After Amen: 50 Days of Poetry and Prayer

by Tyler Staton

Pastor and beloved author Tyler Staton shares a personal and profound creative devotional to draw us deeper into God’s truth and beauty.

Are you ready to explore the remarkable reality of God’s beauty? After his shocking Stage 4 cancer diagnosis, pastor and author Tyler Staton found himself cast into a wilderness of emotion. Amid the struggle, he found strength in the familiar solaces of prayer, contemplation, and Scripture, but also through an unexpected source—writing carefully crafted poetry. Even after going into remission, this practice awakened a new appreciation in Tyler for how God uses beauty to draw us powerfully to himself.

After Amen contains inspiring chapters on the role of creativity and beauty in the  Christian life, as well as a core of 50 entries which feature biblical reflection, heartfelt prayer, and a short original poem from Tyler. Focusing on Jesus’s Seven Signs in Gospel of John, readers will encounter their own lives with new appreciation and inspired insight, as Tyler shows how all of life, joy and suffering, is an opportunity to be formed more completely in the image of Jesus. This exceptional book is an inspiring, provocative, and beautiful exploration of how much of our spiritual life truly happens not only with what we say during prayer, but what we live After Amen.

Genres: Poetry, Christian, Devotional, Prayer, Spirituality, Christian Living, Faith

272 pages, Hardcover

Published April 21, 2026

About the author

Tyler Staton is the Lead Pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife Kirsten, and their sons Hank, Simon, and Amos. He is passionate about living prayerfully and relationally. Tyler is the author of three books: The Familiar Stranger, Praying Like Monks, Living like Fools, and Searching for Enough.

Find me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/tylercstaton.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

“What if the conditions of your ordinary life as it is today-monotonous, incomplete, unsatisfying, and only occasionally thrilling-are the perfect conditions through which God can bring heaven to earth in you and through you, if you choose them?”

After Amen provides grounded, honest, faithful opportunities to gaze upon Christ - both throughout Scripture and through personal reflection. Structured as a 50 day devotional, each day includes a poem, reflection, and prayer. Tyler Staton’s poems are birthed from his reflection on Scripture - organized by the seven miracles included in the Gospel of John, with a Sabbath day with Psalms in between each miracle.

Throughout the book, Staton is so unflinchingly honest about the human condition - as well as the utter hope found only in Christ. He looks his own “mundane” and the “ordinary” moments and relationships we often neglect to reveal the divine appointments God has placed, and invites us to do the same. Yes we have our prayer times, but how do we live AFTER we say amen? I particularly enjoyed the final section that took a deeper look into how we participate with beauty and creativity.

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

[Patricia N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Amen
50 Days of Poetry and Prayer
by Tyler Staton
Narrated by Tyler Staton, Yinka Dawson

Rating: 5 star rating

I really liked After Amen: 50 Days of Poetry and Prayer. Tyler Staton shares personal prayers, poems, and thoughts about faith, suffering, hope, and learning to trust God during difficult times, including his battle with cancer.

I listened to the audiobook. Yinka Dawson starts each day with a Scripture reading, then Tyler Staton reads a poem he wrote, followed by his reflections and prayers. The soft background music playing throughout is very soothing, and combined with the readings, it makes for a really beautiful and calming audio experience.

I don't usually read much poetry, but this book was easy to get through because the daily sections are short and relatable.

By the end, Tyler has come through his cancer journey with a deeper faith, and the overall message is hope and learning to trust God in every season of life.

I finished feeling encouraged and more intentional about prayer. I think the audio version is the best because you can listen and meditate while listening. I recommend this audio version devotional.

Thank you, NetGalley, HCCP, and HCF Audio, the author, Tyler Staton, and narrators Yinka Dawson and Tyler Staton for the book review consideration All opinions are my own.

#NetGalley
#HCCPandHCFAudio
#TylerStaton
#Yinka Dawson
#AfterAmen

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This is a review of the audiobook.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the concept of this devotional. 50 days spent in the Gospel passages where Jesus performs a miracle. A poem, a reflection and then a prayer. Sounds wonderful.

I found these devotionals a little underwhelming. The poems might or might not have been written specifically with the particular bible passage in mind, the reflections were good but perhaps a little short to be truly meaningful and the prayers were generally very good.

I'm sure fans of Staton's will love it but for me it was just too little and the poems were okay but what one would expect from the general masses.

I was fortunate to receive an early ebook copy from Thomas Nelson via Net Galley and this has had no bearing on my review.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastor, speaker, and author, Tyler Staton, is back with prayers, scriptures, and poetry created to drive the reader/listener deeper in their relationship with Christ.

I listened to the audiobook version. After an explanation and challenge by Tyler, Yinka Dawson leads us in a scripture reading, followed by Tyler’s poem, read by the author. They continue this pattern to provide an experience that will last daily over the next 50 days. Each daily experience is not long but invites the reader/listener to spend time contemplating what they have heard or read.

I don’t know if “enjoyed” is the appropriate word to use, but was soothing and thought-provoking.

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

[Ashley Handing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very grounding, meant to be read thoughtfully and slowly over time. I did not read it that way however. The poems, scripture and stories throughout were too compelling to consistently stop after. I listened to this via audiobook which was read by Tyler Staton and had the original musical background as well. Overall, after listening to this collection I now feel ready to purchase the hard copy and pace myself day by day.

[Julia Shelburne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book combines poetry, reflections, and prayers to discuss the Seven Signs of Jesus in the Gospel of John. The pace of After Amen lends itself to be read meditatively, so I especially recommend this to folks who prefer a more liturgical approach to devotionals. As always, Staton shares wisdom that I will reflect on for awhile.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

The long rambling sentences and barely cohesive theme makes it evident that this is not Staton's best book.
However, I'm still glad I read it. He has lots of good thoughts on what Kingdom based living looks like realistically. I was often inspired in my early morning reading and I frequently needed to grab my pen to underline things.

[Marie Bagdanov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler Staton is a profound voice for our generation in the church right now. I am moved by his poetry — accessible, humanity-centered but enough texture to dive into slowly. Grateful for his vulnerability and honesty as he pursues a life well lived after Jesus. Excited to read the whole thing!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fantastic book. Very grounding and had many days where I felt God was really speaking to me through Tylers words.

[Tori Beal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply beautiful

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I loved Tyler’s 1st 2 books - this seemed more self healing. I can appreciate that, being a cancer survivor, myself. Maybe it’s the poetry - it felt for “self.” I did enjoy the Reflections.