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Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness
A Sacred Invitation to Hope
How can we live as people of hope in the midst of unmet longings, unanswered prayers, and seemingly unresolvable pain?
Through sharing her personal story of deep loss, Hannah Miller King reflects on how the ancient Christian practice of Communion can reframe our grief by embedding it in a larger picture of gospel hope. Each chapter presents a way in which the Lord's Supper makes the hope of the gospel tangible, reminding us of God's present faithfulness and promise of future renewal. With its inviting tone and thoughtful reflections, Feasting on Hope provides solace for those seeking hope amid a world that is not yet restored.
In Feasting on Hope, you'll find
Rich biblical insights made approachable for all readers A hopeful exploration of how we participate in Christ’s triumph An invitation to see yourself as a wanted guest of God's hospitality Reflection questions for individuals and groups to foster thoughtful engagement Whether you are grappling with what seems like an endless search for peace, wrestling with unmet desires, or simply longing for a deeper connection with God and others, this book meets you with tender realism and abundant grace.
Feasting on Hope invites you to the Communion table, where God's people are formed into a family that is strong enough to hold sorrow inside of hope. Are you ready to take your place at the table?
How can we live as people of hope in the midst of unmet longings, unanswered prayers, and seemingly unresolvable pain?
Through sharing her personal story of deep loss, Hannah Miller King reflects on how the ancient Christian practice of Communion can reframe our grief by embedding it in a larger picture of gospel hope. Each chapter presents a way in which the Lord's Supper makes the hope of the gospel tangible, reminding us of God's present faithfulness and promise of future renewal. With its inviting tone and thoughtful reflections, Feasting on Hope provides solace for those seeking hope amid a world that is not yet restored.
In Feasting on Hope, you'll find
Rich biblical insights made approachable for all readers A hopeful exploration of how we participate in Christ’s triumph An invitation to see yourself as a wanted guest of God's hospitality Reflection questions for individuals and groups to foster thoughtful engagement Whether you are grappling with what seems like an endless search for peace, wrestling with unmet desires, or simply longing for a deeper connection with God and others, this book meets you with tender realism and abundant grace.
Feasting on Hope invites you to the Communion table, where God's people are formed into a family that is strong enough to hold sorrow inside of hope. Are you ready to take your place at the table?
176 pages, Paperback
Published February 17, 2026
41 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Miller King
1 book15 followersHannah Miller King is a priest and writer in the Anglican Church in North America. She writes for Christianity Today and serves as the associate rector at The Vine Anglican Church in western North Carolina. She and her husband, also a priest, have three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Drawing from her own remarkable life experiences, insights, and lessons she's still learning, Hannah Miller King takes us on a humble exploration of the communion table, with all its meaning and mystery. Written with care, honesty, and clarity, this is for anyone who has wondered about the history and implications of this Christian sacrament--but it's also for anyone who has wondered how this practice speaks to the sufferings and joys of the human experience.
King is an exquisite thinker and communicator: I have been receiving communion for twenty years and yet will now approach the table with deepened understanding and heightened hope. There is raw truth and healing in these pages, and I will be both gifting and rereading this slender, rich book for many years to come. I'm so grateful to have read it.
King is an exquisite thinker and communicator: I have been receiving communion for twenty years and yet will now approach the table with deepened understanding and heightened hope. There is raw truth and healing in these pages, and I will be both gifting and rereading this slender, rich book for many years to come. I'm so grateful to have read it.
February 17, 2026
This beautifully written book is a rich invitation to experience God’s faithfulness in the very places we are tempted to believe hope has run dry.
Hannah Miller King is one of those rare writers whose work deepens my love for Christ and His people, inspiring me toward a godly life that exudes authenticity and agape love. I say that not only as a friend who appreciates her writing, but as a believer who has witnessed her walking out the life-giving words her voice brings when it comes to grief, unmet longing, and the overarching story of hope through God’s redemption.
This book is shaped by her experience of childhood loss and the spaces where she found belonging and grace. Feasting on Hope gently insists that authentic faith has space for grief and unresolved pain—and that the Lord’s Supper is the primary table where God meets us with welcoming grace and hope. This book reminds us that Jesus walks through the wilderness with us, that “he has made his own journey into an offering” of redemption for us.
Speaking of the Communion table, where Jesus meets us not with expectations but with himself, she writes,
“Week after week as I came to the Table—his Table—he confronted my fear of abandonment, my feelings of displacement, my shame. And in exchange he offered me himself.”
Recapturing how Communion is not merely a ritual we sometimes partake of as mere routine, the book draws us to experience Communion as a formative practice that fosters our sense of belovedness and belonging when all around us feels shaken.
I especially appreciated how the book seamlessly weaves personal narrative with accessible, inspiring biblical reflection. Feasting on Hope invites us to experience how God gathers us even in the midst of our grief and joy, our beauty and messiness, “into a larger story of hope” at His table.
Highlights:
“…when our faith sustains hope despite short-term disillusionment, we learn a way of being in the world that is rooted in the next one.”
“Our Lord has gone with us through the wilderness of why. He has endured the crucible of unmet longing. And he has made his own journey into an offering. Now, his death becomes our life. His loss is our gain. His wounds bring us healing.”
“In the present world, our communion—with each other and with God—seemingly hangs by a thread. Sometimes it is completely invisible to us. But because Jesus has already been raised, it is a thread that holds.”
“For Jesus, love was never about returns or results. It was a gift that he gave even though he knew it would be misunderstood and rejected. His obedience and his confidence did not hinge on others’ responses. He knew who he was and what he had come to do. He gave this gift unto death.”
“Belonging to God’s family doesn’t replace our family of origin. It doesn’t erase traumatic memories or the ache of personal losses. But it does write them into a larger story of hope.”
Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read and provide feedback on the beta reader edition of this book, and to Netgalley for the eARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Hannah Miller King is one of those rare writers whose work deepens my love for Christ and His people, inspiring me toward a godly life that exudes authenticity and agape love. I say that not only as a friend who appreciates her writing, but as a believer who has witnessed her walking out the life-giving words her voice brings when it comes to grief, unmet longing, and the overarching story of hope through God’s redemption.
This book is shaped by her experience of childhood loss and the spaces where she found belonging and grace. Feasting on Hope gently insists that authentic faith has space for grief and unresolved pain—and that the Lord’s Supper is the primary table where God meets us with welcoming grace and hope. This book reminds us that Jesus walks through the wilderness with us, that “he has made his own journey into an offering” of redemption for us.
Speaking of the Communion table, where Jesus meets us not with expectations but with himself, she writes,
“Week after week as I came to the Table—his Table—he confronted my fear of abandonment, my feelings of displacement, my shame. And in exchange he offered me himself.”
Recapturing how Communion is not merely a ritual we sometimes partake of as mere routine, the book draws us to experience Communion as a formative practice that fosters our sense of belovedness and belonging when all around us feels shaken.
I especially appreciated how the book seamlessly weaves personal narrative with accessible, inspiring biblical reflection. Feasting on Hope invites us to experience how God gathers us even in the midst of our grief and joy, our beauty and messiness, “into a larger story of hope” at His table.
Highlights:
“…when our faith sustains hope despite short-term disillusionment, we learn a way of being in the world that is rooted in the next one.”
“Our Lord has gone with us through the wilderness of why. He has endured the crucible of unmet longing. And he has made his own journey into an offering. Now, his death becomes our life. His loss is our gain. His wounds bring us healing.”
“In the present world, our communion—with each other and with God—seemingly hangs by a thread. Sometimes it is completely invisible to us. But because Jesus has already been raised, it is a thread that holds.”
“For Jesus, love was never about returns or results. It was a gift that he gave even though he knew it would be misunderstood and rejected. His obedience and his confidence did not hinge on others’ responses. He knew who he was and what he had come to do. He gave this gift unto death.”
“Belonging to God’s family doesn’t replace our family of origin. It doesn’t erase traumatic memories or the ache of personal losses. But it does write them into a larger story of hope.”
Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read and provide feedback on the beta reader edition of this book, and to Netgalley for the eARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I randomly came across this book while scrolling through instagram at the tail end of last year. I didn't know that a lot of it would be informed by the author's loss of her father - a loss I experienced just last year (God works in mysterious ways indeed). However, true to its word, despite its heavy subject matter, I found this book made me hopeful.
I got something different from each of the chapters, and I often used the neglected "highlight" function of my Kindle.
The tensions we live with are real, and the author does not shy away from them. We wait for healing, but God gives us gifts while we wait.
I found the personal reflections were sometimes a bit more detached than the theological ones (although they were intertwined). But perhaps I am doing the book a disservice here, as it never pretends to be a raw grief memoir, like others I have read in the past year.
Overall this was a very worthwhile read, and I'm glad I came across it. Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
I got something different from each of the chapters, and I often used the neglected "highlight" function of my Kindle.
The tensions we live with are real, and the author does not shy away from them. We wait for healing, but God gives us gifts while we wait.
I found the personal reflections were sometimes a bit more detached than the theological ones (although they were intertwined). But perhaps I am doing the book a disservice here, as it never pretends to be a raw grief memoir, like others I have read in the past year.
Overall this was a very worthwhile read, and I'm glad I came across it. Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
July 8, 2025
I had the joy of reading an early draft of Hannah's book and have been eagerly awaiting its print version ever since. I will be buying copies for my friends and family—it's that good.
Hannah is a winsome, thoughtful writer, and that holds true in this book as well. Her exploration of communion and how it speaks to our souls' deepest needs and longings was like sitting down to an abundant feast that nourishes both heart and mind.
Hannah is a winsome, thoughtful writer, and that holds true in this book as well. Her exploration of communion and how it speaks to our souls' deepest needs and longings was like sitting down to an abundant feast that nourishes both heart and mind.
March 14, 2026
Easiest 5 stars of my life.
As someone who has recently met and gotten to know Hannah a bit, know that she is the real deal. I wept as I heard her preach and then wept as I read the book.
Reading this made me realize that I won’t ever need to write a book, because Hannah has already said everything I would want to say, but better. Feasting on Hope was like a future telling of my own story. It recounted some of my lowest moments, offered sustenance for where I’m at, and spoke prophetically about the future. So deep, so meaningful, so hopeful. Each page felt like an offering. Very Eucharistic. Incredible appropriate for followers of an ancient Rabbi in the 21st century.
Thank you Hannah! And thank you God.
As someone who has recently met and gotten to know Hannah a bit, know that she is the real deal. I wept as I heard her preach and then wept as I read the book.
Reading this made me realize that I won’t ever need to write a book, because Hannah has already said everything I would want to say, but better. Feasting on Hope was like a future telling of my own story. It recounted some of my lowest moments, offered sustenance for where I’m at, and spoke prophetically about the future. So deep, so meaningful, so hopeful. Each page felt like an offering. Very Eucharistic. Incredible appropriate for followers of an ancient Rabbi in the 21st century.
Thank you Hannah! And thank you God.
March 7, 2026
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The tagline initially drew me in and I discovered this book was a study of communion. I’ve never read an entire book whose focus was one of the sacraments of the Christian faith before. I gleaned new insights and gained deeper understanding behind this practice. Like the many facets of a diamond, King shines new light on the practice of communion. By vulnerably sharing parts of her grief journey, King beautifully writes how, “communion with Christ reorients us to face our various grief from a place of safety and strength.“
I was helped and challenged by this book. I especially enjoyed the chapter on embodiment. The writing is excellent and drew me into the narrative. While King comes from a different faith tradition than my own, it was interesting to hear how other traditions celebrate the Lord’s Table. I agree with King when she exhorts, “Jesus’ sole ability to satisfy our hunger is at the heart of the Christian message.”
Thank you to NetGalley and InterVarsity Press for sending me the ebook for an honest review.
I was helped and challenged by this book. I especially enjoyed the chapter on embodiment. The writing is excellent and drew me into the narrative. While King comes from a different faith tradition than my own, it was interesting to hear how other traditions celebrate the Lord’s Table. I agree with King when she exhorts, “Jesus’ sole ability to satisfy our hunger is at the heart of the Christian message.”
Thank you to NetGalley and InterVarsity Press for sending me the ebook for an honest review.
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February 17, 2026@ivpress graciously sent me a #gifted copy of this book to read and review, and it has been a meaningful part of my morning devotional reading the last few weeks.
This book centers around the practice of Communion (also known as the Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper, depending on your tradition) and how this practice offers true gospel hope. But it is much more than just Christian non-fiction about a liturgical practice. It’s also a beautiful memoir about God’s grace and goodness amidst deep heartbreak. It’s a beautiful book. As Esau McCaulley says in his foreword, “It’s a profoundly moving, God-honoring work that travels the difficult road through pain to beauty.”
If you are looking for a thoughtful, substantive enrichment to your daily devotional time, I highly recommend this book. Order your copy today, or request it for your local library. 🤍
This book centers around the practice of Communion (also known as the Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper, depending on your tradition) and how this practice offers true gospel hope. But it is much more than just Christian non-fiction about a liturgical practice. It’s also a beautiful memoir about God’s grace and goodness amidst deep heartbreak. It’s a beautiful book. As Esau McCaulley says in his foreword, “It’s a profoundly moving, God-honoring work that travels the difficult road through pain to beauty.”
If you are looking for a thoughtful, substantive enrichment to your daily devotional time, I highly recommend this book. Order your copy today, or request it for your local library. 🤍
January 9, 2026
I had the privilege of reading each chapter as Hannah was writing it. I wanted to put it in so many people’s hands! Finally, it will be available in February and you can pre-order it now! I definitely recommend that you do! I ordered 3 so I can share. :)
February 18, 2026
This book is excellent! I loved all of the chapters, particularly the ones on embodiment and abundance. My current favorite quote is:
"The economy of the Kingdom, then, is eucharistic: we stretch out our hands, we break, we give ourselves away, and we observe the mysterious multiplication of grace. When we are willing to find ourselves lacking we will also find him there, ready to feed us all."
"The economy of the Kingdom, then, is eucharistic: we stretch out our hands, we break, we give ourselves away, and we observe the mysterious multiplication of grace. When we are willing to find ourselves lacking we will also find him there, ready to feed us all."
February 18, 2026
Feasting on Hope is a beautiful, timely book and a wonderful read. Rev. King thoughtfully reflects on the different ways Holy Communion ministers to us, and each week since I have been reading it I have seen new facets of God’s love in the sacrament. Her words are also a feast in themselves - she weaves together her own story with theological reflection in a way that forces you to slow down and savor.
For anyone who is struggling with hope right now, or looking to read something meditative for the season of Lent, I highly recommend this book!
For anyone who is struggling with hope right now, or looking to read something meditative for the season of Lent, I highly recommend this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An easy 5 stars. This book stays far away from cliches with real, hard-won truth that can only come from living it. Hannah Miller King is a beautiful writer, but more than that, her writing has depth and nuance that only comes from living what you write about. I found her honesty, her gentleness, her truth-telling so thought=provoking. Her story has seen deep grief and suffering and still holds the truth of how God sets the table for us in the wilderness. I both wanted to speed my way through these pages and linger for a very long time. I've already recommended this book so many times, and am so grateful to have had the privilege to read it early.
*I received an ARC from IVP and Netgalley.
*I received an ARC from IVP and Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Can God spread a table in the wilderness?"
Can He spread a table in MY wilderness?
In OUR wilderness? In our grief, our brokenness, and our pain?
In this honest and moving recollection of her journey toward the love of Christ, Hannah Miller King beautifully describes the longings of this world. Her reflections are deeply personal, yet they feel universal to so many of us.
As I read her compelling narrative, I felt like I was wading through these griefs alongside her, feeling seen and understood in every chapter. She poetically captures the human experience while clearly presenting the hope offered through the Eucharist. This book has given me a fresh, profound perspective on the Lord’s Table.
Miller King reminds us that God can, and does, set a table in the wilderness. In the Eucharist, we are invited to feast with Him. Through Christ, we are invited to the longest table to feast on hope.
Can He spread a table in MY wilderness?
In OUR wilderness? In our grief, our brokenness, and our pain?
In this honest and moving recollection of her journey toward the love of Christ, Hannah Miller King beautifully describes the longings of this world. Her reflections are deeply personal, yet they feel universal to so many of us.
As I read her compelling narrative, I felt like I was wading through these griefs alongside her, feeling seen and understood in every chapter. She poetically captures the human experience while clearly presenting the hope offered through the Eucharist. This book has given me a fresh, profound perspective on the Lord’s Table.
Miller King reminds us that God can, and does, set a table in the wilderness. In the Eucharist, we are invited to feast with Him. Through Christ, we are invited to the longest table to feast on hope.
February 24, 2026
Written by an Anglican priest, Feasting on Hope is a beautifully written explanation of how communion is anything but a rote or “man made” tradition, but a way to experience Christ himself. For many Christians hungry for liturgy but afraid of traditions that seem too Catholic, this book is a great starting point to learn more about why the words “This is my body, given for you” describe more than just a mid-church snack.
Notable quotes:
“Week after week as I came to the Table—his Table—he confronted my fear of abandonment, my feelings of displacement, my shame. And in exchange he offered me himself.”
“Our Lord has gone with us through the wilderness of why. He has endured the crucible of unmet longing. And he has made his own journey into an offering. Now, his death becomes our life. His loss is our gain. His wounds bring us healing.”
“In the present world, our communion—with each other and with God—seemingly hangs by a thread. Sometimes it is completely invisible to us. But because Jesus has already been raised, it is a thread that holds.”
Notable quotes:
“Week after week as I came to the Table—his Table—he confronted my fear of abandonment, my feelings of displacement, my shame. And in exchange he offered me himself.”
“Our Lord has gone with us through the wilderness of why. He has endured the crucible of unmet longing. And he has made his own journey into an offering. Now, his death becomes our life. His loss is our gain. His wounds bring us healing.”
“In the present world, our communion—with each other and with God—seemingly hangs by a thread. Sometimes it is completely invisible to us. But because Jesus has already been raised, it is a thread that holds.”
February 18, 2026
I am so thankful for this book, a unique and powerful weaving together of theology and memoir together into a beautiful reflection on the Lord’s Supper as told through Hannah’s own story. What this book gives you is an invitation receive a hope that you can taste and see, a hope that is not superficial, but real and true and good - because it is Jesus himself. Hannah reminds us that when we feast on the hope of Christ offered to us freely at his table, even in the wilderness, we will be satisfied.
February 18, 2026
In a world that seems so hopeless, Hannah Miller King has written a book that shares hope in a most beautifully written, realistic and honest way. She shares her story and thoughts in her own voice in the audiobook and her voice is so engaging and comforting. If you need something to remind you of some truths you have forgotten or are looking for a different way to look at the deeply disturbing things you experience or hear about daily, please pick up this book and feast on some hope. Hannah uses communion as the feast of hope but I argue that her book is also a feast of hope for our ears and eyes!
This is a review of the audiobook provided to me by Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.
This is a review of the audiobook provided to me by Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.
February 17, 2026
In Feasting on Hope, Hannah Miller King brings us along her poignant retelling of deeply personal stories and lessons, weaving in wisdom from a myriad of authors and traditions, all while pointing us to the table of Christ—where we find our hope.
March 14, 2026
What a brave and beautiful book! Hannah shared her personal story while seamlessly discussing church history and the truth of the Gospel. I am again reminded of what good news the Gospel is for us all and the beauty of taking communion.
December 28, 2025
If you have ever misunderstood the reasons Christians should celebrate the Lord's Supper (or Eucharist or Communion), this book offers a list of biblical themes that we rehearse each time we participate in this feast. Although they are set alongside memories of the author's life, these themes are universal--home, courage, grief. Hannah Miller King fills each chapter with rich examples from Scripture & helpful application to our lives today. She makes this church ordinance really come to life & helps the reader see it as not just another thing we do to check a box. It's a well-written, well-thought book. Here are a couple of quotations that I found particularly lovely.
"God's kindness is the connective tissue of reality."
"In the long struggle of faith it is easy to forget that God is not a task-master--he is a banquet-master."
"God's kindness is the connective tissue of reality."
"In the long struggle of faith it is easy to forget that God is not a task-master--he is a banquet-master."
February 28, 2026
Hannah has a specific story with unique griefs, and she serves in one expression of Christianity where the Lord’s Supper is given an elevated and regular place in worship. However, she does a masterful job of speaking from these places to Christians with all kinds of stories and from all kinds of traditions about the universal longings and hungers we all feel, and how Christ feeds and nourishes us in those with his very self. A lovely book.
February 10, 2026
Fantastic book that many will benefit from.
To read my review of the book see my Substack article:
https://open.substack.com/pub/thelumi...
To read my review of the book see my Substack article:
https://open.substack.com/pub/thelumi...
February 24, 2026
Hannah’s prose is always beautiful. She uses it to explain and remind us all why we need to return to His table until He returns to us or we to Him.
November 21, 2025
A thoughtful, intimate look at what the eucharist (communion) really means for Christians.
It's an in-depth look at practical application, based on the tender stories from the author's life.
This is a wise, intelligent book that made me think deeply about aspects I've never considered.
I am happy to recommend it highly.
Through Netgalley, I received a preview copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
It's an in-depth look at practical application, based on the tender stories from the author's life.
This is a wise, intelligent book that made me think deeply about aspects I've never considered.
I am happy to recommend it highly.
Through Netgalley, I received a preview copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a pleasure it has been to read and reread Hannah's beautiful book. And to lament that I didn't have it in my hands years ago for the much-needed hope that it offers to us all. The title speaks to the hope that we have that is far more robust than much that our current culture has to offer. Our society teaches us that our best hope for having a successful life is in being productive and wealthy, powerful and educated, youthful and beautiful, clever and popular. And that we can control our lives by striving to have these "measures" of success. And the gospel of Jesus Christ, as Hannah so beautifully writes, turns this on its head over and over again. The hope Jesus offers us is that when we come with our need, not our qualifications, then we discover that he is there to meet us with an overwhelming welcome, with his personal invitation to eat at his table, learn from him and belong in his family. I will be carrying these words with me as I come to the table of the Eucharist each Lord's day.
I was most moved by Hannah's personal story of struggle with having lost her father as a young teen and then experiencing the subsequent multiple moves and displacements that resulted from this loss. And how through the loving guidance of mentors, she came to experience the fatherliness of God, the identity he offers us as members of his family and the hope that we have no matter what our circumstances are in the here and now. And her story and her book push back in needed ways against certain Christian stereotypes that have been shaped by our culture that falsely believe that being a Christian guarantees financial or relational stability, emotional and physical health and if we aren't experiencing these things, then it must be some failing on our part that we can and need to remedy quickly. As Hannah's book reveals, those aspects of our story that we are most ashamed of and most want to hide are often the very thing God is working most deeply in and through us and showing his goodness and glory through most clearly. What a hope this offers us all!
I will be returning to this book for the hope, beauty and clarity it brings to the table.
I was most moved by Hannah's personal story of struggle with having lost her father as a young teen and then experiencing the subsequent multiple moves and displacements that resulted from this loss. And how through the loving guidance of mentors, she came to experience the fatherliness of God, the identity he offers us as members of his family and the hope that we have no matter what our circumstances are in the here and now. And her story and her book push back in needed ways against certain Christian stereotypes that have been shaped by our culture that falsely believe that being a Christian guarantees financial or relational stability, emotional and physical health and if we aren't experiencing these things, then it must be some failing on our part that we can and need to remedy quickly. As Hannah's book reveals, those aspects of our story that we are most ashamed of and most want to hide are often the very thing God is working most deeply in and through us and showing his goodness and glory through most clearly. What a hope this offers us all!
I will be returning to this book for the hope, beauty and clarity it brings to the table.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“It is good to think deeply about the meaning of our faith and its accompanying practices,” writes Hannah Miller King in the final chapter of her new book, "Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness." This is what she has done so beautifully in the preceding pages. Through the lens of Scripture from the Exodus to Revelation, as well as through personal example, she examines the hope offered in the Eucharist for those dealing with traumatic loss, with prayers that seem to go nowhere, even with difficult people. When we gather at the communion table, we acknowledge the “already, but not yet” nature of our faith. Christ has already died for our sins, he has already risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, promising to return and to set all things right. This is our hope. But our experience tells us that our hope has not yet been realized. However, our Lord has left us this tangible gift, which allows us to feed on Him and to put our sorrows into the larger context of His promise. The title of this book is so appropriate – “feasting” implies abundance, “hope” implies expectation, “wilderness” implies a place of testing. Ms King examines all this in the context of the individual, of family, and of the Church. I highly recommend reading this book. You will look at the Eucharist with renewed reverence and appreciation.
As I was reading the book, I wrote down her observations that resonated especially for me, and I ended up with four pages! I will leave you with one more: “The Eucharist reminds us that God’s provision here and now isn’t a finish line; it’s the sustenance to keep putting one foot in front of the other on the trail that He has blazed.” If you want a deeper appreciation and understanding of the Eucharist, read this book; you won’t regret it.
As I was reading the book, I wrote down her observations that resonated especially for me, and I ended up with four pages! I will leave you with one more: “The Eucharist reminds us that God’s provision here and now isn’t a finish line; it’s the sustenance to keep putting one foot in front of the other on the trail that He has blazed.” If you want a deeper appreciation and understanding of the Eucharist, read this book; you won’t regret it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Truth be told, I didn’t think much about Holy Communion (or, ‘Lord’s Supper’) for the first few decades of my Christian life. After all, this activity is just symbolic, right? I mean, who ponders street signs when driving? It’s the destination that keeps my attention! When I became Anglican all that changed (about Holy Communion, that is; street sign relevance hardly changed). I had to reckon with the meaning, learn to appreciate what is in and behind those elements on the Table, and discover their significance in receiving them.
Reading Hannah Miller King's Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness made me realize there is so much more to be observed and experienced in this act of worship. She draws from the Table’s depths and mystery and offers a profoundly personal look at this very public activity known as the Eucharist. Filtering her past experiences of pain and loss through the lens of Holy Communion, readers are invited to take an honest look at themselves and find hope in the ‘body’ and the ‘blood’. Her insights are not just refreshing; they’re renewing as she connects our humanity with the treasures of God’s gift to us in Christ crucified and risen. Coming to the Table will not be the same for me.
Perhaps the book’s greatest strength is showing the solid assurance that God meets us at the Table, is present in our brokenness, and supplies nourishment for leaning forward in ‘prophetic living.’ The Table truly is our teacher showing us the way ‘further up and further in’ to the fullness of life everlasting. Feasting on Hope is now my highest recommendation for anyone coming to the Table. Let us keep the Feast!
Reading Hannah Miller King's Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness made me realize there is so much more to be observed and experienced in this act of worship. She draws from the Table’s depths and mystery and offers a profoundly personal look at this very public activity known as the Eucharist. Filtering her past experiences of pain and loss through the lens of Holy Communion, readers are invited to take an honest look at themselves and find hope in the ‘body’ and the ‘blood’. Her insights are not just refreshing; they’re renewing as she connects our humanity with the treasures of God’s gift to us in Christ crucified and risen. Coming to the Table will not be the same for me.
Perhaps the book’s greatest strength is showing the solid assurance that God meets us at the Table, is present in our brokenness, and supplies nourishment for leaning forward in ‘prophetic living.’ The Table truly is our teacher showing us the way ‘further up and further in’ to the fullness of life everlasting. Feasting on Hope is now my highest recommendation for anyone coming to the Table. Let us keep the Feast!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness, by Hannah Miller King, is centered around the Lord’s Supper, otherwise known as Communion or the Eucharist. But that description feels too narrow to me, perhaps too theological. This book is so much more.
Hannah writes with vulnerability and honesty, and she invites us into her story. She is a priest, who is also a daughter, a wife, a mother and a writer. And she brings all of that to the table in this book. Her dad’s death when she was 14 followed 3 years of praying for his healing, and the pain and feelings of abandonment, displacement, and shame after those prayers were not answered challenged her faith. She says, “Childhood loss interrupted my sense of safety and belonging in the world.”
But she began to heal and found a new sense of belonging at the Communion Table. It was there she was “introduced to a different way of approaching God. Instead of coming to him with a task or a bit of information to dissect, I was invited to simply come…I was invited o be seen by God as I am. It was terrifying. And it was healing. At the Table, I learned that in our vulnerability, God does not withhold himself or turn away. Instead, shockingly, he makes himself vulnerable in return.”
And there is so much more – and so much hope to be found in these pages.
I encourage you to read this book, and taste and see that the Lord is good. Savor the mouthfuls.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Hannah writes with vulnerability and honesty, and she invites us into her story. She is a priest, who is also a daughter, a wife, a mother and a writer. And she brings all of that to the table in this book. Her dad’s death when she was 14 followed 3 years of praying for his healing, and the pain and feelings of abandonment, displacement, and shame after those prayers were not answered challenged her faith. She says, “Childhood loss interrupted my sense of safety and belonging in the world.”
But she began to heal and found a new sense of belonging at the Communion Table. It was there she was “introduced to a different way of approaching God. Instead of coming to him with a task or a bit of information to dissect, I was invited to simply come…I was invited o be seen by God as I am. It was terrifying. And it was healing. At the Table, I learned that in our vulnerability, God does not withhold himself or turn away. Instead, shockingly, he makes himself vulnerable in return.”
And there is so much more – and so much hope to be found in these pages.
I encourage you to read this book, and taste and see that the Lord is good. Savor the mouthfuls.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
February 9, 2026
Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book for anyone who loves Jesus yet lives with unresolved grief or unanswered questions. Through her own story of loss - including the death of her father at a young age and her brother just before her ordination - the author gives language to a tension I have carried for a long time: how to hold joy in a world marked by suffering. This book names that tension and reveals that at the Lord’s Table, lament and gratitude, repentance and joy, are held in the same sacred space.
By weaving together heartache and hope, personal grief and evolving theology, the author reshaped my understanding of the beautiful mystery we encounter at the Lord’s Table. She reminds us that faith in Jesus is not a recipe for earthly happiness, but daily bread for faithful living in the in-between - and that in the Eucharist, Christ meets us not with explanations or promises to fix what is broken, but with himself, sustaining us until he returns and every tear is wiped away.
The deeper theological understanding I’ve gained through this book has made the practice of Communion more meaningful to me and has deepened my desire to experience Christ’s life-giving presence and hope through the Eucharist. If you, too, are seeking a hope that is honest, grounded, and sustaining, this book is well worth your time.
By weaving together heartache and hope, personal grief and evolving theology, the author reshaped my understanding of the beautiful mystery we encounter at the Lord’s Table. She reminds us that faith in Jesus is not a recipe for earthly happiness, but daily bread for faithful living in the in-between - and that in the Eucharist, Christ meets us not with explanations or promises to fix what is broken, but with himself, sustaining us until he returns and every tear is wiped away.
The deeper theological understanding I’ve gained through this book has made the practice of Communion more meaningful to me and has deepened my desire to experience Christ’s life-giving presence and hope through the Eucharist. If you, too, are seeking a hope that is honest, grounded, and sustaining, this book is well worth your time.
Review of advance copy
In her book Feasting on Hope Hannah King writes about the Lord’s Supper as a place where real people bring real wounds. She doesn’t pretend that faith erases grief or that healing is quick. Instead, she tells us the truth about deep loss. She also shows how, week after week, Jesus meets her at the table in the bread and the cup.
What I loved most is her reminder that communion is not just a symbol, but a promise. We come carrying hurt and disappointment, and God feeds us with hope. Not only for our souls but for our bodies too. At the table God is already doing what He has promised to finish: making us whole. We don’t see it fully yet, but we get the chance to taste it.
Hannah shows us that each time the church gathers to feast together, we practice that future. We sit beside our brothers and sisters, all of us totally imperfect and wounded, and yet we are all still welcomed. The meal becomes a small glimpse of the world made new.
I did not grow up in a tradition where communion was practiced each week, but this book left me with deeper gratitude for the practice, and I’m so thankful to be in a church today that makes the Eucharist a priority in every service. Not just as a ritual, but as a place where Jesus quietly meets us, nourishes us, and reminds us that healing has already begun.
What I loved most is her reminder that communion is not just a symbol, but a promise. We come carrying hurt and disappointment, and God feeds us with hope. Not only for our souls but for our bodies too. At the table God is already doing what He has promised to finish: making us whole. We don’t see it fully yet, but we get the chance to taste it.
Hannah shows us that each time the church gathers to feast together, we practice that future. We sit beside our brothers and sisters, all of us totally imperfect and wounded, and yet we are all still welcomed. The meal becomes a small glimpse of the world made new.
I did not grow up in a tradition where communion was practiced each week, but this book left me with deeper gratitude for the practice, and I’m so thankful to be in a church today that makes the Eucharist a priority in every service. Not just as a ritual, but as a place where Jesus quietly meets us, nourishes us, and reminds us that healing has already begun.
February 17, 2026
Hannah King has written a beautiful book that weaves together her life experience with the Eucharist and brings it into the lives we actually live. She is a deep theological thinker who applies her thinking to real life and presents it in a fresh way. Her writing style is itself a feast for the intellect and imagination. She explores how the mystery of the Eucharist brings hope in different aspects of life's trials while still embracing the mystery. She doesn't pretend that the Eucharist makes all well in this life; it is Christ's sustaining and comforting presence in this life and hope for future Kingdom fullness when we will be with the Lord and all will be restored. I love the shadows of Henri Nouwen, Alexander Schmemann, and NT Wright but presented with her own theological reflections in a fresh way, bringing some very deep thoughts up to the surface, with clarity and accessible to everyone. This book has given me a deeper and broader experience of the Eucharist in my own life, for which I am grateful. God does indeed set a table in the wilderness to which we are all invited - thank you Hannah Miller King for this beautiful invitation to experience the bountiful goodness of God's table to be found in each one's wilderness journey.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hannah's story is both theologically eloquent and emotionally accessible. She brings the practice of communion into a spacious heart place where we can safely explore the mystery and the magnificence of Christ's sacrifice. She approaches the crossroads of prayers that don't result in the move of God we desire and our hidden attachment to the prosperity gospel. While I may have been able to distance myself completely from a transactional view of God before reading her book [if I do these things well, God will bless me], she made it safe for me to see shadow elements of it in my thinking. She helped me shed something I'm not sure I knew was even there. And she did it through her own vulnerability and journey through the pain of unanswered prayer.
I spoke at a conference with Hannah a few years back. Not only can she write, she delivers her message with power and humility. I knew bits of her story and loved her then. But now... now I can see more deeply where the Lord has carried her to light the way for others. A must read.
I spoke at a conference with Hannah a few years back. Not only can she write, she delivers her message with power and humility. I knew bits of her story and loved her then. But now... now I can see more deeply where the Lord has carried her to light the way for others. A must read.
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