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The Gift of Restlessness: A Spirituality for Unsettled Seasons
No one asks for restless moments. No one wants to feel irritated, unsettled, or stuck. When pressed into restless seasons in our relationships, work, or faith, we feel the You can't go back, but you can't stay here. But what if restlessness is normal, healthy, and even holy? What if spiritual questions are not problems to be solved but invitations of the soul? And what if spiritual maturity inspires restlessness rather than inoculating us against it?
Spiritual director Casey Tygrett upends the notion that restlessness is a sign that we must move up, move on, or move out. Working within the prayerful tradition of writers like Henri Nouwen and Barbara Brown Taylor, Tygrett turns over our innermost questions and holds them up to the light. Where do I belong? What am I here for? Is there enough? And he finds a surprising alignment of these restless questions with the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray. In that ancient prayer's pleas for belonging, purpose, sustenance, mending, protection, and rescue, we find freedom to ask basic human questions and permission to befriend our longings. Each chapter offers profoundly spiritual practices that, when taken together, create a spirituality sturdy enough for our unsettled seasons.
In a culture that values happiness and self-actualization, we often race toward the pat resolution or the quick fix. But in doing so, we miss the subtle gifts of unsettled times. Remaining in restlessness, rather than rushing toward the next job, vacation, or partner, moves us deeper into the life of the Spirit and our own belovedness.
Spiritual director Casey Tygrett upends the notion that restlessness is a sign that we must move up, move on, or move out. Working within the prayerful tradition of writers like Henri Nouwen and Barbara Brown Taylor, Tygrett turns over our innermost questions and holds them up to the light. Where do I belong? What am I here for? Is there enough? And he finds a surprising alignment of these restless questions with the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray. In that ancient prayer's pleas for belonging, purpose, sustenance, mending, protection, and rescue, we find freedom to ask basic human questions and permission to befriend our longings. Each chapter offers profoundly spiritual practices that, when taken together, create a spirituality sturdy enough for our unsettled seasons.
In a culture that values happiness and self-actualization, we often race toward the pat resolution or the quick fix. But in doing so, we miss the subtle gifts of unsettled times. Remaining in restlessness, rather than rushing toward the next job, vacation, or partner, moves us deeper into the life of the Spirit and our own belovedness.
163 pages, Paperback
Published April 25, 2023
18 people are currently reading
1730 people want to read
About the author
Casey Tygrett
4 books33 followersCasey Tygrett (DMin, Lincoln Christian Seminary) is theologian in residence at Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, Illinois. He also oversees spiritual direction for Soul Care (www.soulcare.com), an organization that helps leaders live from a place of soul health & flourishing.
He is the author of three books:
Becoming Curious: A Spiritual Practice of Asking Questions (2017)
As I Recall: Discovering the Place of Memories In Our Spiritual Life (2019; 2020 Christianity Today Award of Merit In Spiritual Formation) RE-RELEASED as The Practice of Remembering: Uncovering the Place of Memories in Our Spiritual Life (2023).
The Gift of Restlessness: A Spirituality for Unsettled Seasons (2023)
@caseytygrett (IG)
@cktygrettauthor (FB)
He is the author of three books:
Becoming Curious: A Spiritual Practice of Asking Questions (2017)
As I Recall: Discovering the Place of Memories In Our Spiritual Life (2019; 2020 Christianity Today Award of Merit In Spiritual Formation) RE-RELEASED as The Practice of Remembering: Uncovering the Place of Memories in Our Spiritual Life (2023).
The Gift of Restlessness: A Spirituality for Unsettled Seasons (2023)
@caseytygrett (IG)
@cktygrettauthor (FB)
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 26, 2023
Casey Tygrett has released another poignant book, speaking to the restlessness in our lives. With the recent pandemic and the "Great Resignation" and inflation happening in our country, I believe that a lot of us are dealing with a spirit of restlessness and unsettledness. With a great deal of other personal things going on, this book spoke to me right where I am. Using the Lord's Prayer as a guide, Tygrett uses his own experiences, the scriptures, and writings of others to bring readers on a journey through their own seasons of restlessness and how to recognize it as a gift. Each chapter speaks to a line of the Lord's Prayer, and each chapter ends with a practice that will draw one closer to God ("the Divine" as the author references Him) and help to make sense of the times of restlessness. This is a shorter read and has chapters that can easily be read in a sitting or even smaller tidbits throughout if you only have snatches of time to read. This is one I'd strongly recommend to anyone struggling with an unsettled or restless feeling in their spirit or those who simply want to connect more strongly to their God in the midst of struggles. Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
March 15, 2023
This book is such a great reminder that Restlessness can be a gift. I loved the prayers and discussion questions at the end of each chapter, it helped me to not only devour the words in the book, but to practically apply it to current experiences. Not only do I recommend that people read it, I want to buy it as a gift for everyone!
April 8, 2023
I was shocked that I loved this book! I'm not religious in any meaningful way, but still found comfort in some of the thought exercises. I want to commend the author on an unusually progressive and inclusive framework for what is essentially a guided meditation on The Lord's Prayer.
April 25, 2023
Well written and well thought out. Casey asks questions and addresses subjects that many of us think about.
May 3, 2023
Being restless is just a sign of discomfort in the unknown or is it? This is the time when we are closest to the great Devine and if we pay attention and wait we know that this too shall pass.
March 23, 2023
One of the best spiritual books I’ve read in a while. Everything resonated deeply with where I am in life and I felt so seen by his insights! Love the way he breaks up the Lord’s Prayer and dives deep into the comfort of his words. Grateful I found this book!
June 20, 2023
Casey Tygrett defines restlessness as a state of being unsettled or irritated by the present-tense realities of life; when you're unable to go back, yet unsure of what's ahead. Which perfectly describes where I am, where I've been for a while now. But Tygrett assures us that there's nothing wrong with being restless. Rather, restlessness is what roots you further into who you are, and if dealt with correctly (instead of being ignored or left to fester) can transform us and give us a way through unsettled seasons.
The Gift of Restlessness is a thoughtful book - one that you need to sink your teeth into slowly. Where are your unsettled spaces, Tygrett asks, where are the places that hurt? Then he offers the option to remain in it, to ask the deep questions that will settle you instead of fighting, fleeing, or flopping.
I have fought long enough, I have fled far enough. There are two options left: to give up, or to "flop" as he puts it, or to remain.
Structured around the Lord's Prayer, Tygrett reminds us that this isn't a formula that we need to pray. It's not what to pray, but rather how to pray. The words are familiar, memorised and repeated over and over through life. But what does it truly mean? What are you truly praying for? And how can it guide you through unsettled seasons?
Throughout the book, Tygrett truly plays the spiritual director, always focusing you back on God - and how that Great Belonging with God can settle you, ground you, even when things around you are changing and shaking.
Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Broadleaf Books via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The Gift of Restlessness is a thoughtful book - one that you need to sink your teeth into slowly. Where are your unsettled spaces, Tygrett asks, where are the places that hurt? Then he offers the option to remain in it, to ask the deep questions that will settle you instead of fighting, fleeing, or flopping.
I have fought long enough, I have fled far enough. There are two options left: to give up, or to "flop" as he puts it, or to remain.
Structured around the Lord's Prayer, Tygrett reminds us that this isn't a formula that we need to pray. It's not what to pray, but rather how to pray. The words are familiar, memorised and repeated over and over through life. But what does it truly mean? What are you truly praying for? And how can it guide you through unsettled seasons?
Throughout the book, Tygrett truly plays the spiritual director, always focusing you back on God - and how that Great Belonging with God can settle you, ground you, even when things around you are changing and shaking.
Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Broadleaf Books via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 20, 2023
This book is a gift! We are living in unsettled times, and many of us want to avoid the anxiety and discomfort that often arises times of big change or uncertainty. Yet author Casey Tygrett invites us to view these periods of restlessness as times when we can deepen our spiritual practices and listen for where God is leading us next. This was a hopeful message for me, and I'm grateful. Highly recommend!
September 17, 2023
I think because it took me a while to finish this I may have lost some of its impact… but I also wonder if it took me a while to finish it because it didn’t grip me? Maybe I tried to read it too fast instead of soaking it as I went but I found myself more drawn to the beautiful words and sentences than the meaning behind them. That said, I’m really glad I read it. Some real beauty here and it asked fantastic questions of me.
November 28, 2025
I found this book enjoyable to read, and full of helpful questions. The author shares many down-to-earth, relatable stories that capture the feelings of restlessness that we experience in day to day lives. And, as a spiritual director, he effectively creates space to ponder things and gain new perspective.
Readers may notice some differences from typical Christian writings. He prefers terms like "The Divine" and "Spirit" in place of using the word God, and hisbusebof Scripture is more illustrstive and indirect, rather than prescriptive. I get it - he's a spiritual director. However, as a Christian, reading a book by a Christian, I do hope to get the sense that what I'm reading is at least rooted in, and derived from Scripture. While I like the connection between chapters and parts of the Lord's Prayer, I also think there can be a place to present God's word as authoritative and foundational.
