness and intimacy with God can exist together. This message feels both honest and uplifting, offering reassurance that even in difficult seasons, Gods love remains steady and transformative.”

As always, thank you for reading my Substack musings and updates. Coming soon: A post on “Thomas the Traumatized.”