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Faithfully Present: Embracing the Limits of Where and When God Has You
How to accept our limitations and be free to live in the moment, fully and faithfully present with God and with others. Do you ever wish that life would slow down? Or perhaps you’re in a season when you would like to hit the fast-forward button and speed things up a bit. We have a complicated relationship with time, usually wishing we had more of it. Many of us live life at full speed, trying to be in two places at once, our minds too busy and distracted by all the things we feel we ought to be doing to be mindful of God’s presence. In this thought-provoking book, Adam Ramsey teaches us to embrace the limitations of time and place that we have as created beings, liberating us from the feeling that we need to be everywhere at once. Read this book to discover how to be intentional with your time, living each day fully and faithfully present with God and with others. Be equipped to find contentment in every season of life as you learn to see God in every moment of your here and now.
176 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2023
66 people are currently reading
695 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 31, 2023
Faithfully Present is an excellent book. It is weighty, humbling, and at times funny. I found myself laughing out loud on a number of occasions and then needing to pause and reflect as I was smacked by some weighty perspective.
Adam does a great job of reminding us of who we are: flawed, limited, and clearly not God. He outlines that we are created to exist in the time and moments in front of us. Despite our longing to join in the chaos of this fast-paced world, this hopeful book leads us to rest in the kind, sovereign Father who is leading all things to his will, at his pace.
Do yourself a favour, lock some time away, grab this book and let it lead you to the antidote of your restless heart: Jesus.
Adam does a great job of reminding us of who we are: flawed, limited, and clearly not God. He outlines that we are created to exist in the time and moments in front of us. Despite our longing to join in the chaos of this fast-paced world, this hopeful book leads us to rest in the kind, sovereign Father who is leading all things to his will, at his pace.
Do yourself a favour, lock some time away, grab this book and let it lead you to the antidote of your restless heart: Jesus.
January 4, 2024
{full review here: https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/fa...}
We're particularly averse to talking about things we can't do. When we're told we can't, our instincts respond with, "watch me."
From a biblical perspective though, our limits remind we are created—not creator, saved—not saviour, and spirit-filled—not the Spirit.
In Faithfully Present: Embracing the Limits of Where and When God Has You by Adam Ramsey we have the opportunity to examine our limitations, as uncomfortable as it may be, in order to draw us nearer to the presence of God and into the presence of others.
This book is a journey through Scriptures to teach us about our human limits of time and place to encourage our faithful living for Christ today.
The first 8 chapters address different aspects of time and how it influences our daily lives; whether it’s our busyness, our stage in life, or our memories. The last 4 explore our physical place and presence.
If you’ve never considered the limits of our humanity, this is a good one to pick up. Maybe you have and wonder how this relates to our everyday busy lives, this is a helpful resource.
When you’re worn out, missing the moments around you, living your life in tunnel vision, this resource will help you step back a minute to reflect on your season and surroundings.
*A big thanks to the Good Book Company for the complimentary copy and the opportunity to post an honest review.
We're particularly averse to talking about things we can't do. When we're told we can't, our instincts respond with, "watch me."
From a biblical perspective though, our limits remind we are created—not creator, saved—not saviour, and spirit-filled—not the Spirit.
In Faithfully Present: Embracing the Limits of Where and When God Has You by Adam Ramsey we have the opportunity to examine our limitations, as uncomfortable as it may be, in order to draw us nearer to the presence of God and into the presence of others.
This book is a journey through Scriptures to teach us about our human limits of time and place to encourage our faithful living for Christ today.
The first 8 chapters address different aspects of time and how it influences our daily lives; whether it’s our busyness, our stage in life, or our memories. The last 4 explore our physical place and presence.
If you’ve never considered the limits of our humanity, this is a good one to pick up. Maybe you have and wonder how this relates to our everyday busy lives, this is a helpful resource.
When you’re worn out, missing the moments around you, living your life in tunnel vision, this resource will help you step back a minute to reflect on your season and surroundings.
*A big thanks to the Good Book Company for the complimentary copy and the opportunity to post an honest review.
February 11, 2024
This book arrived in my life just when I needed it most. Lately, I've been wrestling with the feeling that time is slipping away too quickly, drowning in the busyness of daily life, and struggling to prioritize what truly matters. And if I'm honest, I've noticed myself spending way too much time mindlessly scrolling on my phone.
Right from the start, the book hit me with a powerful line: "We attempt to escape from and transcend our here and now, longing for some other there and then." It felt like God was using those words to wake me up to what's really important.
I really resonate with Adam's writing style; it's engaging and filled with humor, yet it's also deeply thought-provoking. He captures the struggle we all face in navigating the demands of modern life while staying true to our faith. He reminds us that we're not meant to be consumed by the chaos around us but to be present in the moment, trusting in God's timing and grace. Through his words, I've been reminded to slow down and appreciate the beauty of God's presence in every aspect of life, rather than rushing ahead or dwelling on 'what ifs'. It's been a powerful reminder to stay faithful and attentive to God's hand at work in my life.
Right from the start, the book hit me with a powerful line: "We attempt to escape from and transcend our here and now, longing for some other there and then." It felt like God was using those words to wake me up to what's really important.
I really resonate with Adam's writing style; it's engaging and filled with humor, yet it's also deeply thought-provoking. He captures the struggle we all face in navigating the demands of modern life while staying true to our faith. He reminds us that we're not meant to be consumed by the chaos around us but to be present in the moment, trusting in God's timing and grace. Through his words, I've been reminded to slow down and appreciate the beauty of God's presence in every aspect of life, rather than rushing ahead or dwelling on 'what ifs'. It's been a powerful reminder to stay faithful and attentive to God's hand at work in my life.
September 1, 2023
The premise of Adam Ramsey’s book “Faithfully Present” is that we must remember our limits and finiteness as human beings. These limits are placed on us by our all-knowing, ever-faithful God because of His love for us. Such limits and guidelines are actually for our good.
The book’s chapters are organized into two parts: Time and Place, helping us to learn to embrace and be at peace with the limits of the “when” (time) and “where” (place) of our lives.
Ramsey reminds us we can trust God with our time because He is outside of time and He alone has this perspective of time.
“Time need not haunt you, when you know it does not hold you. For the one who holds time holds your life.”
About place, Ramsey reminds us, we “can only faithfully exist in one place at one time,” and that we are called to bless the place and people where we are, and this “deeply matters to God.”
I appreciated the idea to “punctuate the day ahead with brief moments of selah.” Likewise, the chapter highlighting nostalgia and regrets from our past was very moving!
Some quotes I highlighted:
“As far as God is concerned, your earthly body, made of physical matter, matters. And one day, it will be renewed in Christ's likeness.”
“God is not behind schedule in your life because your life is happening on his schedule.”
“Like Esau trading his birthright for a bowl of stew, we exchange faithful presence for perpetual busyness.”
“I am not unlimited, so I need to prioritise rest. I am not omnipotent, so I need to prioritise prayer. I am not omniscient, so I need to learn to listen. I am not omnipresent, so I need to stop trying to be everywhere for everyone...”
Thank you to The Good Book Company for sending this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The book’s chapters are organized into two parts: Time and Place, helping us to learn to embrace and be at peace with the limits of the “when” (time) and “where” (place) of our lives.
Ramsey reminds us we can trust God with our time because He is outside of time and He alone has this perspective of time.
“Time need not haunt you, when you know it does not hold you. For the one who holds time holds your life.”
About place, Ramsey reminds us, we “can only faithfully exist in one place at one time,” and that we are called to bless the place and people where we are, and this “deeply matters to God.”
I appreciated the idea to “punctuate the day ahead with brief moments of selah.” Likewise, the chapter highlighting nostalgia and regrets from our past was very moving!
Some quotes I highlighted:
“As far as God is concerned, your earthly body, made of physical matter, matters. And one day, it will be renewed in Christ's likeness.”
“God is not behind schedule in your life because your life is happening on his schedule.”
“Like Esau trading his birthright for a bowl of stew, we exchange faithful presence for perpetual busyness.”
“I am not unlimited, so I need to prioritise rest. I am not omnipotent, so I need to prioritise prayer. I am not omniscient, so I need to learn to listen. I am not omnipresent, so I need to stop trying to be everywhere for everyone...”
Thank you to The Good Book Company for sending this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 1, 2024
A wonderful gospel enriched book that contains a lot of hope and practical advice for the reader. I particularly enjoyed the final chapters. “Our citizenship in heaven makes the worst times in this world liveable and the best times in this world leaveable, because our hope is not ultimately tied to anything in this present world”.
April 22, 2024
Another 5 star review for Adam Ramsey - a really rich book full of truths about being faithfully present in our time and our place. Particularly enjoyed the chapter on being in a digital age, and the last chapters on eternity. I would have liked a few more examples of real practical application but we're discussing in my book club in a few weeks so we will touch on that!
August 18, 2023
Adam’s writing is readable, relatable, and is fixated on the beauty of what is held out to us in Christ! This book wants to help us understand why Jesus has us where we are and the importance of being fully present wherever the Lord has us.
This book will cause you to reflect on elements of time that you probably haven’t spent more than a few moments of speculation on. You might never read a time management book after this… and this is not a book on time management! It will cause you to think differently!
I especially felt wonder as Adam led me through the chapter on eternity. My heart was full of worship!
This book will be worth the read… but make sure you build in time to meditate and process the complicated ideas that Adam seems to make so simple.
Thank you, Adam!
This book will cause you to reflect on elements of time that you probably haven’t spent more than a few moments of speculation on. You might never read a time management book after this… and this is not a book on time management! It will cause you to think differently!
I especially felt wonder as Adam led me through the chapter on eternity. My heart was full of worship!
This book will be worth the read… but make sure you build in time to meditate and process the complicated ideas that Adam seems to make so simple.
Thank you, Adam!
November 14, 2023
Like his first book ‘Truth on Fire’, this is a cracker of a book. Highly recommended. One of the best Christian books I’ve read in years. It’s easy reading yet also profound; funny, relatable, but also deadly serious. Gospel-centred and gospel-rich. I benefited from reflecting on my (theological) place in both time and space. It made me long for heaven. I read each chapter and then listened to the same chapter on audible to help it sink in. That worked well for me - this is a book too read slowly and to savour.
October 9, 2025
So many precious reminders of how we should view our life and context, written in an engaging and relatable way. Some favourite quotes include:
“Time need not haunt you when it does not hold you.”
“Sometimes we’re more interested in being used by God than being known by Him.”
“When we learn to master our ambitions rather than being mastered by them we find ourselves discovering, alongside the apostle Paul, the secret superpower of contentment.”
“There are waves of joy in your future so far beyond your comprehension that God needs to strengthen your physical frame with a glorified body just for you to even have the capacity to handle the intensity of such happiness. That’s where we’re heading.”
“Your present limitations are part of your divinely ordained means of sanctification.”
“Receive each day as the limited edition gift that it is.”
“Time need not haunt you when it does not hold you.”
“Sometimes we’re more interested in being used by God than being known by Him.”
“When we learn to master our ambitions rather than being mastered by them we find ourselves discovering, alongside the apostle Paul, the secret superpower of contentment.”
“There are waves of joy in your future so far beyond your comprehension that God needs to strengthen your physical frame with a glorified body just for you to even have the capacity to handle the intensity of such happiness. That’s where we’re heading.”
“Your present limitations are part of your divinely ordained means of sanctification.”
“Receive each day as the limited edition gift that it is.”
June 16, 2024
Exceptional. Possibly one of the best books I have ever read. Helps to see how vital it is that we understand the limitations we have been given by God and use them to be present where we are but living well preparing for eternity. Unbelievably challenging but in a fantastic way!!!
July 2, 2023
Faithfully Present is a weighty, daunting, joyful, hope-filled reminder of our limitations and not-God-ness, yet also the eternal, perfect joy that is to come for those who are in Christ.
Adam is not afraid in his writing to remind the reader of the shortness of this life, yet in a way that begins to help them to see the beauty in our human limitations, and assist us to live in the present times, places, and spaces with a fresh intentionality, gratitude and perspective.
His writing is easy to read and comprehend, even when covering topics of depth. I highly recommend for anyone to pick this book up and be both challenged and encouraged by it.
Adam is not afraid in his writing to remind the reader of the shortness of this life, yet in a way that begins to help them to see the beauty in our human limitations, and assist us to live in the present times, places, and spaces with a fresh intentionality, gratitude and perspective.
His writing is easy to read and comprehend, even when covering topics of depth. I highly recommend for anyone to pick this book up and be both challenged and encouraged by it.
January 10, 2024
A great first read for 2024. I am reminded of the grounding truths that to be truly present, one must slow down, worship through rest, and consider the good limitations God has given us to live faithfully and well.
December 29, 2024
I think I have not fully understood what "redeeming the time" means (Ephesians 5) until reading this book. A wonderful perspective shift with a joyful look into eternity and a greater appreciation for where and when God has placed me in this world.
June 24, 2025
In a world full of distractions, anxieties, and competing desires, being truly present—to God and to those around us—can feel nearly impossible. This book was a refreshing and timely reminder that God is sovereign over time and over our lives. I was deeply encouraged to rediscover the importance of living faithfully in the present moment, as this is how we live out the greatest commandment: to love God and love others.
August 6, 2024
After reading another book by Adam Ramsey, “Truth on Fire”, I knew I had to read this book. His writing is beautiful and inviting and a great combination of challenge and encouragement. In addition, I felt like I needed what this book was described to be. To live faithfully present in the moment has to be one of the greatest human needs of our time.
I am so glad I read this book. It has helped be honest about my limitations as a finite creature who can only be in one place at a time who lives in a world that is constantly tempting me try to be in more than one place at a time in my mind and heart. Adam helped me reflect on how I can trust the glorious God who transcends time and who is sovereign over every moment of the past, present and future, so that I can enjoy and be a blessing in the place and time where God has placed me.
I suspect that my journey to be more faithfully present will be ongoing, but this book will be part of the progress I make in that direction. I highly recommend this book. Your heart and mind likely need the truth it presents more than you are aware of needing it.
I am so glad I read this book. It has helped be honest about my limitations as a finite creature who can only be in one place at a time who lives in a world that is constantly tempting me try to be in more than one place at a time in my mind and heart. Adam helped me reflect on how I can trust the glorious God who transcends time and who is sovereign over every moment of the past, present and future, so that I can enjoy and be a blessing in the place and time where God has placed me.
I suspect that my journey to be more faithfully present will be ongoing, but this book will be part of the progress I make in that direction. I highly recommend this book. Your heart and mind likely need the truth it presents more than you are aware of needing it.
May 19, 2024
I don’t typically give books 5 stars but if I could give a book 10 stars I would for this one. Absolutely incredible. I will 100% be recommending this to anyone in my corner who’s just feeling weary and worn down from life (which I honestly believe constitutes a lot of individuals) and needing a fresh, biblical, encouraging, challenging and refreshing perspective shift. So, SO good!
November 23, 2025
A book that reminds the reader of truths that could be seen to be 'obvious', and yet we as human beings generally fail miserably at living effectively in light of them. We are limited in time and space, and Ramsey encourages us to embrace these limitations rather than resent them. Only then can we live free of time's power to toy with us and sadden us, taking joy in our immediate circumstances and being fully present in them.
April 27, 2024
I loved this book so much that I know I will come back to the wisdom in these chapters again and again. It was medicine for my soul and the encouragement I needed to press on in this life with the calling I’ve been given. I will not soon forget this one.
July 14, 2024
There are a lot of books on time management, but few on a proper perspective of time. This is a great read, and the author is an excellent writer. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
May 26, 2025
My grandparents picked this one out for me, and they did a great job: I felt quite challenged by it. Young and single, I've often considered that throwing myself into as much work and service as possible was the best use of my time and energy - the tiredness of the grind becoming personal badges of honour that attempt to blur out any doubts or alternative options.
This book completely rejects that mindset and flips it on its head. So it hurt when I started subconsciously resisting some of the wisdom within, yet simultaneously realising it bore truths about myself that I knew deep down I needed to stop ignoring. After all, who likes to admit their limitations? Having said that though, hard work that glorifies God is still a good thing, but it is important to consider how you go about it and guard against letting it consume you.
Well written and Biblically backed, with clearly expressed ideas and logic - I'll be coming back to it as I process how to balance my drivenness in life with the necessity of being faithfully present in the here and now.
This book completely rejects that mindset and flips it on its head. So it hurt when I started subconsciously resisting some of the wisdom within, yet simultaneously realising it bore truths about myself that I knew deep down I needed to stop ignoring. After all, who likes to admit their limitations? Having said that though, hard work that glorifies God is still a good thing, but it is important to consider how you go about it and guard against letting it consume you.
Well written and Biblically backed, with clearly expressed ideas and logic - I'll be coming back to it as I process how to balance my drivenness in life with the necessity of being faithfully present in the here and now.
August 31, 2023
“The more we counted the seconds, the more we tried to squeeze into them. The more we put ourselves under the eye of time, the more power we gave to it. We forgot that Chronos is a taker and insatiably greedy.” - Adam Ramsey, Faithfully Present: Embracing the Limits of When and Where God Has You
Thank you Adam for this gentle yet firm reminder to be present and also to sit without racing toward the next thing.
This book was such a great reminder for me, as a young mum who spends *a lot* of time working. To not wish away the struggles of being a toddler mum, and to also be faithful with the time that I do have. To put down the phone and put away the laptop. To admit that I can’t do it all even if I desperately want to, and, most importantly, to be ok with that.
This will be something I read regularly - because I’m a sinner, and need constant reminder of the good rest that I can find in Jesus and that the little moments are the most important.
Thank you Adam for this gentle yet firm reminder to be present and also to sit without racing toward the next thing.
This book was such a great reminder for me, as a young mum who spends *a lot* of time working. To not wish away the struggles of being a toddler mum, and to also be faithful with the time that I do have. To put down the phone and put away the laptop. To admit that I can’t do it all even if I desperately want to, and, most importantly, to be ok with that.
This will be something I read regularly - because I’m a sinner, and need constant reminder of the good rest that I can find in Jesus and that the little moments are the most important.
August 31, 2023
Ramsey writes a refreshingly honest account about the truth of time and how we can be faithfully present in the season we are in. The limitations of our humanity is rightly amplified, but the hope and sovereignty of God overrides this.
With the fast-paced world we live in, this book is a reminder to stop, breath and embrace the God-ordained season we are in.
With the fast-paced world we live in, this book is a reminder to stop, breath and embrace the God-ordained season we are in.
October 19, 2025
As the writer of Ecclesiastes notes, we are on earth for a limited time, here today and gone tomorrow, and most of what we try to do is futile. So, what's the point of everything, and why are we here?
This book is usefully divided into two sections, one on time, and how we spend our time, and another on the subject of place, comparing life on earth to Heaven.
I enjoyed reading this book, and I liked that the analogies used were relateable to modern times. The book mentions and alludes to many times our own addiction to our phones, and how we spend so much of our day lost in our own gadgets, checking our texts and social media. A lot of the time, we cannot live in the present, as we are either thinking about our own past regrets, or planning for the future.
Aaron Ramsey makes a good illustration with having to go upstairs because one of his children is crying; after losing his patience, he realises that the child just wants a hug, and then remembers how limited his time with the children will be, and how he needs to make the most of it all.
The section on "Place" deals a lot with how we might become attached to earthly things (hinting again at social media addiction) but how our true home is heaven; as Christians, we are merely sojourners here.
I really enjoyed this book, and found it easy to understand its main points; make the most of your time on earth, and try to encourage family and friends, but don't lose sight of our ultimate goal: our eternal home where each day is better than the last.
This book is usefully divided into two sections, one on time, and how we spend our time, and another on the subject of place, comparing life on earth to Heaven.
I enjoyed reading this book, and I liked that the analogies used were relateable to modern times. The book mentions and alludes to many times our own addiction to our phones, and how we spend so much of our day lost in our own gadgets, checking our texts and social media. A lot of the time, we cannot live in the present, as we are either thinking about our own past regrets, or planning for the future.
Aaron Ramsey makes a good illustration with having to go upstairs because one of his children is crying; after losing his patience, he realises that the child just wants a hug, and then remembers how limited his time with the children will be, and how he needs to make the most of it all.
The section on "Place" deals a lot with how we might become attached to earthly things (hinting again at social media addiction) but how our true home is heaven; as Christians, we are merely sojourners here.
I really enjoyed this book, and found it easy to understand its main points; make the most of your time on earth, and try to encourage family and friends, but don't lose sight of our ultimate goal: our eternal home where each day is better than the last.
February 12, 2024
I listened to the audio of Adam reading his own book via Spotify, and I can't recommend it highly enough. He's a good reader, and this book is written so well, with moments that made me laugh out loud, and other moments where the reminders of my own frail, limited mortality were clear enough to hurt.
Make the most of the gift of every moment of life, but always be aware that each moment is temporary and there is such incredible joy and beauty awaiting us at the end of this current time.
Loved it. Thank you, Adam.
Make the most of the gift of every moment of life, but always be aware that each moment is temporary and there is such incredible joy and beauty awaiting us at the end of this current time.
Loved it. Thank you, Adam.
April 25, 2024
This was such an honest book about how we are to live in the here and now, recognizing it is God’s given plan, place and time. If we constantly have our minds set on the next thing or place, we miss what God has for us now! There are so many powerful quotes to share but here is one to give a taste of the author’s perspective: “ In God‘s redemptive plan we are not the central character, but we do deeply matter. While God’s story includes you, it is not about you, but rather it is about Him! When we come to peace with that, we can say with the Psalmist, ‘ my times are in your hands’. What we need is the external perspective of the One who stands outside of time.” I highly recommend this book, and to read it more than once. There is so much to absorb and so worth the time!
March 14, 2024
Excellent first half (time) and pretty good second half (place). A comforting, gentle read with some nice insights - I think. I finished it a while ago and forgot to update, not being faithful in the present.
April 22, 2025
Really enjoyed listening to this as an audiobook, and may yet also read as a physical book too. Ramsey suggested helpful ideas about time, accepting our limits as finite humans, and trusting in a God who is outside time and space. Chapters on body as place and waiting and pauses in time were especially good.
January 27, 2024
Wow....just...wow. I'm still processing and wrapping my mind around this book. Beautifully written, it truly engaged my heart and mind on two things I stuggle with - limitations of time and of place. So many passages to underline, re-read, and think more on. I would give it 10 stars if that was an option!
January 3, 2026
This was an incredibly gentle and uplifting read that has spurred me on amidst the busyness of day to day life. It is written with such wisdom on how to make the most of life without feeling overwhelmed or frustrated that your human limitations are the greatest obstacle to one's godliness.
March 28, 2024
Faithfully Present gives eternal weight and gospel significance to “living within your limits” of time and space. A challenging and worthy read!
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