Gradually Then Suddenly: How to Dream Bigger, Decide Better, and Leave a Lasting Legacy

by Mark Batterson

True success doesn’t happen overnight. The New York Times bestselling author of Win the Day reveals a life-changing truth about achievement: God is building you up steadily so you’re ready for overnight success.

“How did you go bankrupt?” asked a character in Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. The reply? “Two ways . . . gradually then suddenly.”

In this illuminating book, Mark Batterson reveals that every area of life—from personal growth to professional development to spiritual transformation—follows this same pattern. What we perceive as sudden success is the result of little decisions compounding over time.

Gradually Then Suddenly will help you
• cultivate cathedral thinking—adopt a long-term perspective that changes your daily decisions and life trajectory
• leverage the compound effect—discover how courageous decisions and consistent routines domino into life-changing results
• harness the power of persistence—commit yourself to the long game, and the impossible becomes possible
• curate core convictions—discover how to defy peer pressure, popular opinion, and political correctness by defining your deepest convictions

Drawing from compelling biblical examples, fascinating historical stories, and hard-won leadership insights, Batterson demonstrates that God uses long obedience in the same direction to prepare us for sudden moments of major progress.

For anyone feeling stuck in the “gradually” phase, this book is a beacon of hope. If you do the right things day in and day out, God is going to show up and show off His faithfulness—not just for you but for generations to come.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction, Christian, Self Help, Faith, Spirituality, Reference

288 pages, Hardcover

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. One church in seven locations, NCC owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, The Miracle Theatre, and the DC Dream Center. NCC is currently developing a city block into The Capital Turnaround. This 100,000-square-foot space will include an event venue, child development center, mixed-use marketplace, and co-working space. Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times best-selling author of seventeen books, including The Circle Maker, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Wild Goose Chase, Play the Man, Whisper, and, most recently, Double Blessing. Mark and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill with their three children: Parker, Summer, and Josiah.

Reviews

[Lydia Wallace]

I've been praying about the turmoil in the world today. This book really gave me encouragement, guidance and wisdom. The faith Mark Batterson is contagious and grows my own faith in my own life. I love how he brings other stories into his books, showcasing other miracles with other people. Highly recommend.

[Sarah]

This book has encouraged me to take the long view in life. It is packed full with stories of people who were consistent in little things, often for years, then “suddenly” gained success from their good habits and persistence. This is a positive look at Bible stories as well as many interesting stories from around the world. It’s a fascinating, encouraging, and inspiring read.
I received a preview copy from NetGalley.

[Matt]

I fell for it again. I keep reading these Christian Living books because I am sucked in by what seems like a theme that will have a lot of profound material to shape the way I live, but when I actually read the book, it feels empty. I've heard that a lot of Christian pastors rework their sermon texts to be put together into a book like this, and although I don't know if Batterson himself did that here, it has the feeling that it was. There were lots of stories, both about well-known individuals and also people that Batterson has encountered, and he used these stories to drive his points home. Maybe what I'm trying to describe is that there were more anecdotes than substantive content. One critique I'll give is that he used the phrase "gradually, then suddenly" a lot, but I don't think that what he was saying was always making the points that he was hoping they would regarding this theme.

While this final note isn't about Batterson, I did have a thought about Christian Living books while listening to this audiobook. If it is true that a lot of pastors are turning their sermon series into books, and if it is also true that those books can often feel empty compared to the deep, theological books that pastors were producing in the past, is this a reflection of the types of sermons being delivered to congregations all across America?

[Darla Jones]

encouraging as always

[Jeff Guo]

"Show me the size of your dream, and I’ll show you the size of your God."

Reading Gradually Then Suddenly was a wake-up call for my spiritual and personal ambition. The central premise—that success looks sudden to the outsider but is actually the result of gradual, persistent faithfulness—really challenged how I view my own patience and "failures."

The book opens with a powerful hook that I couldn't get out of my head: "We are one decision away from a totally different life." It made me stop and look at my own trajectory, asking myself which past decisions shaped where I am now, and more importantly, what decision I am hesitating to make today that could alter my future.

One of the most convicting illustrations was the Kingfisher, which took 37 attempts to catch a single fish. I had to ask myself: When was the last time I tried something 37 times? In a world where we often give up after the first or second rejection, this was a reminder that "follow through" is the real determiner of success.

I was also deeply moved by the story of Norman Borlaug. While his peers were shipping off to war, he felt a unique call to fight world hunger—a different battle, but one that saved millions. It forced me to wrestle with the question: What is God uniquely calling me to do? The book stresses that legacy isn't what I accomplish, but what others accomplish because of me.

Perhaps the most practical takeaway was the concept of "6-inch solutions." The story of NYC preventing playground injuries simply by raising swings 6 inches is a profound metaphor. Sometimes our biggest, most overwhelming problems don’t require massive overhauls, but small, strategic adjustments.

My Key Takeaways:

• Regret is usually passive: The statistic that "84% of the time people regret actions not taken" is haunting. It reminded me that I need 20 seconds of "insane courage" to take action rather than sit in safety.

• Write it down: The note that "Everything is created twice" (first in the mind, then in reality) inspired me to actually write down my dreams—just like the examples of retiring at 35 or swimming the English Channel.

• Small acts compound: Like the NYC taxi driver whose kindness to one person ripples through the city, our small decisions compound over time.

This book is a must-read for anyone feeling stuck in the "gradual" phase of life, waiting for their "sudden." It’s a reminder that the size of your dream reflects the size of your God.

[Erica]

five stars bc it caught me in a phase of life where i needed this. time to dream again. ✌🏻

[DJPimpDaddy]

DNF Got this as a goodreads giveaway ARC. Its an uncorrected proof version and I hope a lot was changed or edited before pushing out to the public.

It takes a lot for me to willingly DNF a book. I made it about half way through chapter 1, past the intro and prologue. This is clearly not the book I thought it would be. Its UBER christian bent drivel, not a self help book. The main message is be persistent and eventually the magical sky fairy will take over I guess?

I just couldn't. I am fine with christianity angled books and respect their place in the book market, but this one was just too much. It requires a level of faith that I could never pretend to even care about to even finish reading this.

The authors examples just in chapter 1 jump back and forth so much that any point he was trying to make about world food insecurity( or was it the nobel peace prize?) is just muddled and lost. I am not sure what I even thought this book would be about and the haphazard writing didn't present any clear path towards a theme either. Tossing this one in the bin.

[Matt]

I fell for it again. I keep reading these Christian Living books because I am sucked in by what seems like a theme that will have a lot of profound material to shape the way I live, but when I actually read the book, it feels empty. I've heard that a lot of Christian pastors rework their sermon texts to be put together into a book like this, and although I don't know if Batterson himself did that here, it has the feeling that it was. There were lots of stories, both about well-known individuals and also people that Batterson has encountered, and he used these stories to drive his points home. Maybe what I'm trying to describe is that there were more anecdotes than substantive content. One critique I'll give is that he used the phrase "gradually, then suddenly" a lot, but I don't think that what he was saying was always making the points that he was hoping they would regarding this theme.

While this final note isn't about Batterson, I did have a thought about Christian Living books while listening to this audiobook. If it is true that a lot of pastors are turning their sermon series into books, and if it is also true that those books can often feel empty compared to the deep, theological books that pastors were producing in the past, is this a reflection of the types of sermons being delivered to congregations all across America?

[Amy Richardson]

Meh! Too many stories and not much application. He repeats the same thing too much and tells the same stories from his other books. Also, seems to take a lot from other authors.

[Seth Buckner]

Excellent! Everyone should read this book. Mark Batterson is one of my favorite authors. This book is one of his better books.

[Janet Yonkheym Collins]

Great concepts! Food for thought

[JD']

Gradually Then Suddenly by Mark Batterson

Some books give you information. Some books give you inspiration. And then there are books that make you stop reading every few pages because you suddenly find yourself thinking about your own life.

Gradually Then Suddenly was that kind of book for me.

One of the things I love about Mark Batterson's writing is that he doesn't just give you the familiar Bible stories. He goes digging for the people and moments that might get only a sentence or two in Scripture and asks you to look at them differently.

Jonathan climbing the cliffs with his armor-bearer to take on the Philistines while King Saul is sitting on the sidelines eating pomegranates is a perfect example. There is something almost comical about the contrast: Jonathan is taking the hill while Saul is apparently having snack time. One man is taking action; the other is watching.

And that becomes a leadership lesson.

Sometimes the biggest difference between leaders isn't intelligence, resources, or position. It's whether they're willing to get off the sidelines.

Batterson also talks about the 12 spies who went into the Promised Land. Ten saw giants and concluded that the Israelites couldn't do it. Joshua and Caleb saw the same giants but believed God was bigger than the giants.

That idea stayed with me: faith doesn't mean you don't see the giants. Faith means you see the giants and still believe God is bigger.

Batterson continually comes back to the idea that God often works gradually and then suddenly. The breakthrough may look sudden to everybody watching, but there was usually a long period of preparation that nobody saw.

That's true of business. It's true of leadership. It's true of writing a book. It's true of faith. And sometimes it's true of our biggest battles.

There may be a wilderness before the victory.

David didn't face Goliath for forty years. He faced him in a moment. But Israel spent forty years in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land. Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry. The number isn't some magical formula where God owes us a breakthrough after exactly 40 days or 40 years, but there is something powerful about the biblical pattern: sometimes God takes us through a season of preparation before He puts us in front of the giant.

And sometimes the battle lasts longer than we want.

Batterson even tells the story of Peter Jackson and James J. Corbett, who fought an unbelievable 61 rounds in 1891. Not twelve rounds. Not fifteen. Sixty-one. The fight lasted about four hours before both men were too exhausted to continue.

Can you imagine explaining modern boxing rules to those guys?

"Okay, gentlemen, you've got twelve rounds."

"Only twelve?"

Apparently these guys had a different definition of cardio.

But there's a serious lesson in that ridiculous endurance: stay in the fight.

That may be one of the biggest messages I took from this book.

Batterson also gets into the idea that if you win an argument with God, you actually lose. But if you surrender to God and "lose" the argument, you ultimately win because you're choosing obedience over your own way.

That connects to another important idea: the sin of omission.

Doing something wrong isn't the only way to fail. Sometimes we fail by not doing the thing we know we should do. We can rationalize our way into inactivity. We can tell ourselves that something isn't our responsibility. We can wait for somebody else to step up.

But sometimes faith means going beyond what is comfortable and doing what is right even when nobody is watching.

That's leadership too.

In business, you don't build something great by asking, "What's the minimum I have to do?"

You build something great by asking, "What needs to be done?"

That's the difference between compliance and ownership.

Batterson also brings in J.R.R. Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, along with entrepreneurs, historical figures, athletes, authors, pastors, and countless other people. This is one of the reasons his books are so enjoyable to me. He has an incredible ability to connect seemingly unrelated stories.

One minute you're reading about an obscure Old Testament character, the next you're thinking about Tolkien, then entrepreneurship, then Chuck Colson, then you're back in the book of Joshua.

It's like having a really well-read friend who keeps saying, "Oh, that reminds me of something..."

And then somehow that "something" turns into a lesson.

That's what makes Batterson's writing so valuable.

I also appreciate the business and leadership wisdom throughout the book. The principle of playing the long game is particularly relevant to me. In a world obsessed with immediate results, Batterson argues for persistence, preparation, consistency, and faithfulness.

The truth is, most people want the "suddenly."

They want the successful business, the finished book, the restored relationship, the breakthrough, the answered prayer.

But they don't necessarily want the "gradually."

The gradually is boring.

The gradually is repetitive.

The gradually is doing the same right thing when nobody applauds.

The gradually is writing another page when you don't know if anybody will ever read the book.

The gradually is showing up again.

And again.

And again.

Until one day, suddenly, something changes.

That idea hit me particularly hard because I'm writing a book for my son. I don't know how many people will ever read it. Maybe 100. Maybe fewer. The thought of selling 5,000 copies seems almost impossible to me.

But then I realized something:

I'm writing it for an audience of one.

If my son reads it someday and understands what I wanted him to know, then it doesn't matter whether the book sells 5,000 copies or five copies.

That's a different definition of success.

And maybe that's another lesson from Gradually Then Suddenly: success isn't always measured by the size of the audience. Sometimes it's measured by the importance of the one person you're trying to reach.

I also had the privilege of meeting Mark Batterson in Washington, D.C. He prayed for me and my son and gave me a copy of this book. That personal experience made reading it even more meaningful.

There were moments where I felt like Batterson was speaking directly into the season of life I'm currently walking through.

For me, "playing the long game" has a very practical meaning. I'm dealing with a difficult family-court situation, and there are times when the temptation is to become passive, frustrated, or simply exhausted by how long everything takes.

But this book reminded me that sometimes you have to take the offensive—not in the sense of attacking people, but in the sense of taking responsibility for what you can control.

Prepare.

Show up.

Do the right thing.

Keep moving.

Don't quit.

Don't confuse delay with defeat.

And trust that God can be working in the gradually even when you can't see the suddenly.

There is also a funny moment involving the biblical character Legion. Batterson points out, in essence, that "Legion" probably wasn't the guy's birth certificate name. 😂

And that's another thing I enjoy about his books. He can make you laugh one minute and then have you thinking about something profound the next.

Ultimately, the biggest takeaway for me is faith against the odds.

When the spies saw giants, Joshua and Caleb saw an opportunity to trust God.

When David saw Goliath, he didn't calculate the odds the way everybody else did.

When Jonathan looked at the Philistines, he didn't wait for Saul to become the leader he was supposed to be.

When Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings, he wasn't producing an instant overnight masterpiece. The work accumulated.

When Peter Jackson and Jim Corbett entered that ring in 1891, they didn't know they were creating a legendary 61-round battle. They just kept fighting until they couldn't.

And maybe that's what faith looks like sometimes.

You don't know exactly when the breakthrough is coming.

You don't know how long the wilderness will last.

You don't know how many rounds remain.

You just know you're not supposed to quit.

That's the beauty of gradually, then suddenly.

What looks like an overnight miracle may actually be years of preparation.

What looks like a sudden victory may be the result of thousands of ordinary decisions.

And what looks like a long delay may actually be God preparing you for something you aren't ready to see yet.

I've read several of Mark Batterson's books, and after finishing this one, I found myself wanting to read even more.

The Final Morning Call for American Flags is still one of my favorites, but Gradually Then Suddenly has earned a place near the top.

Batterson's message ultimately comes down to something simple:

Keep believing. Keep obeying. Keep preparing. Keep showing up.

Because you never know when the gradually is about to become suddenly.

[Robyn]

I have read several Mark Batterson books and generally speaking like them very much, but this one left me feeling sort of uninspired, unfortunately. Rather than being a cohesive text, it felt like a series of short anecdotes of people who had achieved great things in their life after much faith and much persistence - relevant to his purpose for writing this book, but I would’ve appreciated having delved deeper into a few of the Biblical or historical figures rather than so many short examples. I also found that he repeated himself from time to time throughout the book, sharing the same stories or mentioning the same piece of information about his church, one such repetition was even on the same page. If you’re pursuing a big dream, and needing inspiration and encouragement, I’d recommend another of his books, Chase the Lion, it is excellent.

[Kristen Dalton]

I didn’t finish this one. About 100 pages in, the book felt overly reliant on clichés and worldly success stories that didn’t really connect. Like many books I’ve read, it seemed the author had a solid idea that he explained in the first chapter and then tried to stretch it into an entire book. Not for me.

[Shari Summers]

Gradually Then Suddenly is the perfect book to start a new year—especially if you’ve been doing the work, showing up faithfully, and wondering when (or if) the breakthrough will come. This book is deeply encouraging for anyone who feels stuck in the “gradually” phase of life, where progress feels slow and unseen.

It’s also a powerful read if you’ve had a dream tucked away in your heart—one you’re a little afraid to start. If you’ve ever told yourself you don’t have the gifting, you’re not good enough, or your past disqualifies you, this book is for you. Mark Batterson reminds us that what looks like overnight success is almost always the result of small, faithful decisions compounded over time.

One of the things I love most about Batterson’s writing is his use of illustrations and storytelling. The stories—biblical, historical, and personal—do such a great job of cementing the message in your mind. They don’t just inspire you in the moment; they stay with you and continue to nudge your thinking long after you’ve put the book down.

At its core, Gradually Then Suddenly is a reminder to think long-term, stay faithful, and trust God with the process. It encourages persistence, consistency, and obedience—even when results aren’t immediate. This book is full of hope, perspective, and truth for anyone who feels like they’re doing the right things without seeing the payoff yet.

So come on, dreamers—the world needs you. Stay faithful in the small things. Keep showing up. Your “suddenly” may be closer than you think.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My rating system:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Absolutely loved it! I’d read it again… if my TBR pile weren’t already taller than me. Highly recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Really great read! Thoroughly enjoyed it and would happily recommend it to others.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Glad I read it! A solid read, and I might check out more from this author.
⭐️⭐️ – Just okay. Not terrible, but I kind of wish I’d picked something else.
⭐️ – Nope. Didn’t connect with it and wouldn’t recommend.

[Pete Karjanis]

Dr. Mark Batterson has done it again. Every one of his books feels like an expedition — a journey through time, Scripture, and the human heart — and “Gradually Then Suddenly” may be his most complete map yet. In these pages, he traces how faith and perseverance converge over years, sometimes decades, to produce what the world calls “overnight success.”

What I love most about Pastor Mark’s writing is how he builds his insights not on platitudes, but on patterns — drawn from history, science, architecture, and the quiet corners of Scripture. He reaches backward and outward: from the cathedrals of Europe to the trenches of innovation, from Nehemiah’s wall to the moonshot spirit of modern dreamers. He reminds us that God is the ultimate architect of both patience and surprise — the slow burn and the sudden breakthrough.

This book is not just about achieving goals; it’s about cultivating faithful momentum. Batterson calls us to live with a long horizon — what he describes as “cathedral thinking.” It’s the kind of faith that keeps building when the scaffolding blocks the view, trusting that one day the veil will lift and the full design will be revealed.

As always, his storytelling shines. Pastor Mark has an uncommon gift for uncovering little-known historical episodes and threading them seamlessly into spiritual truth. Each chapter feels like a spark that lands somewhere between a sermon and a field guide for Holy Curiosity and endurance.

Reading “Gradually Then Suddenly” came at the perfect time for me. It spoke directly into the long game of vision, the discipline of small daily obedience, and the mystery of how God brings things to fruition in His own time. For anyone walking through a season of preparation — or what feels like delay — this book offers oxygen for your calling.

In true Batterson fashion, it’s both encouraging and catalytic. You finish the final page not with a checklist, but with a renewed sense of wonder that God writes in slow ink — until suddenly, He doesn’t.

[Michael]

Mark Batterson’s Gradually, Then Suddenly beautifully captures how breakthroughs rarely happen overnight — they’re the fruit of daily faithfulness. Drawing on stories like Olympic swimmer Rowdy Gaines training thousands of hours for a one-minute race, and the 600-year construction of the Cologne Cathedral, Batterson reminds us that steady obedience always precedes “sudden” success. These are only two examples of many Batterson uses to drive his points deeper.

What I really enjoyed most is how practical and hopeful this book feels. Batterson’s themes of “cathedral thinking” and “compound faith” challenge us to build what outlasts us for the next generations and trusting that God is working even when we can’t see it. His tone is encouraging, pastoral, and deeply rooted in Scripture.

If there’s a critique, it’s that the central metaphor — “gradually, then suddenly” — can feel a bit forced at times. Not every story of waiting ends with visible reward, and I wished he’d explored that outcome a little more. Still, this book is timely, heartfelt, and exactly the reminder many of us need: faithfulness in the gradual always leads to God’s purpose in the sudden. I will read this book again when I need encouragement on God’s timing.

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley but wasn't obligated to post a review. All opinions are my honest opinions.

[LAMONT D]

Full disclosure would be I do not know much about the pastor Mark Batterson and the church he serves as lead pastor (National Community Church in Washington, D.C.). It sounds like they have accomplished amazing things over the past few years. God bless them for their influence and innovation in the D.C. area. But that is my slight problem with the book because you learn over and over again what they have accomplished. He certainly gives God the credit along with those that faithfully stuck with him especially at the beginning of the church plant. But I took it as somewhat bravado when the legacy they are providing keeps cropping up in the narrative. Now the book has hundreds of quotes and examples of others doing amazing things which support his principles on how to leave a lasting legacy. Who doesn't want that to happen? All in all, I liked his book "A Million Little Miracles" better. He talks about some of his other earlier books which I haven't read and about drawing and walking a prayer circle ("the Circle Maker" - who hasn't walked and prayed for something). Again, it just came across a little egotistical, but I would still encourage people to read his books just because they do have a Christian bent to them and there are so many references that are just plain interesting (the rest of the story kind of stuff like Paul Harvey).

[Matt]

I fell for it again. I keep reading these Christian Living books because I am sucked in by what seems like a theme that will have a lot of profound material to shape the way I live, but when I actually read the book, it feels empty. I've heard that a lot of Christian pastors rework their sermon texts to be put together into a book like this, and although I don't know if Batterson himself did that here, it has the feeling that it was. There were lots of stories, both about well-known individuals and also people that Batterson has encountered, and he used these stories to drive his points home. Maybe what I'm trying to describe is that there were more anecdotes than substantive content. One critique I'll give is that he used the phrase "gradually, then suddenly" a lot, but I don't think that what he was saying was always making the points that he was hoping they would regarding this theme.

While this final note isn't about Batterson, I did have a thought about Christian Living books while listening to this audiobook. If it is true that a lot of pastors are turning their sermon series into books, and if it is also true that those books can often feel empty compared to the deep, theological books that pastors were producing in the past, is this a reflection of the types of sermons being delivered to congregations all across America?

[Anthony Hessler]

Pastor Mark Batterson delivers another impactful and inspiring book that concentrates on the way in which the gradual, slow and incremental changes often bring about sudden and dramatic results. In the pages of the book, we are prompted to find the consistent, God-honoring steps needed to set up big breakthroughs through looking at three main aspects: Long Vision, Long Obedience, and Long Legacy. The book offers hints at one of my other favorite books of his, Win the Day, in which he outlines the seven practical habits to help harness the power of each day. When combining the power of daily habits and slow incremental changes—doing things gradually—Batterson shows us that “if you do the right things day in and day out, God will show up and show off.” As with all of Mark’s books, his humor, imagination, meticulous research, inspiring stories, energy, and fresh and insightful writing style make for an enjoyable and impactful overall work, and another absolute must-read for anyone looking for dramatic results through long obedience in the same direction. And as with so many of his other books, this one is one that I am already re-reading, and will be listening and re-listening to as well.

[Bri]

3.85/4 - I will read anything Mark Batterson writes!! The way he writes is so easy to understand, I can't stand when Christian books are like brain overload. I need simple, but impactful and that's exactly what he does!
I found this book for $5 from the used bookstore and was so excited because I really wanted this one when it came out, but didn't want to pay full price for it. When I got it, I said God must want to teach my something and I was meant to find this because it's new like how did I find this brand new for $5?! That was God! So I read it almost right away and I'm so happy I did!
There were so many cool stories in here about real people and so many other familiar stories from the bible! I think as a super impatient person who struggles with God's timing, this was a really good book for me and where I am at right now. I always think of how God is a crockpot God. Slow then suddenly! It's such a great reminder of how his timing is not ours and the journey is never what we think.
Now this wasn't my favorite of his, I also read it really slow and spaced out so I think that had something to do with it. Overall, good message and might be better for another time in my life but I'm ready for my suddenly that's for sure!

[Jeff]

“Gradually Then Suddenly” is the latest book by Mark Batterson, pastor of the National Community Church in Washington, D.C.

Impatience is an epidemic in today’s world. We live with information from around the world at our fingertips 24/7. Why wait to learn how to beat a video game by trial and error? All you have to do is watch a YouTube video. Why spend time finding someone who knows something and have a conversation with them when you can Google it?

When do we want it? Now! Like, right now. And honestly, that might take a bit longer than I want it to.

Pastor Batterson addresses this, but in a different context. He is addressing it from the standpoint of what is your purpose in life? What hard things would you like to accomplish?

Guess what, every over night sensation to years to build. And yours will too.

This book is an excellent reminder of the trials and errors of life and how they not only build people, but dreams.

So step into the Dream Factory, pull up a comfortable chair, and dive deep into this book. It will inspire you.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Cheri Swalwell]

This book was exactly what I needed to read during this season in my life. Mark Batterson's books always uplift, encourage, and help people see the God still is working miracles in 2025 and beyond. The faith of this man is contagious and grows my own faith in my own life. I love how he brings other stories into his books, showcasing other miracles with other people or reminding us that most people succeed gradually, then suddenly. One of the stories that stuck with me (I had heard it before but the way Mark recounted it resonated with me) was how many times Abraham Lincoln tried and failed ... until he succeeded! He became President at the right moment in history and is known for one major decision that has impacted our world positively generation after generation. I've been praying this month for wisdom and guidance about something and this book was a huge encouragement.

I received a complimentary copy from netgalley but wasn't obligated to post a review. All opinions are my honest opinions.

[Tom Burkholder]

In the book Gradually Then Suddenly, author and pastor Mark Batterson, writes about true success does not come overnight…. or does it? In this thought provoking book, Batterson outlines how God uses the gradual faithfulness of our lives and then suddenly…. we are there. Batterson writes: “"When you are born, you look like your parents," said Dr. Crawford Loritts. "When you die, you look like your decisions." Destiny is not a mystery. Destiny is a series of decisions—big decisions and little decisions, predecisions and daily decisions. And every decision has a domino effect. For better or for worse, we look more and more like our decisions every day. The good news? You are one decision away from a totally different life. My prayer is that God would give you the clarity, the conviction, and the courage you need to make that decision.” This was a great read with lots of challenging thoughts and giving great stories and examples! I would highly recommend this book. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Katy]

Mark Batterson gives many historical and biblical examples of how long obedience over time turns into what feels like sudden results. I really enjoyed the historical examples that Mark gave. As a pastor, he obviously excels at sermon examples. Sometimes the examples were so well described that it was difficult for me to keep track of the initial principle.

I felt challenged to trust God more in certain situations, but I also feel like many of Mark's examples were very cliché which made the entire description feel flippant. I enjoyed the personal story of his church. I know that story has been told in his other books, but it would have felt more cohesive for me to have gotten more of a timeline and detail on his church, or in his personal life, rather than his big institutional role.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend Batterson's book to just anyone, but I do think it has a time and a season to be read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy.

[Rebecca]

Mark Batterson does it again! Further cementing his place as my favorite author, I've never met a Batterson book I haven't liked. But I think this one will become one of my most gifted books, along with "Chase The Lion" and "A Million Little Miracles." My favorite part of Mark's message in this book is that it will resonate with all ages, because we never stop dreaming, no matter how old we are. My kids are 11 and 9, and they are getting close to the age where they will start picking up "life help" books that they actually want to read to better themselves. I love that I can give them Mark's books and know that the messages are aligned with God's word. But they're also funny and engaging. I loved learning even more about Mark's journey and how "slow" his success was, as well as learning more about Disney and other interesting historical happenings. Mark you've done it again my friend!

[David]

An uplifting and encouraging book from Mark Batterson. He developes the theme of long obedience in the same direction that leads to great success in the Kingdom of God. The book is full of illustrations of how God works in small ways through the obedience of his children. The small things open the door for God to work in big ways. As Jesus said, the follower who is faithful in small things will be given responsibility over big things.
I enjoy Batterson's books because they can be read in small doses. Each page has a new illustration that focuses on the main theme of the book. Batterson sometimes gets redundant talking about the great things God has accomplished in his life and church, but it doesn't come across as egotistical or bragging. He just likes to brag on God.

[Josiah Huffman]

Overall, a good book. I loved some of their points. It makes about recognizing that dreams do happen, but they don’t happen quickly. That things grow at the speed of a seed. That God moves at the speed of a seed. But then all of a sudden he can break through the surface and move quickly. I’ve seen God do that in my life and in so many other cases in scripture. I love the faith and encouragement I received from this book. I wish I could do like a 4.8. It wasn’t a full five, but it was very close.

[Emilee]

This book was super inspiring. I listened as an audiobook, and starting off, I almost quit because the author’s voice is annoyingly over-the-top enthusiastic. But I’m glad I kept listening! It’s full of so many real-life stories of people with big dreams and people who left unexpected legacies. It really made me stop and think, “What am I doing with my life, and what kind of an impact am I having?”

[Rhonda Keliipio]

I honestly wish there was a 6 star rating. I took a while to read this one because I truly didn’t want it to end. It fans the flames of your dreams and fills you with encouragement. Deep thoughts for navigating this life playing the long legacy game. Beautiful reminders of God’s faithful presence. He truly uses every bit of our story when we are anchored to Him. Mark you are maximizing your gifts for His Kingdom ♥️