Unseen Footprints: Encountering the divine along the journey of life

by Sheridan Voysey

How many unseen realities lie beneath the surface of our lives? Most of us have days when we sense a world of vivid colour is out there, but remains shrouded from us. Instead of seeing bright reds and purples, we see only pastels. But through a brush with serendipity - the unexpected surprise - the veil lifts for a moment and we glimpse the vibrancy of that other world. And in that moment we sense something bigger than us has been encountered. Unseen Footprints is about opening our spiritual eyes to see the activities of the divine around us. Could life flow right beneath our noses? Could we have had encounters with the divine that we haven't yet recognised as such? Could God be written into the drama of our lives as if played by a secondary character or an extra that we haven't paid much attention to?

Genres: Spirituality

Paperback

First published August 15, 2007

About the author

Sheridan Voysey is a writer, speaker and broadcaster on faith and spirituality. He is the author of seven books, including The Making of Us: Who We Can Become When Life Doesn't Go as Planned (March 2019), Resurrection Year: Turning Broken Dreams into New Beginnings, Resilient: Your Invitation to a Jesus-Shaped Life, and the award-winning Unseen Footprints: Encountering the Divine Along the Journey of Life.

Sheridan is a presenter of Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show (heard by 10 million people each day), and writes for Our Daily Bread, a devotional read by 90 million people daily. He has been featured on BBC Breakfast, BBC News, Day of Discovery, 100 Huntley Street, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, the ABC, Moody Radio, and in publications like The Sunday Telegraph, The Daily Mail, and Christianity. Sheridan is married to Merryn and lives in Oxford, United Kingdom, from where he travels to speak at events around the world.

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Reviews

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I finished while on a silent retreat. I had been reading it on and off for quite a while, but I thought the retreat would be the perfect time to finish it. I'm glad I did!

While it wasn't perfect, it had a lot of good moments and points to make about your relationship with God. I loved how the author would add examples and stories from his own personal life to help with his explanations. He also used examples from outside sources. For example, he used "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis on multiple occasions. While I haven't read the entire Narnia series (though wouldn't mind if I ever got the chance to), I know this particular story from the series extremely well. I also adore the "Footprints in the Sand" poem. I even made a cross-stitch of the poem a few years ago, where it is now framed and hanging in my bedroom. This book alluded to the poem on multiple occasions, though the title would be enough to tell you this without my help.

I couldn't give it a perfect score, though. There were a few moments that didn't speak to me quite as well. Sometimes I would get distracted and have to read sections over. Whenever that happens with any novel, I have to subtract a star. It didn't have any particular moments that confused or annoyed me, though. There were just some moments that were drier than others, so I wouldn't feel right giving it a perfect score.

If you want a good religious book to read, I would suggest this! It isn't the deepest book out there, but it was still a good read with a lot of great points to make. I will always appreciate any book out there than brings the reader closer to God.

[Ann-maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

It might be a spectacular sunset. A kind deed by a stranger. Or maybe a random “aha moment” that leaves you sensing there’s more to this life than what you can see. Something bigger. Perhaps Someone bigger.
Unseen Footprints opens our spiritual eyes to the activity of the divine all around us. Sheridan Voysey takes feelings common to the human experience—pain, yearning, doubt, awe—and through them points to the possibility of a real God who is there. And who cares.
Featuring stories from contemporary life and insights from his own spiritual journey, Voysey creatively intersects the mundane and spiritual. That’s where an open heart can discover an authentic relationship with the God who’s been walking beside us all along… leaving unseen footprints.

[Hannah Grace Staton (on hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this well-crafted book, Sheridan Voysey takes the reader on a journey that starts in a barren desert and ends in the very heart of God. He opens our eyes to God's unseen presence in seeming coincidences, our yearnings, and life events. In it all, God is whispering His love to us. A deep and thoughtful book, I would recommend it to anyone with a seeking heart and an open mind.

[Theresa Raimondi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much! Sheridan Voysey has inspired me !

[Beth Withers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author shares stories from his life and others that shows how God is at work behind the scenes, even when we don't see it. This book is short and very readable.

[Star Gater · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is well-written and reads like a guest speaker. I enjoyed reading along with the audiobook.

[Mike Eccles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book describes both a personal journey and one that all those who are, or are moved to be, a Christian can explore and follow. Sheridan's style is personal, challenging, thought-provoking, and, most importantly, inspiring. I enjoyed his many examples and quotes, and the fact that he has made me think more deeply about the nature and depth of my own faith.

[Rachel Quinlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging yet reflective look at how we meet God and some great examples of the changes he's made in people's lives. Some real challenges too, plenty to think about. Recommended for anyone who wants a reality check on the Christian journey.