I get the sense that the author wants to appeal to a broad audience - especially those who are deconstructing their faith, and wondering how to put it all back together again. He likely wants to avoid driving people away, or using well-worn terms that might trigger people with negative connotations. But words, terms, and pathways can also be clarified, restored, and mended - and I believe it's worth it.
I noticed this shift in Emily P. Freeman's recent book, "How to Walk into a Room," which bears many resemblances to Tygrett's book in its tone. Though, Freeman quotes authors and Scripture even less, and even when she draws from Ignatian discernment techniques, she doesn't directly engage with Scripture like they would (in Lectio & Imaginative Prayer).
So, while Tygrett writes mostly from experience, I do appreciate how he quotes various authors, especially Joan Chittister (a Benedictine) and Dallas Willard (American Christian philosopher). I also appreciate his overall structure of following the Lord's Prayer, and how he draws from the words of Christ, inviting his readers to enter times of change with openness and hope.
Readers may notice some differences from typical Christian writings. He prefers terms like "The Divine" and "Spirit" in place of using the word God, and hisbusebof Scripture is more illustrstive and indirect, rather than prescriptive. I get it - he's a spiritual director. However, as a Christian, reading a book by a Christian, I do hope to get the sense that what I'm reading is at least rooted in, and derived from Scripture. While I like the connection between chapters and parts of the Lord's Prayer, I also think there can be a place to present God's word as authoritative and foundational.
I get the sense that the author wants to appeal to a broad audience - especially those who are deconstructing their faith, and wondering how to put it all back together again. He likely wants to avoid driving people away, or using well-worn terms that might trigger people with negative connotations. But words, terms, and pathways can also be clarified, restored, and mended - and I believe it's worth it.
I noticed this shift in Emily P. Freeman's recent book, "How to Walk into a Room," which bears many resemblances to Tygrett's book in its tone. Though, Freeman quotes authors and Scripture even less, and even when she draws from Ignatian discernment techniques, she doesn't directly engage with Scripture like they would (in Lectio & Imaginative Prayer).
So, while Tygrett writes mostly from experience, I do appreciate how he quotes various authors, especially Joan Chittister (a Benedictine) and Dallas Willard (American Christian philosopher). I also appreciate his overall structure of following the Lord's Prayer, and how he draws from the words of Christ, inviting his readers to enter times of change with openness and hope.
July 5, 2024
The book’s argument is that the feeling of restlessness is actually a spiritual gift from God, who the author often refers to as “the Divine”. Framing his argument through the Lord’s Prayer, the author looks at the questions beneath this famous teaching from Jesus to explore how our moments of uncertainty are actually very near to the core of our connection to God.
Overall, I greatly appreciated this book, with some really helpful language and even practices to help me identify, grow comfortable with, and invite God into my restlessness (which for those who know me is a constant struggle). There were a couple moments where I disagreed with his theology or felt like he wasn’t tethered to the text, but I would definitely recommend it to others, especially those in restless seasons.
If you do read it, I would take it slower than I did, which I was unable to do because #library. The best way is to leave a few days of space between each chapter so you can really focus on the intentional and powerful reflections that he provides at the end of each chapter.
Some quotes to whet your appetite:
“What if we see restlessness as a guiding gift- the generous permission to allow what irritates and unsettles us to move us closer and closer to who God is and, ultimately, who we are?”
“In whatever may come, we can trust that the Divine waits for us and with us in restless places”
Overall, I greatly appreciated this book, with some really helpful language and even practices to help me identify, grow comfortable with, and invite God into my restlessness (which for those who know me is a constant struggle). There were a couple moments where I disagreed with his theology or felt like he wasn’t tethered to the text, but I would definitely recommend it to others, especially those in restless seasons.
If you do read it, I would take it slower than I did, which I was unable to do because #library. The best way is to leave a few days of space between each chapter so you can really focus on the intentional and powerful reflections that he provides at the end of each chapter.
Some quotes to whet your appetite:
“What if we see restlessness as a guiding gift- the generous permission to allow what irritates and unsettles us to move us closer and closer to who God is and, ultimately, who we are?”
“In whatever may come, we can trust that the Divine waits for us and with us in restless places”
April 25, 2023
This book came at just the right time for me. I'm going through a transitional season and am often feeling restless about what the future might hold. Casey Tygrett has written a beautifully thoughtful book, using the verses of the Lord's Prayer, to reflect on the beauty and wonder that can be found in such seasons.
There are only 8 chapters but each are worthy of slow reading and contemplation as Tygrett explores the various causes of restlessness including life's purpose, our belonging and mending fractured relationships to name three.
Each chapter ends with a thoughtful and constructive Practice to personally reflect on the content just read.
Tygrett is a tremendous wordsmith and in his career as a pastor and spiritual direction brings a gentle and gracious style to his words that helps the reader fully engage.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book and especially if you, like me, are in the throes of a season of restlessness. My pre-ordered copy of the book landed last night on my Kindle, however, I was fortunate to have received an early ebook copy from the publisher via the author. Hence, why I'm able to review it on the day of release. Having early access has had no bearing on my positive opinion of the book.
There are only 8 chapters but each are worthy of slow reading and contemplation as Tygrett explores the various causes of restlessness including life's purpose, our belonging and mending fractured relationships to name three.
Each chapter ends with a thoughtful and constructive Practice to personally reflect on the content just read.
Tygrett is a tremendous wordsmith and in his career as a pastor and spiritual direction brings a gentle and gracious style to his words that helps the reader fully engage.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book and especially if you, like me, are in the throes of a season of restlessness. My pre-ordered copy of the book landed last night on my Kindle, however, I was fortunate to have received an early ebook copy from the publisher via the author. Hence, why I'm able to review it on the day of release. Having early access has had no bearing on my positive opinion of the book.
February 20, 2023
Real life. Real feelings of defeat and brokenness. Real problems. Learning how to juggle these all while walking in faith can seem unmanageable. This book, first of all, helps the reader to know they are seen and are not alone in this thing called life. And second, it helps to bring some clarity on what it means to live in the tension of life – how after hard events transpire things are never the same. And that is ok – if we know what to do with it. An accessible read with relatable stories but with challenging thoughts woven in.
October 15, 2023
A book I will likely recommend to many when walking through seasons of restlessness and bow questions. “But what if spiritual questions are not problems to be solved but invitations of the soul?”
My favorite chapter surrounded the question, “Is there Enough?”
“If we think of the world in terms of abundance rather' than scarcity, we can enter the restlessness of both spaces and simply remain there. The restless tension here is not whether more or less is better; it is whether our hearts have a non-anxious posture toward whatever we have.” - Casey Tygrett
My favorite chapter surrounded the question, “Is there Enough?”
“If we think of the world in terms of abundance rather' than scarcity, we can enter the restlessness of both spaces and simply remain there. The restless tension here is not whether more or less is better; it is whether our hearts have a non-anxious posture toward whatever we have.” - Casey Tygrett
May 4, 2023
Great read….
I was made aware of this book in what I call a divine moment. During a season of ‘restlessness’ I listened to Casey being interviewed on CBC Radio while visiting Toronto, Canada (my immediate thought, “Can the Divine speak to one through the publicity funded CBC Radio? - indeed He could!”). The topic spoke into my time and space. After reading the content, I’m not disappointed. The Gift of Restlessness has proven inspirational and helpful.
I was made aware of this book in what I call a divine moment. During a season of ‘restlessness’ I listened to Casey being interviewed on CBC Radio while visiting Toronto, Canada (my immediate thought, “Can the Divine speak to one through the publicity funded CBC Radio? - indeed He could!”). The topic spoke into my time and space. After reading the content, I’m not disappointed. The Gift of Restlessness has proven inspirational and helpful.
May 15, 2023
This book is so well-written and thought-provoking. Casey does an amazing job of speaking to the reader and challenging the reader to pause and reflect on the restless moments in life and the purpose behind them. This book really challenged me to dig in to my own thoughts and dive deeper into the purpose of my life.
April 14, 2024
I enjoyed this book but it was a little too abstract for me; a little too much psychology/spirituality not enough history or life. But that could be my particular perspective on faith and spirituality. But some thought provoking ideas and questions about restlessness and faith.
September 18, 2023
Perhaps I'm too restless to relate to this. Way over my head.
October 8, 2024
Such a great resource through a season of restlessness. It has prompts to think/ journal about to help you move through a season of restlessness.
December 25, 2024
This was a pleasant read, but I did not get much from it. Maybe not quite the topic I needed right now?
March 6, 2025
I enjoyed this book, would like to get a hard copy verses audio to highlight parts.
October 6, 2025
2-3 I liked some chapters more than others.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews