Journey of the Soul: A Practical Guide to Emotional and Spiritual Growth

by Bill Gaultiere, Kristi Gaultiere

The healthy Christian life is one of continuing spiritual, emotional, and relational growth. But so many of us feel stuck or stagnated at one stage of the journey. It's not always clear to us where or why we are stuck, making it difficult to take the next step on our journey of the soul.

That's where Bill and Kristi Gaultiere come in. After decades in private practice as counselors and therapists, they have developed a unique model for growing in grace. In Journey of the Soul , they draw on more than 70,000 hours of providing therapy and spiritual direction to show you how to identify your current stage of faith and the next steps to take based on your unique needs and struggles. With Scripture, self-assessments, and soul care practices to support your progress along the way, this insightful and inspiring book will be a treasured companion on your journey no matter where you are or how long you've been following Jesus.

Genres: Faith, Christian, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction, Psychology

240 pages, Paperback

Published February 16, 2021

About the author

Bill and Kristi Gaultiere have been counseling and ministering to people for 30 years. They are authors of "Journey of the Soul," published by Revell in 2021.

Bill is a psychologist who has served in private practice, co-led a New Life psychiatric day hospital, and pastored churches. Kristi is a marriage and family therapist who has also served in private practice and church ministry. Together they are the founders of Soul Shepherding, a nonprofit ministry to help believers discover their next steps for growing in intimacy with Jesus, emotional health, and loving relationships. They live in Irvine, California.

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Christians want to thrive in their spiritual lives. But there are obstacles and pitfalls that make growing spiritually at times difficult. Sometimes experiences are hard to understand and we wonder where God is in our lives. Sometimes we are just at a loss as to the next step in spiritual and emotional growth.

The Gaultieres have developed a model of the stages of faith, drawing from their years of providing therapy and spiritual direction, along with extensive research and field testing. They give the characteristics of and insights into each stage, relating personal experiences and information from other authors. They suggests steps to grow, soul care practices, and spiritual disciplines to help move to the next stage. They provide questions so readers can identify what stage they are in.

I appreciate this book. It helped me identify my spiritual stage and explained many of my past spiritual experiences and current spiritual longing. I appreciate that spiritual growth is not linear but moves like a spiral, going through the various phases at a deeper level each time.

The insight I appreciated the most was distinguishing desolation (spiritual experience of feeling God's absence) and depression (a psychological problem). While they can affect each other, I appreciate that they are not the same. Those who have experienced the Dark Night will also appreciate the distinction. Another appreciated insight was about the last stage and the information on being a mystic. The Gaultieres draw much from classic devotional authors, like Madame Guyon, Teresa of Jesus (Avila) and Frank Laubach who wrote about the deep experience of union with Christ.

This is a good book for Christians who want to understand their own spiritual life while gaining insights on the spiritual lives of others. There are resources available, such as small group leader's guide and free videos at the Soul Shepherding site.

[Tudor Marici · Rating 1 out of 5]

Struggled to finish this book but was too far in to quit. While there are some interesting concepts to take away, the book is hard to read. Written by two people and it reads that way. I also don’t agree with all their stances on the theology and “open-mindedness” which just seems to indicate the belief that the Bible is not enough and you need to “glean wisdom from other sources” as they say in the book.

[Chelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it through once and now I'm rereading it so I can type up everything I highlighted. Because I highlighted a lot.

[Michele H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and recommend it to anyone who loves Jesus and seeks a deeper relationship with Him. Ann Voskamp had recommended this book on her blog and I’m so glad I read it.

[Megan Caillouet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been waiting to read this book ever since Bill & Kristi first started promoting it on Instagram. This book is incredible and a must-read for every Christian! I now have a deeper understanding of the CHRIST stages we endure during our walk with God. I can finally identify what stages I’m in! This book does a great job at reminding us of the humanization of Christ and how important is to build a vulnerable, intimate relationship with the Trinity. I will read this again and again!

[Jodine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey of the Soul is a life-changing book full of tools to help you understand where you are in your journey with the Lord and what you can do to grow in the stage you are in as you move between stages. Bill and Kristi skillfully connect aspects of spiritual direction, spiritual disciplines, and psychology, among others, to give a well-rounded understanding of our whole self as God sees us. No matter if you are a new or mature Christian you will find guidance for your faith journey. If you are feeling stuck or far away from God this is perfect for you too! Feeling stale in your faith or distant from the Lord is part of your journey that God will use to deepen your relationship with Him. Whether you read this on your own or work through it with a group, you will experience the Lord's presence as you bring your honest self before Him! It is clear how much Bill and Kristi pray for and care for each and every person who picks up this book and I join them in this prayer. Thank you, Bill and Kristi for following the Lord's calling in writing this book!

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Revell in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book could not have come at a better time for me at this point. If you are struggling for finding your purpose or you just ask the question why? frequently then this book is for you. I love how Bill Gaultiere and Kristi Gaultiere break down how to fight the struggle and strengthen your spiritual connection so positive thoughts can come in and you'll not only see but feel a significant difference in your way of thinking. A lot of people in our library community are constantly on the search for different Self Help books and I could not be happier to add a title to recommend to them.

We will consider adding this title to our Self-Help collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Bill Staffieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey of the Soul has been a wonderful companion to reexamine and reinvest in my life with Christ. The book is filled with the vulnerable confessions of two wise travelers and their empathy for our struggles is so apparent with each chapter. They write with not only wise counsel on the different stages of our faith but with practical guidance and applications on how to take the next step. For those in mentoring and leadership roles, you will find this book helps you identify why someone is stuck and where to lead them next. From spiritual practices and reflection questions to a "packing list" for the next stage of the journey, Bill & Kristi Gaultiere have given us a guidebook for our own growth or any group we want to be on a spiritual journey with.

[Corella Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! A few years ago I hit a wall in my faith, but I didn't know how to identify it or get around it. Through a spiritual formations class, I was introduced to the idea of the stages of faith and it opened my eyes and released me to step forward into the inner journey I needed. I'm so thankful for that time, and I'm absolutely convinced that understanding the stages of faith, as laid out in this book, is critical for any Christian who is serious about walking with Christ.

This is an excellent resource for all Jesus followers, but especially for those in active ministry. It's both foundational and instructive, all the while presented in a personal and practical manner. Highly recommend!

[Sheridan McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey of the Soul is a book that begin construction within me. It caused me to look at areas in my life that needed immediate attention. Then it gave me the tools to fix what needed fixing and repair what needed repairing. Learning to work with Jesus versus working for Jesus brought me into a freedom that I needed. This book is a prescription to have a healthy spiritual relationship with the Lord.

Journey of the Soul will cause you to experience real joy and intimacy in your journey.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this is a must read for every Christian. It was full of "ah ha" moments and wisdom I wish I had heard years ago. It is simple, yet profound. No only has it had a huge impact on me personally, but it helps me understand and have compassion on others in their journey. I will be recommending this book and referring to it for years to come! If you only read one book this year--this should be the book.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for anyone desiring a deeper and healthier spiritual life! The ways in which the authors integrate their background in psychology with spiritual formation brings a unique perspective to the christian faith that is truly transformative, healing, and empowering! You will be inspired and encouraged with practical tools to guide you through each stage of your journey with Christ. It’s the perfect resource for leading a small group and fostering soul friendships!

[Gina Stockton · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Journey of the Soul Bill & Kristi Gaultiere give language to the different stages of our emotional and spiritual growth, demonstrate how they integrate and articulate the roadblocks and invitations in each. This is a powerful tool for every believer to grow in healthy intimate relationship with God, themselves and others.

[Higdon]

Bill & Kristi have been a huge influence in our spiritual journey. Their newest book “Journey of the Soul” is a treasure among faith resources and a must read for all Christians. This is such a vital message that provides us a safe place where we can go and understand there’s grace in the spiritual journey at whatever stage you currently find yourself.

[Valerie Laws · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great resource for understanding Christian faith stages. Full of help and resources for those who are reeling stuck or far from God. Easy to read and easy to apply.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Journey of the Soul is written by husband-and-wife team Bill and Kristi Gaultiere. The authors work in the field of Psychology and this book has tools in it to help the reader see where they are with Christ and what that may mean. It uses the acronym C-H-R-I-S-T to describe possible stages we are in our walk with Jesus and using Psalms 23 to help guide each stage. I found the book to be informative and I believe others can find help from this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. (This review is also on GoodReads.)

[Brian C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like their framework and have seen it occur in my own life in very similar ways. I also like how they have incorporated many other stages of spiritual formation from other Christians past and present. But I just felt like their writing was really heavy on their own spiritual journey and did not really incorporate many other stories and examples. The book was really easy to read in a way that felt simplistic - I think they could have made it a lot shorter. However I will definitely be checking out their website and other materials.

[Jodie Pine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would recommend The Critical Journey by Hagberg and Guelich over this one. The Gaultieres came up with their own acronym CHRIST in Journey of the Soul, but the stages of the spiritual journey that they describe are basically the same as The Critical Journey, and I had a hard time connecting with their writing style.

[Josh Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey of the Soul is an excellent introduction and exploration of the stages of faith. The authors build upon the work of the Church Fathers and Mothers by introducing their own stages of faith called CHRIST stages, which makes the stage memorable and more easily understood. Highly recommend.

[CJ Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are encouraging and positive moments in the reading, and I am grateful for the times they told stories of others and from Scripture. Overall I think this would be a good book for someone new in the faith who is looking for somewhere to start.

[Maddy Haase · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for work but it was a good read. It really opened my eyes to the different stages of faith and what that could look like for each person.

[Jim Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Finished it quite a while ago.

[courtney bellush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensational

We have been reading this book in my Bible study and it has been so helpful leading us to deep, faith-filled conversations. Great book for any small group!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful framework describing (sometimes non-linear) stages of Christian maturity.

[Sarah Schreuder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the spiritual formation ideas in this book.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brought both guidance and comfort in recognizing my own experience of confusion mirrored in one of the stages

[Ashley Chesnut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really helpful handles for thinking about 6 stages of spiritual growth

It’s an evangelical Christian version of Fowler’s stages and a more readable, applicable version of The Critical Journey.

[Tea]

Got about halfway through and then went to a conference hosted by the authors. The conference was a sham where all they did was try to sell us on other products and books. There was nothing all that new or unique in the book to begin with. I had the overwhelming sense that I had already read all of the things in this book previously. Came home from the conference, can't find the book, and can't be bothered to search for it to read the rest. Great if the book is useful to you, unfortunately the authors really turned me off of their product.