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Beloved
Bestselling author and pastor Francis Chan explains how abiding in the love of God frees us from insecurity and leads us into a lifetime of joyful, worshipful obedience.Despite pastoring for decades and reaching thousands of people through his books and preaching, Francis wrestled with deep-seated insecurity. He understood God’s love conceptually, but struggled to actually experience it. This resulted in a life that was far from the thrilling and peaceful life God saved us for. Francis prayed fervently for God to intervene, and asked his friends and family to do the same. The result was a fresh revelation of the depth of God’s love and affection. This brought about newfound freedom and enjoyment of God that only continues to grow. As Francis shared this journey with others, he realized that many in the Church are burdened by the same insecurity, and God is zealous to change this. In Beloved, Francis Chan gives biblical insight our restlessness and striving is a symptom of our disbelief of God’s loveSatan’s schemes to keep us trapped in doubt and insecurity Discovering and abiding in our identity as God’s beloved childrenHow God’s love overflows to a life of radical obedience and joyGod longs for His children to rest securely in His holy love. It’s what we were made for, and it is this inward confidence that causes us to be light unto the world.
160 pages, Hardcover
Published October 7, 2025
472 people are currently reading
3054 people want to read
About the author
Francis Chan
82 books2,877 followersFrancis Chan is an American pastor and teacher, who lives in California with his wife, Lisa, and their four children. He is the former pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, CA, which he and his wife started in 1994.
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December 15, 2025Love Francis Chan.
October 20, 2025
Good book to think through about a familiar concept of God’s love in a meditative, refreshing way
September 20, 2025
Beloved is a play on words here: “Be Loved.” The entire point of Chan’s book is that as Christians many of us have missed the boat on really and truly focusing on being Christ’s beloved. We get wrapped up in the rules of organized religion or trying to save ourselves from eternal damnation and miss the whole point that God created us because He loves us and wants to fellowship with us.
Having grown up in a Southern Baptist church, I could certainly relate to feeling like I spent much more time focused on rule following and just not really thinking about how loved I am. Chan’s personal struggles with this are covered in the book and while I did not grow up like he did, I recognize some similarities in how being loved by God is just not something I dwelled on. This book challenged me to look at my relationship with God in a different light and reminds me to stop striving for my own salvation because I truly cannot earn it and God doesn’t expect me to do so. Instead, focusing on how much God loves me changes my perspective and heart.
Many thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy. I look forward to seeing the final version.
Having grown up in a Southern Baptist church, I could certainly relate to feeling like I spent much more time focused on rule following and just not really thinking about how loved I am. Chan’s personal struggles with this are covered in the book and while I did not grow up like he did, I recognize some similarities in how being loved by God is just not something I dwelled on. This book challenged me to look at my relationship with God in a different light and reminds me to stop striving for my own salvation because I truly cannot earn it and God doesn’t expect me to do so. Instead, focusing on how much God loves me changes my perspective and heart.
Many thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy. I look forward to seeing the final version.
January 2, 2026
In Beloved entfaltet Francis Chan in sechs kurzen Kapiteln eine zentrale, oft vergessene Wahrheit des christlichen Glaubens: Wir sind als Christen Geliebte. Das Buch ist wohltuend, herzerwärmend und tröstlich. Es legt den Fokus nicht auf Leistung, Aktivismus oder fromme Pflichterfüllung, sondern auf die tiefe, unverlierbare Liebe Gottes zu uns Menschen.
Chan gelingt es, den Blick neu auf Gott selbst zu lenken. Beim Lesen wird der Erlöser größer, ehrfürchtiger und zugleich näher. Das Buch lädt dazu ein, diese Liebe nicht nur verstandesmäßig zu erfassen, sondern sie zu erwidern – Gott zu suchen, ihm zu vertrauen und darum zu kämpfen, dass diese Liebesbeziehung nicht von Gleichgültigkeit, Angst oder religiöser Routine überlagert wird.
Theologisch oder akademisch ist das Buch nicht angelegt, und das will es auch nicht sein. Es ist vielmehr geistlich belebend, pastoral und persönlich geschrieben. Gerade diese Schlichtheit macht seine Stärke aus. Die Gedanken sind klar, direkt und treffen das Herz mehr als den Intellekt.
Hinzu kommt, dass Beloved bewusst kurz gehalten ist. Es überfordert nicht, sondern lädt dazu ein, innezuhalten, nachzudenken und sich neu an der Liebe Gottes auszurichten.
Fazit:
Ein sehr empfehlenswertes Buch für alle, die sich neu daran erinnern lassen wollen, wer sie in Christus sind: Geliebte. Einfach, ehrlich und geistlich stärkend.
