What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience

by Tish Harrison Warren

How do we cultivate faith that endures? From the award-winning author and former New York Times writer comes a fresh vision for navigating burnout and weariness through ancient Christian practices—guiding us toward lives of resilience, renewal, and flourishing.

Early Christians often grappled with a reality we rarely talk about in contemporary life: that God seems to abandon the soul at times, leaving us feeling as if we are alone and left to our own resources. These are times of futility, when work and relationships feel hard, when prayer feels unsatisfying, and we question if our efforts are amounting to anything.

For centuries, Tish Harrison Warren notes, times of “aridity” were seen as necessary—prerequisites for growth and maturity. Yet in our culture fixated on speed and optimization, we risk losing this deeper sense of the human journey and the resilience that comes with it.

Writing for a moment when two-thirds of Americans are dissatisfied with their work and a sense of languishing is widespread, Warren draws from her own season of exhaustion and also from the rich well of Christian tradition--particularly the earliest Christian monks--to discover the habits and mindsets that anchor us through doubt, difficulty, and spiritual dryness. She offers hope to those who feel like life is overwhelming, taxing, or disorienting.

What Grows in Weary Lands speaks to anyone longing for a life of depth in a distracted age. Warren helps us see that nothing is wasted—that, even in desert seasons, something good is growing, rooted in grace and reaching toward glory.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Religion, Christian Living, Faith, Spirituality

192 pages, Hardcover

Published May 12, 2026

About the author

Tish Harrison Warren is a priest in the Anglican Church in North America. After eight years with InterVarsity Graduate and Faculty Ministries at Vanderbilt and The University of Texas at Austin, she now serves as co-associate rector at Church of the Ascension in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She writes regularly for The Well, CT Women (formerly her.meneutics), and Christianity Today. Her work has also appeared in Comment Magazine, Christ and Pop Culture, Art House America, and elsewhere. She and her husband Jonathan have two young daughters.

Reviews

[Camden Morgante · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Tish Harrison Warren's books so I was looking forward to this new one. As with all of her books, I have to read it slowly and go through it a second time to journal and take notes on what stood out to me. This book is about acedia, the experience of spiritual apathy, dryness, and practices from the Dessert Mothers and Fathers for spiritual resilience. In a time of great burn out and quick fixes, I appreciate Warren's encouragement to "stay in your cell", "pledge your body to the walls," and "let the silt settle." She offers thought provoking lessons and practices for the craft of faith even in times of spiritual dryness. This book will be an encouragement to anyone trying to "trust in the slow work of God",

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful, pastoral book from Tish Harrison Warren. This is a book about resilience through burnout, and the spiritual lethargy that has been called acedia. She points out that burnout often comes from doing things we love, and she helpfully identifies the spiritual "slump" we feel when we are not on the "mountaintop," which she calls "aridity."

In this book, she says nothing new, and I think the author would agree with that. She looks to the Desert Fathers and Mothers to teach us the disciplines of stability and patience. It continues from other books on the "domestic monastery" idea.

One of the most eye-opening moments was when she explained that the dark night of the soul isn't just "bad things in life," but a necessary step after the "honeymoon" of faith where the training wheels come off, and we learn to love God for God, rather than for the blessings God gives. She draws a connection to Psalm 131, where a weaned child loves the mother more for who she is than what she can give.

The subchapter organization leans into the author's strength in essay writing. The 2- to 4-page mini-chapters aren't sound bytes for short attention spans, but interlocking thought-nuggets building together to a chapter.

**received early access via NetGalley from the publisher**

[Anna Sincock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to review this ARC! This is a beautifully written book that covers subjects often not brought into the light: wrestling with suffering, persistence, resilience, weariness and the Christian faith. I enjoyed that this book had so much to offer on these subjects and I took many notes on the metaphors and perspectives shared.. It may be helpful to know that this book takes more of a descriptive approach to these topics, not necessarily prescriptive, At some points, the chapters felt too brief and I found myself wanting to sit with a topic for a little longer before moving on. Overall, I enjoyed this read and walked away feeling encouraged to double down on the everyday, normal Christian practices - the substance of our faith.

[Hendrik Mosterd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toegankelijke zoektocht naar leven in de woestijn. Zie de bespreking in De Nieuwe Koers.

[Loren Warf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Tish Harrison Warren for a long time. This is my favorite thing she has written. It’s seriously so good! It has been at least a decade since a book met where I am like this one did, but it also helped me feel connected to Christians across centuries and continents. This book is full of practical wisdom, and it manages to feel both grounded and hopeful. I know it’s one I will reread, possibly very soon.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

[Rhema Limon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels like Tish has articulated some of my feelings, groaning, lack of motivation- my questions and doubts in my own desert.

Wow- such eloquent yet easily approachable read.
Nothing is wasted - even the mundande, the ashes.

Leaning into the lulls, leaning into what seems to be lack of growth… my goodness Tish!
Your words are true balm to weary souls.

Honored to have received an advanced copy via NetGalley

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I did not want to pick up this book.

I love Tish Harrison Warren. Her book ‘The Liturgy of the Ordinary’ caused me to reorient my entire life. When I heard she was writing another book, I was full of anticipation.

Then I heard the topic - weary places, dry seasons, desert lands, waiting.

And I knew I wouldn’t read it. Who wants to read about hard times? Especially while I found myself in the middle of one of the longest seasons of waiting we have experienced. I wanted to read books titled ‘Everything is Fine. You are Happy. Ignore, Stuff, and Distract Your Way to Freedom.’

Instead, I got an e-mail from the publisher. Would you like an advance copy of ‘What Grows in Weary Lands’?” I couldn’t say no. She’s one of my favorite authors. So, I took a deep breath and dove in.

Spoiler: I highlighted almost the entire prologue. And didn’t stop for the entire book. Of course, she spoke directly to my circumstances:

“I’d come feeling profoundly weary. Soul weary. Body weary. Weary of being weary.”

“It is vulnerable to talk about long seasons of unfulfillment and of spiritual, creative, and emotional dryness.”

I can deeply relate to those feelings and the temptation to isolate and distract myself until I’m numb. She immediate addressed my thoughts about the topic and her own hesitancies to write a book about it:

“Besides, I thought, it doesn’t take a whole book to say, “Practice a Sabbath day. See your loved ones more. Get some sleep.””

If she was hesitant to write the book and I was hesitant to read it, maybe together this could be something special.

Modern wisdom is either about working hard, optimizing, clawing your way to the top or quiet quitting. What Grows in Weary Lands pulled from the wisdom of a monastic culture to hone in on a quiet steadiness that has sustained faithful people for centuries.

These are the people who are faithful for their entire lives. Instead of passionate flames that flare out in spectacular moral failure or rapid burn out, it’s the practices and thought patterns that lead to a life of peace that has nothing to do with current circumstances.

I would compare it to the difference between someone touting a crash diet vs advice to eat whole foods and move your body. It’s simple, but it’s also wildly counter cultural.

Unlike self-help books, this book didn’t make me feel anxious about all the things I was doing wrong and all the things I needed to do to fix it. It was a gentle reminder to stay the course. It was a balm for my weary soul. It was a reminder that my time spent just putting one foot in front of the other was not wasted.

If you orient your life in the way she suggests - simple practices surrounded by grace, sustained with hope, fostered in community, rooted in the Source - you will inevitably find peace.

Bottom line - I was wrong. This was exactly what I needed.

Get this book. Read it, then read it again, then share it with a friend. When you get overwhelmed by all the things the world tells you that you need to do it be happy, borrow it back from your friend and read it again. It is gentle and wise and so, so good.

—
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Eline Pullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if you’re in a season of numbness, fogg, desolation and due to that you’re doubting yourself, your life, your faith and God?

How to navigate such desert seasons in your life? That’s the topic of this book.

Our culture stimulates newness, fabulous experiences and lots of shiny objects along that road.

There are a lot of churches that center and praise newness of faith, magnificent experiences and fast paced tempo on their stage and in their services.
By that they (maybe not on purpose) hide away from dullness (or completely ban it). While boredom, doubt and dryness keep occurring in faith and life in all ages.

How is it possible to learn about perseverance and resilience if almost anything that has to do with drought and boredom is being erased from your surroundings?

This book pleads for incorporating and embracing the search for habits and practices that nourish resilience. By looking at people that went before us.

A book for our culture and generation.
A manifest against burnout society, that weaves the wisdom of the desert fathers and mothers and many other thinkers and writers into a blanket of hope and contemplation.

It encourages you to stay in your place, embrace moment of silence and solitude, craft forms of resilience in your life. Also this book gives you heaps of ideas for furthermore reading about this topic. As the bibliography is excellent as is the source mentioning in the book.

Truly insightful read when you want to deepen your roots in faith.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Convergent books for providing an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Katie Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @prhaudio @harmonyrodaleconvergent for the books! #PRHAudioPartner

When God feels distant and life feels heavy—work, relationships, even prayer—this explores the often-ignored reality of spiritual dryness. Drawing from early Christian tradition and personal experience, it reframes seasons of exhaustion as formative, not futile, offering steady hope that even in weariness, something deep and lasting is still growing.

LITURGY OF THE ORDINARY is one of my top reads of the past decade—I ate up everything about her exploration of how we’re formed daily. So, of course, I was going to grab her new reframing of spiritual formation as soon as I could.

I didn’t know exactly what I was walking into with this book—which feels fitting, because church culture doesn’t often name what you’re entering when you ebb and flow through darkness of the soul/spiritual dryness. You simply wander in as the next progression of your formation, only to realize it’s the exact opposite of what “happy Christianity” has promised.

As expected, Tish beautifully explores this season through wise historical examples and thoughtful anecdotes. There were moments I wanted more practical application, but as the book went on, I realized—that’s the point. We don’t need more to do; we need more encouragement that spiritual dryness can be both savored and welcomed.

May it be so.

Perfect for you if you like:
Spiritual formation
Honest reflection on spiritual dryness
Incarnational christian living 


Similar:
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene H. Peterson
Dark Clouds Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop
The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Here’s the thing, though: We cannot get from newfound ardor to the tried and tested wisdom of holiness without the winding middle. This book is about the perseverance it takes to not just endure but embrace the middle.”

Wow - thank you Tish Harrison Warren for writing this book. As the quote above demonstrates, this book takes a refreshingly honest, authentic, truthful, hopeful look at the season of life and faith that can feel dry and weary. Warren reflects on various aspects of resilience and the circumstances that necessitate this quality, pulling on lots of wisdom from the ‘Desert Mothers & Fathers.’ It’s not sickeningly sweet - it doesn’t ignore hard realities of life’s difficulties at all; but it also doesn’t keep the reader feeling without hope or isolated. To me, this book feels like an excellent weapon in one’s arsenal of living well, and I already want multiple copies to be able to give others as they face their weary seasons. Highly recommend.

**Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tish Harrison Warren is an author I usually look forward to reading, which may seem surprising given that I hold to complementarianism and Tish is a priest in the Anglican Church. Knowing that, it’s also important to say that there is much to learn from her—and this book did not disappoint.

What Grows in Weary Lands meets the reader in a place of tiredness, dryness, and quiet perseverance. Interestingly, only about a month before reading this book, I came across the writings of the Desert Fathers, so it felt like a timely and pleasant surprise to see Tish draw on their wisdom. Their theology of faithfulness in obscurity, endurance in dryness, and trust in God amid weariness fits beautifully with the themes of this book.

As in her previous works, Tish writes with genuine openness. She does not shy away from doubts, fears, grief, or spiritual fatigue, but neither does she linger in them in a way that feels hopeless. Instead, she reflects on how believers can face these realities faithfully, honestly, and with hope. Her vulnerability never feels self-indulgent; it serves the reader by naming experiences many of us quietly carry.

One of the things I especially appreciated is that the book offers new ways of seeing rather than easy answers. There are ideas here that invite reflection and gentle practice, rather than pressure. A small but memorable example is this passage:

“I have an old friend who kept a photo on her desk of a turtle basking in the sun, resplendent in chelonian bliss. Above it, she wrote, ‘Never feel guilty for doing those things that feed your soul.’”

That line stayed with me, and I genuinely plan to put it into practice.

I was also introduced to Dorothy Day’s phrase “the duty of delight,” a concept I had not encountered before. It speaks to the importance of attending to beauty and joy even in a broken world—not as denial, but as faithfulness. As someone who is deeply shaped by beauty, this is something I want to explore further.

Another strength of this book is how often Tish reminds us—gently and without adding to our already long list of expectations—that faith is not meant to be lived alone. She explains why community matters, how God uses others to sustain us, and why isolation slowly deforms faith. Importantly, she does this without moral pressure or fear-based language. Similarly, her reflections on pausing, rest, and attentiveness are rooted not in productivity but in human limitation and grace.

The passage that spoke to me most reflects on the question of which believers sustain our faith and make us want to keep believing. Rather than presenting faith as a solitary effort, Tish emphasises the formative role of faithful people and shared life. She encourages intentional immersion in Christian community, not because it is perfect, but because it helps us learn to see and seek what is true, good, and beautiful. She also points to the importance of drawing from the wider communion of believers—through the writings, prayers, songs, and art of those who have wrestled honestly with God across time—reminding us that faith is something we receive, practice, and grow into together.

Overall, What Grows in Weary Lands is a book for those who are tired but still hopeful, questioning but still committed, dry yet quietly longing for growth. It is honest without being heavy, reflective without being vague, and deeply humane in the best sense.

A sincere thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to review What Grows in Weary Lands by Tish Harrison Warren. It was a deeply enriching and thought-provoking read, and I’m grateful to have experienced Tish's beautiful reflections on perseverance and faith.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes the right book finds you at the right time. This is a book about perseverance, something I have needed a great deal of in the past few years. One of my favorite quotes about religion, and religiosity, comes from William James in Writings 1902-1910: The Varieties of Religious Experience / Pragmatism / A Pluralistic Universe / The Meaning of Truth / Some Problems of Philosophy / Essays: "behavior precedes conviction." A more simple way to say this is, "Be as you wish to seem." What you do, in other words, can carry you when you don't know what you are doing. I think of this sort of thing as 'the fortress of habit,' a phrase I came across in an article in the Washington Post during the pandemic. "Just keep swimming," as Dory says in Finding Nemo.

Rev. Warren is a person who thinks deeply and well about the hard questions of life. I have previously read Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life, as well as her much missed column in the New York Times. In this book, she is open about her own 'dry periods' of faith and life, a state known as acedia, or 'spiritual torpor.' Burn out, languishing, call it what you want, but when the world is wearing you down to the nub and you feel exhausted and fried, you are not alone. Rev. Warren uses the stories and examples of the Desert Fathers to encourage us to keep on keeping on, and to lean on our spiritual habits of prayer, practice, community, sabbath, and service even if--even when--we are filled with doubts or exhaustion. I highlighted a lot in this brief book because so much of what she was saying resonated with me.

I especially enjoyed the part where the author talked about faith as being a thing that ebbs and flows, waxes and wanes, as a normal part of human experience. I had not thought about it that way before, because that is definitely something that happens to me. She also uses desert plants as a metaphor for spiritual growth, and spiritual tenacity: desert plants need to grow deep roots in order to survive, and our faith--the traditions, the practices, the communities--can help us become resilient, and to just hang on when things are hard or bad. I admired the author's honesty about the challenges she has faced in her life--as a priest, as a parent, as a spouse, as a writer.

I am not an Anglican, although there is much that I admire about Anglicanism. Were there an Anglican church near me, I think I would happily visit and see what's what. I am a Catholic who is forever struggling with the RCC, and while I'd like to got to an Episcopal church, the reality is that--at least where I live--they are dying off. But I would go to this wise woman's church in a heartbeat!

Wonderful, inspiring, insightful book. I loved it.

[Vicki Cottingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read any of Tish’s books before, but I was grabbed by the title and the subtitle: “What Grows in Weary Lands – On Christian Resilience”.

Tish shares openly from the very beginning about the season she was in. Her honesty drew me in as she wrote about her wearying season and resonated with me. It could quite easily have been me writing those words.

“This book is a search for those forgotten habits and practices that deepen us in faith over time; it is a survey of historic voices who mapped the stages and stretches of the Christian life; and it is an exploration of the gifts that can only be found when we are no longer quite sure how to keep going.”

Tish then goes on to share with us the things she discovered, particularly from the Desert Fathers and Mothers, which helped her during her weary season to build resilience and deepen her faith.
I learned much as I read her book on how to build my resilience and deepen my faith during a weary season. Practices that the Desert Fathers and Mothers engaged in, such as staying in my cell by determining to continue my habits and practices of faith, even when I don’t feel like it. Pledging my body to the walls by staying put and staying with my community. And other practices such as learning how to let go and trust God, and making room for delight. Alongside the importance of solitude and withdrawal in connecting with God – the Source of our life, as well as learning how to face doubt.

It’s hard to say what I liked most, as there was so much wisdom to gain within the pages of the book. I did particularly like the section on St. John of the Cross and her explanation of the dark night of the soul. I also found the section on “Be still” (Psalm 46:10) helpful.

Tish ends her book with hope, expressing that she is still in the middle of her story:
“But I have witnessed things that grow in weary lands. I have learned some things my cell is teaching me. I have hope that what has dwindled can spark to life and that what seems dead can be made new. I have found that, in the end, nothing will be wasted.”

I recommend this book to anyone, whatever season you are in right now. If you are weary and struggling, this book will challenge you, encourage you and give you hope to persevere and keep going. If you are not in a weary season, then read this book and implement the habits and practices she writes about to deepen your faith and strengthen your resilience.

I was given an advanced copy from Netgalley in return for my honest review.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thoughtful and encouraging read. Even though I don’t fully align with the author theologically on every point, I still found a lot of wisdom in this book. Warren writes with honesty and compassion about suffering, perseverance, and faith in difficult seasons, and her reflections consistently point readers back to Jesus. Rather than offering shallow optimism, the author acknowledges grief, disappointment, and spiritual exhaustion while still emphasizing hope and resilience through Christ.

Quotes that stood out to me:
"We cannot get from newfound ardor to the tried and tested wisdom of holiness without the winding middle"

"When we meet the desert, we can try to avoid it through numbing, chasing little and big pleasures that hollow us out over time. Or we can throw off our beliefs, obligations, and responsibilities, becoming agents of chaos to those around us. Or we can learn to keep going when we don't know where we are; we can submit to the discipline of the desert, accepting its trials as the strange way that the weary find rest, embracing its desolation as the very place that we learn to grow."

"...stability not only consists of remaining in a particular location but is also the cultivation of deep spiritual rootedness and resilience"

"Pray, with your body, in certain times each day, and your soul eventually catches up."

"Don't flame out. Don't numb out and drift away. Stay in the place you are in. Feel all the feelings you are feeling. And be willing to remain in the incompleteness, the disorientation, the disappointment, and the disciplines of your life."

"The cure we are looking for, when we are bored or irritated with life, is rarely found in an escape, an ideal, or some dramatic spiritual breakthrough. It is not found in fleeing the cell or leaving the nest. It is found in developing the resilience it takes to keep going-to stay at the craft of faith and the work we have been given, in the place where we dwell, with the people around us"

"Hope is what allows lament. It is what allows us the emotional honesty to rage at the heavens, yet collapse into the hands of a loving God."

"God is real, he is strong enough to bear the force of honest questions."

"This is why we do not give up when we have grown weary. Not because we are promised that life will get easier, or because we must simply gut it out to the end, fearfully grasping a dying faith, but because, in due season, the harvest will come. We will be consumed by the presence of God. We become all flame."

[Richard Propes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm relatively new to the world of Tish Harrison Warren, however, "What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience" is the kind of book that demands to be read more than once while also being the kind of book that makes you want to look back at Warren's writings.

Christian resilience is, indeed, at the heart of "What Grows in Weary Lands," as we explore how to cultivate a faith that endures. "What Grows in Weary Lands" surveys biblical history and looks at a reality we often don't talk about in contemporary society - God seems to abandon the soul at times. We're left wandering and wondering, feeling alone, and feeling abandoned. Warren doesn't so much create a roadmap for navigating these times as she simply guides us toward planting our roots and moving into a life of resilience, flourishing, and renewal.

So often we experience these times and want to move or transplant ourselves. There's a futility to it all when relationships struggle, work seems too hard, and when even our spiritual practices leave us dry. History, Warren notes, shows us that these times were often seem as the times when Christians grew and matured. These days, we want a sort of drive-thru spirituality and this moves us away from the richness and fullness of the human journey.

I will admit that sometimes I struggle with the "stay" language. As a survivor of trauma, it turns on my red flags. I know this, though I'll acknowledge it happened here. Yet, I also know that's not what Warren is talking about here. Instead, Warren is talking about developing a sort of mind set that anchors us during these arid, difficult times and provides us hope.

One need only spend a few minutes on social media to understand what a distracted age we live in. Warren gently reminds us that even in our dry seasons good is growing and God is present.

A relatively quick yet immensely engaging read, "What Grows in Weary Lands" is a book of rootedness, healing, and hope.

[David Tade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite simply,..read this book!
In recent days I have found myself being exhausted and overwhelmed by events not only in the US, the World, but also in our churches. I had quit reading theology books (which is more than a hobby of mine) completely, thinking why bother...how am I benefiting from any of this?
I was burned out.
Then I received a request on Net Galley to read and review this book by Trish Harrison Warren. And being somewhat familiar with her writings, I accepted, and thought...why not?
And I am glad I did.
There was so much of her personal narrative that I could totally identify with that hooked me early on in the book.
Even more importantly, for me, was her examples of the Desert Fathers and Mothers as well as a few quotes from Kaplan's biographies of Abraham Heschel.
These spoke to me and such a deep level, that I immediately, upon finishing this book reaches for Merton's book on the Desert Fathers and tracked down Kaplan's two volume biography of Heschel.
Frankly speaking, this book by Trish Harrison Warren opened a new door for for me and renergized my love (and obsession) with reading theology.
One of the most important things for me when reading, is does the author's writing take you to a different place outside of yourself and enables you to see and experience life and events in a new and fresh manner.
I'm happy to report, this book does that and more.
Do yourself a favor and read this book, especially if your are struggling with current events.

[Tom van Straten · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Grace offers us forgiveness, and grace grows new shoots of goodness in us.”

This book has all the potential to become a contemporary classic. It is an incredibly beautiful work that draws you into the faith doubts of Tish Warren. With remarkable honesty, she resists jumping to quick conclusions and instead anchors herself in the wisdom of the Desert Fathers. She is not alone in her doubts. Far from it. These are questions we are allowed to wrestle with together, alongside generations of Christians who came before us.

The tension of her doubt is palpable throughout the book, and as a reader you find yourself hoping it will be resolved. In the end, it is not entirely, but the grip she finds seems, as she herself writes, to grow deeper roots through the search for water, allowing her to keep growing. The number of beautiful, quotable lines in this book is endless.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley before publication, but once it hits the shelves, I will very likely buy several copies to give away.

Highly recommended. Read it.

[barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Grows in Weary Lands was a great read about the middle. When one first becomes a Christian, there's typically a lot of fire or passion. When you're older, or have been a Christian for a long time, there is wisdom and knowledge. But what happens in between those times? When life is happening? You're often in the midst of life with young kids, or career challenges or not so certain family dynamics. When you feel burnt out on those, but not necessarily lost or anything really "wrong" perse, what happens? How do you trudge through? This is the main theme explored by Tish Harrison Warren in this book.

As someone who often feels burnt out on the little things, but unable to complain about the wonderful like I have, I found it resonated with me a lot. How, actually, the middle is a very important part of the journey.

Whether you're currently in the middle, or have made it through - this is a good read with practical knowledge and a hopefulness for what's to come.

**Thank you NetGalley and Convergent Books for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.**

[Dadreadsanreviews (james) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and offer my thoughts! Tish Warren Harrison writes with candor, grace, generosity, and a raw vulnerability about life and faith. This book considers how to reflect and consider burnout from within the tradition of Christian spirituality. She leans heavily on the writings of the ancient Desert Fathers and Mothers for models, imagery, and guides for living out faith in times of burnout and spiritual quiet. She ties these ancient stories with her life experiences and modern reflections on burnout to offer spiritual guidance. But, she doesn’t give tried answers, how to’s, or solutions. Instead, she reflects on the experience of burnout and spiritual exhaustion or silence. If you want an answer on how to get out of spiritual malaise, she won’t give you one, and truthfully there isn’t an answer. She encourages faith as a life practice, and that is good counsel.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Grows in Weary Lands offers a reflective exploration of spiritual dryness, burnout, and resilience through the lens of Christian tradition. Tish Harrison Warren draws on ancient practices and her own experiences to suggest that seasons of weariness can be formative rather than purely negative.

The book has thoughtful moments, particularly in naming the reality of spiritual aridity and pushing back against a culture that prioritizes constant productivity and quick fixes. There is a steady, contemplative tone throughout that some readers will find grounding.

At the same time, parts of the book felt somewhat repetitive, and the insights, while meaningful, did not always feel especially new or deeply developed. Readers familiar with similar themes in spiritual formation may find themselves wanting a bit more depth or fresh perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.

[Katharine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved and savored this author’s previous book, “Prayer in the Night.” That book has a framing that immediately grabs you, a description of suffering in the night and holding on to the words of Compline. This book’s framing did not immediately strike me as compelling. So the author felt blah, so what. But that may have been the entire point. As I read further I found more and more deeply thoughtful responses to the experience of holding on to faith for the long haul, not in crises so much as in the day to day drag. I particularly found a lot to contemplate in chapters 5 and 6 about stillness in the midst of distraction, and letting go of our constant striving. Highly recommended for Christians especially those who have been slogging through life with a tight and anxious grip on our faith. Many thanks to Convergent Books and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this title.

[Kate Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Reading this book was such an important experience for me. 💙 (I only requested an ARC because I recognized the author.)

Y'all, I fit the target audience of this book so much. I'm a spiritually weary Christian muddling through "the long middle". I'm technically almost due for a mid-life crisis, but I've already been through immeasurable church trauma and change.

I felt seen reading about her experiences and bolstered by the drawing on of ancient testimony, advice, and practices of faith. The mix of Scripture, quotes, and testimony of past saints supported her message so well.

My favorite chapters were Wait in the Womb and Let the Silt Settle. I felt convicted in my impatience and encouraged in my pursuit of a quiet life. I was also reminded of my inherent worth even if I'm not currently able to produce anything.

Definitely give this a read. No matter your Christian background or current tradition, I think we can all find something in this book.

Oh, and if I were allowed to share quotes, you'd basically get 50% of the book. 😂🫣

[Jill Wuellner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many others I was excited to read this latest book from Tish Harrison Warren. I always find her writing to be encouraging to my soul as she confesses her struggles with the things I also struggle with. This book is no different, as she examines the spiritually dry and arid parts of a walk with God. I found myself laughing, sighing, highlighting, and talking about the things I was reading. As I talked others said, “Me too!”

Her encouragement from the Desert Fathers and Mothers to “stay in your cell” instead of running or numbing out was impactful. Especially in a day where distraction is so easy, and abandoning faith is common.

This is a keeper and one I’ll certainly read again.

Thank you Netgalley and Convergent for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read other writings of Tish Warren’s, so I was happy to be approved for an advanced copy of this book. She uses slightly different vocabulary, but a popular term these days is languishing, that idea that you aren’t really happy despite most of the markers in your life indicating that you should be. Warren takes this idea as more of a “dryness” and looks to the desert mothers and fathers of the Christian tradition for inspiration. I really appreciate her thoughts on this because I feel like a lot of conversations around, “why do I feel like I am not thriving?” fail to take the spiritual life into consideration. I appreciated the honesty of her own experience.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.

[Naomi Dickmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even start? This book (like Warren’s others) was a balm for my soul. It is important as a fellow believer to be reminded that I’m not alone in these weary lands, that the desert doesn’t last forever, that there is purpose and growth in the desert. Warren speaks with honesty and humility about her own wandering in the wilderness while tying in and sharing the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers.

I’m going to have to reread this book with a pen in hand as there were so many gold nuggets scattered throughout. I’m going to sum up this review with my favorite quote from the book:

“There are things that grow in dry and weary lands. There are things that only grow there.”

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing read! This book feels a lot like A Long Obedience in the Same Direction to me, reminding weary souls to stay the course and trust that God will meet us in the long, winding, confusing middle. I will return to this book again and again.

I’m grateful for Tish’s authenticity and willingness to write from places of doubt, which feels less like unbelief and more like beautiful mystery. She wonderfully weaves together her own story with the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who feels weary or travel-stained in their faith journey.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars is not enough.

Harrison Warren borrows from the desert mothers and fathers and their writings on resilience to write this treasure. I had the privilege of hearing her speak at my church last week, just a few days before the book was released. I’ve coincidentally read one of her books each year for three years now. Each had been exactly what I needed. This one was super timely for me, and her reflections on Psalm 131 & Romans 8 were some of the most profound exegeses I’ve ever encountered. The idea of us in a womb is just brilliant. And now I need to read St. John of the Cross!

A re-read with a physical copy in the near future is a must. Thank you, Reverend Tish.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Tish Harrison Warren somehow is able to write as one sharing where they’ve been, instructing where to go, and bestowing hope for the journey-for herself and for the reader. In hearing sermons I often wish that the preacher was a better reader or writer, but in reading Tish Harrison Warren write I feel as if the writer has ministered deeply to my soul. This book comes after her own deep season of burn out, but she writes about herself and others who have experienced such seasons as one of restart and resurrection. What grows in weary lands? Hope. Endurance. Resilience.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was greatly impacted by Tish Harrison Warren’s book Prayer in the Night, so I jumped at the opportunity to read her latest book. It didn’t disappoint. This is a book about spiritual dryness, resilience, and the weariness of life. Through her own personal experience and the experiences of the Desert Fathers, she teaches us how to navigate the arid wilderness we may find ourselves in and see it as an opportunity for growth and healing. I’ll definitely be buying a hard copy of this book to read again.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book which speaks to the seasons of dryness we all pass through with wisdom drawn from the Desert Elder. While I've read several books about the Desert Elders recently, Warren's book is different as she so much teach them but rather draws themes from their wisdom to mix with that of others, including some in her own life, who have modeled staying faithfully in the places they have found themselves. The book is both very real and ultimately very hopeful.

Review based on a DRC received through NetGalley.