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Trembling Faith: How a Distressed Prophet Helps Us Trust God in a Chaotic World
At times, our chaotic world reveals hints of the utter brokenness in which we live, like a peek behind the veneer. Neighbors taking advantage of others, unjust verdicts, and unfair beginnings. As people of faith in a powerful God, we want to lift our faces to heaven to cry out or bury our face in our hands to whisper prayers. Either way we utter things like “God, please help,” “God, what are you doing?” “God, those people are terrible!”
And we aren’t alone in those words we lift to heaven.
In fact, our frustrating and exhausting experience with chaos, injustice, and corruption is much like that of the distressed prophet Habakkuk in the Old Testament. He said those very things. When we’re looking for answers or just additional words for our prayers, his book is for us. His story is a prayer session—a surprisingly relevant one—open for eavesdroppers. We follow his journey of wrestling with evil, and we hear from God how to live. Habakkuk doesn’t see “living by faith” as a cliché to be written on a pillow or bumper sticker, but a way to survive.
As you join Taylor Turkington (Bible teacher and former Director of TGC Women’s Training Network) through the timeless story of Habakkuk, you will look at the situation of your own heart and world, and here you will find some of the most powerful chapters of the Bible that both confront and console you. You will learn that the only way to not just survive, but find lasting hope is through gritty, trembling, wrestling faith in the God who works in our chaotic world.
And we aren’t alone in those words we lift to heaven.
In fact, our frustrating and exhausting experience with chaos, injustice, and corruption is much like that of the distressed prophet Habakkuk in the Old Testament. He said those very things. When we’re looking for answers or just additional words for our prayers, his book is for us. His story is a prayer session—a surprisingly relevant one—open for eavesdroppers. We follow his journey of wrestling with evil, and we hear from God how to live. Habakkuk doesn’t see “living by faith” as a cliché to be written on a pillow or bumper sticker, but a way to survive.
As you join Taylor Turkington (Bible teacher and former Director of TGC Women’s Training Network) through the timeless story of Habakkuk, you will look at the situation of your own heart and world, and here you will find some of the most powerful chapters of the Bible that both confront and console you. You will learn that the only way to not just survive, but find lasting hope is through gritty, trembling, wrestling faith in the God who works in our chaotic world.
- GenresChristian Living
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2023
13 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 25, 2023
The world is not as it should be.
Your friend's daughter is diagnosed with leukaemia, your brother struggling with mental health can't get the help he needs, a veteran is denied his benefits, tragedy hits close to home.
Every morning the world seems to deteriorate one headline at a time.
Have you felt the frustration of injustice? The deep sorrow of suffering? The powerlessness to make a difference?
It's in these moments the little book of Habakkuk models for us how we can talk to God in our agony without losing our head or our hope; in Trembling Faith: How A Distressed Prophet Helps us Trust God in a Chaotic World, Taylor Turkington shows us how.
Habakkuk’s situation can feel far from our lived experience, but it really isn’t. He lived in a time of political chaos, violence, and a whole lot of wrong. He had witnessed strong leadership, and even revival. Then, he saw it all crumble before his eyes as leaders lived for their own power and believed in their own authority.
Can't we relate?
When the world seems to be going haywire, it deeply affects our emotions as we wrestle, and our beliefs as we consider God in the midst of it all - our faith trembles. Taylor points us to Habakkuk's prayer and the importance of lament as a response to all we see that's wrong in the world. Our desperate prayers remind us God hates the evil we're seeing and how the world is revealing its brokenness.
We grieve and mourn losses, wars and tragedy in the world because things aren't right. Yet, for we who love and follow the Lord Jesus, we don't have to stay sitting in despair or submerged in powerlessness. We are tempted to doubt but in our cries to the Lord we can ask for the grace of deeper faith.
Because God is present. He is active. He is ruling.
And all the brokenness we see reminds us of our own brokenness and God's gift of grace to redeem us. He hasn't left us as we were, He won't leave this world the way it is now, this is our firm and constant hope.
How we respond to the happenings of the world has been on my mind lately. It's been a theme with patients I've been seeing at work who've been failing to reconcile what they observe with what they believe - some holding onto their True Hope and others who do not.
But I see what a privilege it is for us who believe to have hope, that our prayers are not powerless, they are powerful because He is Almighty. I wonder at the grace given us to come to our Lord with our wrestlings - because we will surely have them. know and believe, as Habakkuk reminds us, "yet I will triumph in Yahweh; I will rejoice int he God of my salvation! Yahweh my Lord is my strength" (Hab 3:18-19).
If you've been struggling to hold onto faith in the midst of injustice and disheartened with the world, this book will be polysporin to your wounds as you dig into Habakukk's prayers and mine the truths of God within them.
Quick Stats
# of pages: 224
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 4 stars
Your friend's daughter is diagnosed with leukaemia, your brother struggling with mental health can't get the help he needs, a veteran is denied his benefits, tragedy hits close to home.
Every morning the world seems to deteriorate one headline at a time.
Have you felt the frustration of injustice? The deep sorrow of suffering? The powerlessness to make a difference?
It's in these moments the little book of Habakkuk models for us how we can talk to God in our agony without losing our head or our hope; in Trembling Faith: How A Distressed Prophet Helps us Trust God in a Chaotic World, Taylor Turkington shows us how.
Habakkuk’s situation can feel far from our lived experience, but it really isn’t. He lived in a time of political chaos, violence, and a whole lot of wrong. He had witnessed strong leadership, and even revival. Then, he saw it all crumble before his eyes as leaders lived for their own power and believed in their own authority.
Can't we relate?
When the world seems to be going haywire, it deeply affects our emotions as we wrestle, and our beliefs as we consider God in the midst of it all - our faith trembles. Taylor points us to Habakkuk's prayer and the importance of lament as a response to all we see that's wrong in the world. Our desperate prayers remind us God hates the evil we're seeing and how the world is revealing its brokenness.
We grieve and mourn losses, wars and tragedy in the world because things aren't right. Yet, for we who love and follow the Lord Jesus, we don't have to stay sitting in despair or submerged in powerlessness. We are tempted to doubt but in our cries to the Lord we can ask for the grace of deeper faith.
Because God is present. He is active. He is ruling.
And all the brokenness we see reminds us of our own brokenness and God's gift of grace to redeem us. He hasn't left us as we were, He won't leave this world the way it is now, this is our firm and constant hope.
How we respond to the happenings of the world has been on my mind lately. It's been a theme with patients I've been seeing at work who've been failing to reconcile what they observe with what they believe - some holding onto their True Hope and others who do not.
But I see what a privilege it is for us who believe to have hope, that our prayers are not powerless, they are powerful because He is Almighty. I wonder at the grace given us to come to our Lord with our wrestlings - because we will surely have them. know and believe, as Habakkuk reminds us, "yet I will triumph in Yahweh; I will rejoice int he God of my salvation! Yahweh my Lord is my strength" (Hab 3:18-19).
If you've been struggling to hold onto faith in the midst of injustice and disheartened with the world, this book will be polysporin to your wounds as you dig into Habakukk's prayers and mine the truths of God within them.
Quick Stats
# of pages: 224
Level of Difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 4 stars
January 20, 2024
At times this book was repetitive and highly anecdotal, instead of focusing on Habakkuk itself and the movement of the prophet from lament and protest to trust in the Lord, even though the prophet does not see God’s salvation and judgment of the wicked. The book certainly does help the reader better understand how we can lament while maintaining hope and trust in God.
February 18, 2026
A friend gifted me this book a few months back and I finally got around to reading it. The focus is on the Book of Habakkuk & drawing lines between that particular book in the Bible to our present day frights, to see God at work in the chaos.
This book made me think. Turkington is very focused on the idea of injustice in the world. Bothered by many atrocities, she describes her distress in hearing stories from and about the downtrodden. As Christians are called to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God, she legitimately calls on us to care about the woes of the world. This is good & I agree, with condition (below).
I thought Turkington was going to go woke at one point in the book. She was detailing the tragedies well documented by news agencies around the world today. It was getting a bit much when her tone noticeably shifted & she brought the reader back around to acknowledge that although life on the planet is hard, God is still sovereign.
The command of Micah 6:8 applies to all. We cannot turn a blind eye to our neighbors when they are being maliciously or even distractedly oppressed. It's our job to speak out on behalf of the poor and needy, giving hefty consideration to the lessons of The Good Samaritan.
I also believe that you can focus too hard on the injustice & miss the ability to shepherd your time and resources well. The world would like to distract you by thinking about ALL of the tragedies that exist ALL at once, and consider yourself on the hook to solve them all. But that's not how the Body of Christ works. Some people might be called to go onto the mission field & some feel called to hospitality which serves needs in a different way. It might be tempting, in reading Turkington's book, to think you're in the wrong if you don't care as deeply about people on the other side of the globe as she does. But maybe you can only focus on a small group of folks closer to home & that is not only legitimate but preferred. I don't think Turkington would disagree with me there. But I do think she failed to give the disclaimer that just because chaos looks to be reigning everywhere, doesn't mean you have to notice every bit of it, every minute of every day.
What you DO need to notice is that God is present & she spends the better part of the book assuring the reader of that fact. He knows all, He sees all, is sovereign over all, and He will redeem all.
This book ended up being very encouraging. I think it's a message that more than just a few people could stand to hear as news cycles continue to build & shriek.
This book made me think. Turkington is very focused on the idea of injustice in the world. Bothered by many atrocities, she describes her distress in hearing stories from and about the downtrodden. As Christians are called to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God, she legitimately calls on us to care about the woes of the world. This is good & I agree, with condition (below).
I thought Turkington was going to go woke at one point in the book. She was detailing the tragedies well documented by news agencies around the world today. It was getting a bit much when her tone noticeably shifted & she brought the reader back around to acknowledge that although life on the planet is hard, God is still sovereign.
The command of Micah 6:8 applies to all. We cannot turn a blind eye to our neighbors when they are being maliciously or even distractedly oppressed. It's our job to speak out on behalf of the poor and needy, giving hefty consideration to the lessons of The Good Samaritan.
I also believe that you can focus too hard on the injustice & miss the ability to shepherd your time and resources well. The world would like to distract you by thinking about ALL of the tragedies that exist ALL at once, and consider yourself on the hook to solve them all. But that's not how the Body of Christ works. Some people might be called to go onto the mission field & some feel called to hospitality which serves needs in a different way. It might be tempting, in reading Turkington's book, to think you're in the wrong if you don't care as deeply about people on the other side of the globe as she does. But maybe you can only focus on a small group of folks closer to home & that is not only legitimate but preferred. I don't think Turkington would disagree with me there. But I do think she failed to give the disclaimer that just because chaos looks to be reigning everywhere, doesn't mean you have to notice every bit of it, every minute of every day.
What you DO need to notice is that God is present & she spends the better part of the book assuring the reader of that fact. He knows all, He sees all, is sovereign over all, and He will redeem all.
This book ended up being very encouraging. I think it's a message that more than just a few people could stand to hear as news cycles continue to build & shriek.
January 28, 2023
Our faith sometimes trembles. We doubt, or we question, or we wonder how what we're going through can ever be reconciled with who God is. Sometimes it's events in our own lives, sometimes it's events in the world.
How do we keep going? What do we say to God? How do we not just become numb?
Turkington's accessible exposition of Habakkuk answers these questions. She talks about lament, paying attention, responding with the emotions of Scripture (not social media), and waiting in faith, waiting for the justice and relief that God has promised.
A quote from page 6 to whet your appetite:
"Habakkuk models how to speak to God when life is agonizing. He teaches us a way to face the corruption around us without sticking our heads in the sand, becoming so angry we explode, or so depressed we wither. It’s a way of faith. Faith like that which made Abram upright before God even when he couldn’t see how the promises would be realized. Faith that brings perseverance. Faith that leads to real, full life. Faith that isn’t cliché, but resilient and gritty. Faith that sees what God is doing on the horizon and today."
(I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley)
How do we keep going? What do we say to God? How do we not just become numb?
Turkington's accessible exposition of Habakkuk answers these questions. She talks about lament, paying attention, responding with the emotions of Scripture (not social media), and waiting in faith, waiting for the justice and relief that God has promised.
A quote from page 6 to whet your appetite:
"Habakkuk models how to speak to God when life is agonizing. He teaches us a way to face the corruption around us without sticking our heads in the sand, becoming so angry we explode, or so depressed we wither. It’s a way of faith. Faith like that which made Abram upright before God even when he couldn’t see how the promises would be realized. Faith that brings perseverance. Faith that leads to real, full life. Faith that isn’t cliché, but resilient and gritty. Faith that sees what God is doing on the horizon and today."
(I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley)
November 13, 2025
I've heard it said that Habakkuk is one of the cleanest books in most of our Bibles. Because we haven't studied it, and therefore its pages aren't wrinkled or marked. Dr. Turkington's lay-level introduction to this minor prophet is both deep and accessible. She covers the exegetical questions with clarity, but she doesn't leave us there. She peppers the pages of this book with vivid illustrations of her own life. And she offers numerous ways in which to apply its realities to our lives. For anyone eager to delve into a short but powerful book of prophetic literature, look no further than Trembling Faith.
March 17, 2023
The world is broken. People with power abuse. Some days are hard. And the Lord is still good.
The prophet Habakkuk addresses these issues, and Taylor Turkington walks us through the 3-chapter prophetic book that many of us probably ignore.
Her book has 3 sections: lament and hope, injustice and justice, waiting and hope. In each section, these themes are easy to see, both in personal illustrations and connections to Habakkuk.
God is at work! And I appreciate this book helping to remind me of this truth.
The prophet Habakkuk addresses these issues, and Taylor Turkington walks us through the 3-chapter prophetic book that many of us probably ignore.
Her book has 3 sections: lament and hope, injustice and justice, waiting and hope. In each section, these themes are easy to see, both in personal illustrations and connections to Habakkuk.
God is at work! And I appreciate this book helping to remind me of this truth.
April 16, 2023
If you ever look at everything going on in the world and wonder, “Why God? When are you going to do something about this?” then Habakkuk is the prophet for you. And if you ever consider reading Habakkuk and think, “I’m gonna need some help to understand the original context of this and how it applies to me today,” then Trembling Faith is the book for you. Taylor Turkington provides the historical context you need with the real life examples that shows the book’s relevance today, and reminds us of the hope we have in Jesus in the midst of a confusing and painful world. Highly recommend!
May 15, 2023
When is the last time you read Habakkuk? Taylor Turkington will walk you through this minor prophet's conversation with God. If you are curious about suffering, God's goodness, oppression, and God's justice, then this book can accompany you as you travel with Habakkuk as he talks with God about those very things. I would give this 4 1/2 stars if I had the option, only because it was probably a little repetitive. But it is well worth the read!
March 17, 2023
This is the book I didn't know that I needed to read. I often struggle with the injustices I see in this world, and the injustice that I contribute to, and this look at Habakkuk was both convicting and faith building. I highly recommend Trembling Faith for a Biblical look at lament, justice, suffering, and faith.
July 11, 2023
“In the chaotic world, our recognition of his power means we can tremble at what’s to come and still believe he will make us stand firm on the heights.”
Such a poignant message from an unsung hero of a prophet written by a fantastic author. If your faith has ever trembled, this book is for you.
Such a poignant message from an unsung hero of a prophet written by a fantastic author. If your faith has ever trembled, this book is for you.
July 19, 2023
raw and honest faith
Thoughtful, raw and honest. Most importantly, faithful to the biblical message. Taylor writes beautifully, and we can tell this is a deeply personal journey for her.
Thoughtful, raw and honest. Most importantly, faithful to the biblical message. Taylor writes beautifully, and we can tell this is a deeply personal journey for her.
April 9, 2023
Accessible and warm, this book helped me understand the book of Habakkuk as well as greatly encouraged my faith through a very difficult season of life.
February 1, 2024
This book is accessible for everyone, but will challenge the student of the Bible in their growth of understanding of God’s word.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews