You Are Welcomed: Devotions for When Life Is a Lot

by Trish Donohue

When you feel overwhelmed by life’s demands, trials, and emotions, you are not alone. God welcomes you into his rest and peace. You Are Welcomed by a loving God is the gospel truth we need to hear when life is an unruly combination of responsibilities, relationships, interruptions, dreams, and drama. In this ten-week devotional, author and women’s ministry leader Trish Donohue helps women who are weary turn to the Lord, put down their burdens, rest in his welcome, and then welcome others to walk with Jesus too. Trish shares stories of biblical men and women who brought their burdens to the Lord. Each story exemplifies a different sort of pressure, including busyness, disillusionment, crisis, isolation, envy, doubt, fear, and failure. You are not alone in what you’re facing, and God wants to meet you in the same ways he has shown himself to his people from the beginning.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published October 23, 2023

About the author

Tricia Donohue is a wife and mom who writes from her kitchen table in West Chester, PA. A desire to disciple her girls paired with a love for writing inspired this book. She and her husband, Jim, have two sons and two daughters. They attend Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, PA, where Jim serves as a pastor.

Reviews

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trish Donohue’s You Are Welcomed: Devotions for When Life Is a Lot is a beautifully written and beautifully decorated devotional that encourages you when life is too much. You Are Welcomed takes you on a 10 week journey, showing stories of men and women in the Bible, like Miriam and Hezekiah, even Jesus, that went through a lot, and the lessons learned. Each week has a theme with opening thought and 5 days of devotion entries. Each day has a Bible Passage to read, a “Identify” thought, and as the entry unfolds, it expounds on the thought, and closes with journaling/critical thinking questions called “Consider” and a “Believe” section that includes a parting Bible verse.

Trish Donohue’s You Are Welcomed: Devotions for When Life Is a Lot is one of the most beautifully written devotionals I have read, not to mention the graphics help set the tone for the journey the reader will go on. I used You Are Welcomed as part of my own Devotion Time and it Ministered to me. I love the way Ms. Donohue wrote the devotional because you can tell that she writes from personal experience. I love the perspective and insight she brought to the Bible Stories and People she talked about. I particularly liked the insights Ms. Donohue brought out about God writing the chapters of our lives, the Prophet Elijah, and Jacob. I also loved the week that covered Psalms and the insight Ms. Donohue brought out about Miriam. I love that You Are Welcomed is an interactive devotional and appreciate the “Consider” section of each devotion entry. For me, the “Consider” section at times challenged me and always made me think (and consider) what I have just read. You Are Welcomed was truly a calming read for me when life was a lot for me personally. If you are looking for a devotional to help you when life IS a lot and to help you get in the right headspace while turning your eyes towards Jesus, then I highly recommend You Are Welcomed: Devotions for When Life Is a Lot by Trish Donohue!

Have you read You Are Welcomed: Devotions for When Life Is a Lot by Trish Donohue? What did you think of the book?

I would like to thank New Growth Press for giving me a copy of You Are Welcomed: Devotions for When Life Is a Lot by Trish Donohue to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My review is also on my blog, Leslie's Library Escape.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you feel like your life is unruly, author Trish Donohue can relate. She reminds us that responsibilities, relationships, interruptions, dreams, drama - they are all part of God’s good plan. The devotionals in You Are Welcomed help readers find Jesus in the moments God gives us, whether they seem good or not so good.
The book is divided into 10 weeks - each focusing on a different verb (Come, Pray, Fight, Yield, Obey, Settle, Trust, Ponder, Gather. Each week has 5 devotionals. Each devotional starts with a Scripture reference to read and a thought-provoking question to get readers thinking. It continues with a devotional based on the passage. At the end of each devotional is a consider section with questions that help readers relate the Biblical account to their own lives.
I would recommend getting a physical copy of You Are Welcomed so that you can more easily “fill in the blanks” where Donohue asks questions. The questions really do help bring the Bible into your life.
I received a complimentary copy of You are Welcomed. This is my honest review.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new devotional for women has been both an encouraging balm and challenging prompt to me over recent weeks. It’s structured to last for 10 weeks and is for women feeling burdened, overwhelmed and that life is all a bit too full. Each day starts with a prompting question, has a short bible reading, two pages of comments, and three questions to consider in more depth. It’s a simple, yet remarkably effective format. It’s also a visually attractive book, which would make it a very nice gift.

Donohue is a skilled communicator, bringing God’s word to bear to our current experience. It is clear she knows the challenges of women’s lives today, but she also is honest about our sinful struggles, temptations, and areas where we need to be pushed a little. The overarching message was of the grace and rest offered to us in Christ, coupled with a desire for sanctification and godly growth.

For a more detailed review see: https://musingsinadelaide.blogspot.co...

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lovely flora on the cover of You Are Welcomed also decorates the interior pages, so not only is this devotional a soothing guide to women’s weary minds and hearts, but it’s attractive as well.

This book is structured similarly to the second book in the series (You Are Secure) with scripture verses, devotions, and stimulating questions, but instead of 8 weekly readings (as in book 2) this 10-week guide is almost twice as thick and offers daily readings.

Sections titled “Identify” ask questions that cause me to reflect and the “Consider” sections do the same. And isn’t that what devotionals are for? To make us seek for answers and comfort from the one who always welcomes us—our Lord?

I appreciate the way this devotional causes me to reflect on my concerns and rejoice in my blessings. I’d love to see more books added to this meaningful devotional series.

#CoverLoverBookReview received a review copy of this book. Opinions are 100% my own.

[Shirley Alarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Trish Donahue’s devotional You Are Welcomed is a delightful, relatable, and extensive (10-week) journey in seeking God through the daily chaos.

As part of New Growth Press’s ‘Gospel Truth for Women’ series, You are Welcomed is packed with every tool in a good ‘devotional toolbox’.

These tools include Scripture verses, relatable Bible stories, great narrative storytelling that links biblical truths to our daily lives, and questions for reflection – along with a few blank lines for journal lovers to jot down their answers.

You Are Welcomed is a real gem! It is an excellent guide to help readers ‘seek Christ’, as we are invited to do in Jeremiah 29:13.

Do yourself a favor and treat yourself or a lady you love to this devotional.

[Meryl Crooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faithful and beautifully written Biblical 10 week daily devotional.