Chan gelingt es, den Blick neu auf Gott selbst zu lenken. Beim Lesen wird der Erlöser größer, ehrfürchtiger und zugleich näher. Das Buch lädt dazu ein, diese Liebe nicht nur verstandesmäßig zu erfassen, sondern sie zu erwidern – Gott zu suchen, ihm zu vertrauen und darum zu kämpfen, dass diese Liebesbeziehung nicht von Gleichgültigkeit, Angst oder religiöser Routine überlagert wird.
Theologisch oder akademisch ist das Buch nicht angelegt, und das will es auch nicht sein. Es ist vielmehr geistlich belebend, pastoral und persönlich geschrieben. Gerade diese Schlichtheit macht seine Stärke aus. Die Gedanken sind klar, direkt und treffen das Herz mehr als den Intellekt.
Hinzu kommt, dass Beloved bewusst kurz gehalten ist. Es überfordert nicht, sondern lädt dazu ein, innezuhalten, nachzudenken und sich neu an der Liebe Gottes auszurichten.
Fazit:
Ein sehr empfehlenswertes Buch für alle, die sich neu daran erinnern lassen wollen, wer sie in Christus sind: Geliebte. Einfach, ehrlich und geistlich stärkend.
November 27, 2025
Tut der Seele einfach gut 🙏
March 4, 2026
I really like the books I’ve read so far by Francis Chan. I like the structure of his thoughts & the way he can be emotional and logical and doesn’t seem to sacrifice warmth for depth or vice versa.
things I took from this that I liked:
1) when I’m standing in front of the people I’m serving, am I actually loving them? Do I look at them and love them deeply? or am I caught up in doing good works/self-interest/insecurity?
2) for every one look at ourselves, take 10 looks at Christ. got some work to do here
3) When riding a bike, if you keep looking at the rocks or cracks in the path, you will steer straight towards them. But if you look at the clear path ahead, you will have a much smoother ride. This is why it’s so important to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith!
I’ve also been thinking a lot over the last 12 months about God as my Father and what that looks like/means. This book added some helpful thoughts to my ponderings. Overall probs 3.75-4stars from me!
things I took from this that I liked:
1) when I’m standing in front of the people I’m serving, am I actually loving them? Do I look at them and love them deeply? or am I caught up in doing good works/self-interest/insecurity?
2) for every one look at ourselves, take 10 looks at Christ. got some work to do here
3) When riding a bike, if you keep looking at the rocks or cracks in the path, you will steer straight towards them. But if you look at the clear path ahead, you will have a much smoother ride. This is why it’s so important to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith!
I’ve also been thinking a lot over the last 12 months about God as my Father and what that looks like/means. This book added some helpful thoughts to my ponderings. Overall probs 3.75-4stars from me!
December 21, 2025
Wow, so beautiful. I highly recommend this.
February 2, 2026
Listen being a beloved child of God is the most important thing about me but I had a hard time getting through this book. But I think that’s between me and God so you should still read this
March 13, 2026
This book is so encouraging for every believer. It can be so hard to meditate on the love God has for us and this book was a good reminder 🤎
November 28, 2025
Another excellent book from Francis Chan!
September 9, 2025
Pastor, speaker, author, Francis Chan, is back with a book that, as he states, he wishes would have been his first book. Why? Because many may have taken his first book, “Crazy Love” and misunderstood that our relationship was about works. As Chan argues in “Beloved”, the biggest fight many of us fight in our relationship is just learning to be loved by God.
Ever since I was first introduced to Francis Chan through the book, “Crazy Love”, I have enjoyed reading his books and hearing him speak. I love his bluntness. I love his willingness to address his own issues. He has never tried to paint himself as if he has it all figured out and we have to have him to help us figure it out in our own lives.
Instead, I have always felt like I am on a journey, growing in our faith together, with Francis.
This book resonated with me. I find myself being driven to “do more” for God. This book came at a time when I have been trying to put into practice just sitting and basking in the love of a Father who loves me.
If you find yourself struggling to live in the love of God, please, check out this book. You won’t be sorry that you did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Ever since I was first introduced to Francis Chan through the book, “Crazy Love”, I have enjoyed reading his books and hearing him speak. I love his bluntness. I love his willingness to address his own issues. He has never tried to paint himself as if he has it all figured out and we have to have him to help us figure it out in our own lives.
Instead, I have always felt like I am on a journey, growing in our faith together, with Francis.
This book resonated with me. I find myself being driven to “do more” for God. This book came at a time when I have been trying to put into practice just sitting and basking in the love of a Father who loves me.
If you find yourself struggling to live in the love of God, please, check out this book. You won’t be sorry that you did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
September 14, 2025
Thank you to David C Cook for access to an eARC via NetGalley!
It has been over a decade since I last picked up a book by Francis Chan, but Beloved reminds me why his writing has connected with so many people. Beloved is an honest attempt to speak to those who have doubt, are struggling, or simply need to be reminded of a simple truth that’s hard to grasp: you are loved by God.
Chan writes with a sincerity that is refreshing in a time when it seems like everyone is trying to sell you something, to out debate you, or to point out your weaknesses. If you are looking for a quiet meditation that seeks to ground you in God’s love while living in a complicated world, Beloved is for you. Repeatedly, Chan asks his readers to take time and meditate on God’s word and spend a moment in his presence.
This book is not trying to be overly theologically dense, but it is centered around the most fundamental truth. You are loved by God, and you had nothing to do with that. It is a reminder that His love will change your life if you’re willing to recognize and accept it as your identity.
Personally, Beloved is the kind of book that I need more often. A book that I can pull off the shelf to help me slow down and reflect on my relationship with God.
It has been over a decade since I last picked up a book by Francis Chan, but Beloved reminds me why his writing has connected with so many people. Beloved is an honest attempt to speak to those who have doubt, are struggling, or simply need to be reminded of a simple truth that’s hard to grasp: you are loved by God.
Chan writes with a sincerity that is refreshing in a time when it seems like everyone is trying to sell you something, to out debate you, or to point out your weaknesses. If you are looking for a quiet meditation that seeks to ground you in God’s love while living in a complicated world, Beloved is for you. Repeatedly, Chan asks his readers to take time and meditate on God’s word and spend a moment in his presence.
This book is not trying to be overly theologically dense, but it is centered around the most fundamental truth. You are loved by God, and you had nothing to do with that. It is a reminder that His love will change your life if you’re willing to recognize and accept it as your identity.
Personally, Beloved is the kind of book that I need more often. A book that I can pull off the shelf to help me slow down and reflect on my relationship with God.
March 21, 2026
As Francis Chan mentions in chapter five, he does not regret writing the very popular "Crazy Love" book back in 2008. "I just wish I had written this book first" he goes on to say. I was thinking the same thing as I read "Beloved". What a powerful message to a world that needs to hear that Jesus loves them and wants a close relationship with you. As he concludes: "My prayer for you, beloved, is not that your life would be easy but that it would be anchored. Anchored in the love of the Father who gave His Son for you." He gives the reader an abundance of verses to ponder and meditate on including an extensive list early in the book under the Meditate section. He ends the book by quoting the last two chapters in the Bible (Revelations 21 & 22). I would suggest that you read this book first if you have never read Francis Chan and then go from there. You are beloved!
September 19, 2025
This is a great book to help you surrender your insecurity about God's love and rest in it.
I've always loved Francis Chan's perspective, and this new book of his is a great capstone of his teachings.
He's saying that resting in God's love and delighting in it needs to be the foundation of our faith, from which our joy can spring. It also needs to be the source of our strength in serving the Lord out of gratitude for what he has done for us, which can replace our endless striving.
I enjoyed the meditative exercises in this book that helped me focus on God's love for me.
Francis also offers several tips that will help me in my spiritual growth.
If you're a fan of him like I am, you will enjoy this new book.
Also, if you've never read one of his books before, this would be a great place to start.
I've always loved Francis Chan's perspective, and this new book of his is a great capstone of his teachings.
He's saying that resting in God's love and delighting in it needs to be the foundation of our faith, from which our joy can spring. It also needs to be the source of our strength in serving the Lord out of gratitude for what he has done for us, which can replace our endless striving.
I enjoyed the meditative exercises in this book that helped me focus on God's love for me.
Francis also offers several tips that will help me in my spiritual growth.
If you're a fan of him like I am, you will enjoy this new book.
Also, if you've never read one of his books before, this would be a great place to start.
November 21, 2025
This is a fantastic book I would recommend to anyone in a heartbeat! Having been a Christian for most of my life, there’s much of the Christian walk that has become head knowledge instead of heart knowledge, and this book is filled with reminders of powerful truths about God and His love that I have allowed the enemy to deceive me about or give lesser value to than I should have. Sometimes the foundations of the Gospel become too familiar, and my heart needed the reminders of God’s love that this book is filled with.
Francis is so passionate about helping believers to dwell on God’s love for His people and writes in a very relatable way.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review
Francis is so passionate about helping believers to dwell on God’s love for His people and writes in a very relatable way.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review
January 19, 2026
“Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal "what God has prepared for those who love him." Have faith that God is more than capable of revealing things to you without using your eyes and ears. Expect your loving Father to minister to your soul in a way that you'll find yourself longing for a place you've never been to be with your Beloved whom you've never seen.”
I can’t believe I hadn’t read any of Francis Chan’s books before this. Beloved lays out the essence of what it looks like to “forget what lies behind and strain towards what is ahead” by getting to the core of our faith. Our God Loves Us, and that should inform every single aspect of our lives and religion. This is a book that everyone you care about should read.
I can’t believe I hadn’t read any of Francis Chan’s books before this. Beloved lays out the essence of what it looks like to “forget what lies behind and strain towards what is ahead” by getting to the core of our faith. Our God Loves Us, and that should inform every single aspect of our lives and religion. This is a book that everyone you care about should read.
February 24, 2026
6 out of 5 stars. Absolutely stunning book 🙌🏼
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life
John 3:16
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
1 John 3:1
“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life
John 3:16
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
1 John 3:1
“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10
January 8, 2026
Francis Chan’s best book so far.
Here are the quotes that I will continue to think about:
I thought I was created to be useful, not loved.
You may not be sure that God enjoys you…
Beloved - to be loved. Completely passive
Abiding in the love of God frees us from all insecurity and leads us into a lifetime of joyful, worshipful obedience.
I use to think that God had created me to impact the world. I now think that God created me to have another person to lavish his grace upon.
Here are the quotes that I will continue to think about:
I thought I was created to be useful, not loved.
You may not be sure that God enjoys you…
Beloved - to be loved. Completely passive
Abiding in the love of God frees us from all insecurity and leads us into a lifetime of joyful, worshipful obedience.
I use to think that God had created me to impact the world. I now think that God created me to have another person to lavish his grace upon.
October 7, 2025
This was a beautiful book and feels necessary for believers to read. I love seeing how Chan has grown since his Crazy Love days..he admits that he would have written this before Crazy Love if possible (which does make sense…read this first if you haven’t read Crazy Love!) but it’s also clear that years and time in the secret place wrote this book.
November 13, 2025
A simple and profound book. “Be loved, beloved.” I always appreciate Francis’ simple, scripture saturated approach in his books. I was challenged to pray specifically that the Holy Spirit would pour the love of God directly into my heart and those around me.
“Abiding in the love of God frees us from all insecurity and leads us into a lifetime of joyful, worshipful obedience.”
“That’s your identity: the beloved of God. Not because of anything you’ve done, but because of who He is and what He’s done for you. This is who you are. And when we truly believe it, it changes everything.”
“Abiding in the love of God frees us from all insecurity and leads us into a lifetime of joyful, worshipful obedience.”
“That’s your identity: the beloved of God. Not because of anything you’ve done, but because of who He is and what He’s done for you. This is who you are. And when we truly believe it, it changes everything.”
November 20, 2025
Absolutely essential!
January 4, 2026
Absolutely whiplashed with conviction. Definitely a book I see myself revisiting. Such a great reminder of God’s love and how we are to allow ourselves to be loved (get it beloved) by God.
January 7, 2026
Beautiful book full of reminders and encouragements to embrace the true and perfect love of God. Highly recommend!
January 16, 2026
“He didn’t create Adam and Eve because He needed gardeners. He abounds in love, so He created beings to receive it.”
January 17, 2026
This book was overwhelmingly good. While I’ve never doubted that God loves me, it truly opened my eyes to just how great, deep, and abounding His love is. I’ve been a Christian for many years, and I’ve never really thought about God’s love in this way before. It honestly changed my outlook and strengthened my faith in such a personal way.
February 19, 2026
quick and simple, but full of encouragement (and aesthetically pleasing)
would encourage to read, and read in one sitting or a few and soak up God’s love for you
would encourage to read, and read in one sitting or a few and soak up God’s love for you
February 25, 2026
For a short book, it has so much depth! Each chapter stayed with me and drew me to the love of Jesus! Highly recommend!!
March 18, 2026
So simple, so awesome.
Perhaps 5 star content but I didn’t take any crazy good one liners away from it, thus falling short of the Christian 5 star criteria…
Perhaps 5 star content but I didn’t take any crazy good one liners away from it, thus falling short of the Christian 5 star criteria…
March 22, 2026
A beautiful reminder of how much God loves us. It challenged my unbelief in the depths of God’s love & mercy for me.
December 10, 2025
Chan beautifully writes about God's steadfast and unrelenting love for us. If you have every questioned His love for you, this book will encourage and reassure you of the unconditional love of God.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews