If we really believed that God knowing was enough—and left it there—our questions, worries, and angst over life's struggles would find more than temporary relief. Many of us wake up every day with looming anxieties over our future and a weariness we can't shake. We have more questions than answers and live with difficult daily realities and secrets we feel we cannot share. The question remains for most How can I fix it, make sense of it, or solve it? Enter God Knows : a guidebook to lead the modern believer to a place of release, relief, and reliance upon the omniscience of God. Inspired by the seldom-studied book of Nahum, God Knows details the behind-the-scenes picture we are missing, what His great knowing entails, and how his omniscience provides daily perspective to bring the healing and peace we are all desperate to find. In God Knows , you God is doing his job the justice, the plan, the working together for our good even when we can't see or understand. The problem is not God. Learn to release what has been burdening you and watch His plan for your life unfold.
Lisa Whittle is the author of 7 books, and a sought-out Bible teacher for her wit and bold, bottom line approach. A pastor's daughter and long-time ministry leader in issues relevant to the Church, Lisa is the founder of Ministry Strong and the popular Jesus Over Everything podcast. Her love runs deep to see people pursue Jesus for life, grow deep roots of faith, and walk strong in the midst of a world that so often seems to have gone crazy. She has done master's work in Marriage and Family Counseling, been featured on numerous media outlets in print, online, radio, podcast and TV through the years, and advocated for Compassion, International. Lisa and her husband of 24 years live in North Carolina with their 3 mostly-grown children who still (mostly) come home for dinner.
“I have come to the conclusion that I would rather believe in God in unjust situations than love with the greater pain than I have nothing to believe in at all.”
Just one of the many nuggets to glean from this amazing book filled to the brim with wisdom. Wisdom for the girl like me that can easily stress and worry over the things she doesn't know and has no control over. The same things God does know all about and holds in the palm of his hand.
Thank you Lisa Whittle for writing this amazing book for all of us who find trusting through the hard times can often be a struggle and helping us come to that better understanding of what God Knows truly means. Reading this book has been a game changer. This is a book I will read over and over again. It has encouraged my heart and ignited my spirit to dream and trust through it all.
We cope by pretending to be someone we're not, pretending to be fine when we're hurting, pretending to have it all together when the world is crashing around us. Author Lisa Whittle dismantles the lies between dreams and hopes, secrecy and privacy, and beliefs and experiences. When we acknowledge our limitations and surrender control of our lives to God, we embark on a journey to peace and relief that only God can provide. Kudos to Lisa Whittle for reminding readers that God is, does, and knows.
Just on the heel of Resurrection, I think back on all the torture and trauma our Sweet Jesus endured just for me and for you. But, during his young life on earth he had to endure ridicule, backlash,, abuse (verbal and physical) and pure hatred, both from those who knew him and strangles alike. So, does God Know- of course He knows, He of all people knows. Lisa has penned a guide that not only helps us with confirming facts that God Knows, but guides us to a place of reassurance that God Knows. Don’t sleep on this one, because….God Knows!
This book had amazing perspectives and was so comforting to read. Every chapter I became more and more at peace that God knows all. It was slightly repetitive in places and dragged on a bit, but other than that it was such a beautiful book.
Lisa has written such a timely book! So many people feel uneasy and uncertain about so many things these days, and Lisa reminds us that God is control and that He knows! Lisa examines several different areas of our lives and shows us through Scripture that, though it may not be easy, it is possible to live in freedom and without fear, because we can trust God's all-knowing hand. In a day where doubts and fears assail, we can release our burdens and cares to Him because, in the end, "GOD KNOWS!"
If you haven’t picked up this new book by Lisa Whittle, God Knows – When Your Worries and Whys Need More Than Temporary Relief and you have been feeling anxious or worrisome about circumstances in your life or the world, then you will want to read the book. I had the pleasure of reading this for review, but not only that, I gained some much needed reminders and truth in it that I needed. Lisa covers the topic of God’s omniscience in many relatable areas and current situations while pointing to Scripture. This book is not about us knowing ourselves better but instead knowing more about God. Who do you turn to when you have problems, worries, unknowns…? I know often we are not turning to God first, as we should. So I am thankful the book is not about learning about ourselves, but instead what we need or should I say Who we need!
So many great sections in this book were helpful in some areas that I have been working through. I will share some quotes and notes I took from the book:
“The more we resist what we need to release, the more we refuse our own pain relief.” – holding on to pain is not healthy. “We want to know when we don’t understand. We want to control when things are not controllable. We struggle with reliance. We want to do God’s job. But we aren’t very good at it. We’ve proven that.” – prior control, type A personality here, all because of Christ that has changed, though can still be a struggle at times. Learn from Nahum – things are not always what they seem – but God knows and is in control of it all. “Looking to God for relief is not ignorance, it’s wisdom.” – Living with this knowledge brings peace! “God’s intimate knowledge of our lives, combined with His deep and abiding love for us, means that sometimes He chooses to keep things from us. And while we might think knowing these things would bring us peace, often the opposite is true.” _ reminder of Romans 8 “Ironically, God letting us have our way for a time, when He knows He has something better, can be a part of character refinement.” “God’ omniscience covers the wrongs done to you that you long to personally make right. He knows what happened, knows the truth, and in one way or another, will set it straight.” “The best way to seek vindication is to let God, who is fully aware of the situation, heal you from it.” “Our job is not to try to change people’s minds. It is simply keep doing what god has called us to do and let Him work it out on our behalf.” “Unfair treatment, even small incidents through years, can pile up and eventually cause us to shut down or severally alter course.” and “It is wise to no longer allow people to pick our emotional and spiritual destinations.” – these sections was so helpful for me. “Calling out the sin in your own life is good work, even when it’s hard.” – something we all need to do.
This book is timely for what our country is going through and the high rate of anxiety happening in our culture. Lisa’s books always pack a punch with loving truth and encouragement.
“God Knows” by Lisa Whittle invites the reader to discover the depth of the title’s words so that we can both gain a right perspective and learn to trust our God who knows all even when we do not. The book covers topics such as how God knows our need for relief as well as our dreams, struggles, limits, etc.
This book wasn’t a huge hit for me and I struggled to get through the book. It wasn’t what I expected honestly. The writing was also a little awkward at times, making it more difficult to understand what was being communicated.
The subtitle, “when your worries and whys need more than temporary relief,” doesn’t seem fully accurate based on the content. From it, I thought this would be a book focused on addressing anxiety alongside God’s care and all-knowing attribute of omniscience. However, though His omniscience is mentioned once in a while in the chapters, the focus was more on the whys than worries and on various other struggles beyond worry.
I think it would be more accurate to take out the “worries” part of the subtitle and change it to “struggles” or another similar synonym that is more accurate for the book’s content so the reader will know better what to expect.
That said, I still think this book will likely encourage and resonate with those who need its message. A few highlights:
“We all want God to know what we are going through and, if we’re entirely honest, we want Him to do something about it.”
“. . . the One who knows everything about our lives is often our last resort.”
“…desiring knowledge is the place we have historically been the most tempted to challenge God.” She goes on to connect this statement to Satan’s first temptation of Adam and Eve in the garden, as he sought to get them to buy in on “the innocent packaging of the ‘good thing’ of knowing more.” (As humans, we like to feel in control and this is revealed often through wanting to know.)
“Jesus followers can still live for ourselves, but we will never ultimately have peace about it.”
“We may want it done quicker, or in our way, but if we want it done best we will let Him handle it.”
“An awareness of our limits is an invitation to embrace the never-ending limits of God.”
I received a review copy of this book for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.
God knows. How many times have I said those words? Lisa Whittle dives into those words in her new book God Knows. True confession, I love Lisa Whittle, her spirit, her love for Jesus, her willingness to speak into the problems and the joys of the Church today. She rarely holds back about a myriad of aspects of the Christian life, and is a truth speaker. When she releases a book, I read it as fast as I can. God Knows is the third in a trilogy that began with Jesus Over Everything, continued with The Hard Good, and finds its perfect culmination in God Knows. This is the best book Lisa Whittle has ever written. (She keeps getting better, so I believe there will be more good books to come.) She goes to hard places and writes honest words about the situations that confound our lives and or relationships with God. It is gritty honest in many places and Lisa holds nothing back when making her points about our own shortcomings – but also about God’s great mercies. She calls us out for the controlling self-reliant creatures that we are at the same time that she beautifully points us to the only One on whom we can truly, consistently, eternally rely. She guides us on a journey to know God better, so that we will better understand that GOD KNOWS. She carefully leads the soul into the peace and confidence of what it means to embrace the fact that God really does know. He knows it all. God Knows is a book that acknowledges that we are sometimes hopeless and points us to the truest hope we have, knowing God and being known by Him. I was convicted by her words at many points. I literally said “Ouch” out loud multiple times. At the same time she brought hope and comfort in unique and impactful ways. For instance, the chapter “God Knows Your Limits” delved into a wide variety of limits and included “How We Become Limited” as well as “Don’t Let These Four False Assumptions Limit You” and “Practical Tips for Humble Soul-Care.” I could write paragraphs more about it but instead, I encourage you to buy the book and clear an afternoon to read it and get its blessings. THANK YOU LISA.
My mom once said to me, “that young woman is an ‘old soul.’”
“What’s that mean?” I asked.
“It means,” she said, “ she is wise beyond her years, more insightful than her peers.” And now, as I am older, I would add: “willing to remain quiet for a time and listen to His voice/ His instructions. “
To me this author, Lisa Whittle, has always felt like an ‘Old Soul’ . And all of us, young and old, will do ourselves a favor by listening to her message contained in God Knows. She accurately relates the Scriptural truth of God’s Omniscience and how we can not only understand it but wonderfully embrace it daily in our lives.
Her simple illustration of evaluating : “What I know to be true about life” and “What I know to be true about God” is an ingenious tool to help know where I stand in my ability to experience peace in the midst of a troubled world and a challenged life.
Don’t let the reference of Nahum keep you from reading this book. The Lord’s graciousness toward and care for His own are embodied in this tiny book and Lisa helps us unpack timely truths.
Nahum 1:7: “The Lord is good. A stronghold in the day of trouble. He knows those who take refuge in Him. “ And Matthew Henry’s commentary on Nahum 1:7 relates this because “God knows His own, He owns them, and He does what’s best for them. “ This is grand news for us today!
Order Seven or more copies ------ for yourself, your children, your grandchildren, your friends and maybe even your enemies; because you never know, maybe their lives will be changed by it !
In my own suffering of 2022 and beyond as I recover from divorce and multilayered betrayal trauma, I have needed constant reassurance that God is near and he not only knows but cares about what I’m facing. This is what Lisa beautifully affirms in her newest book, God Knows.
Whether you’ve been a Christian all your life like me, or your faith is relatively new, you are guaranteed to face situations where your faith is rocked to the core. The really hard things in life shake us down, and it’s easy to turn away from God when we are hurting. Even when we know that he knows our pain, but seems to do nothing about it.
Lisa lovingly yet firmly helps you understand why you question God’s goodness when you suffer. She gives all kinds of practical tips for rerouting your thinking when it stinks, and clinging to faith even when things get harder, not easier. This is an excellent book you could give to someone going through a very hard time and questioning whether God really cares about their hurt.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from this book: - While we judge things by the surface, God knows the subplot. - Sometimes a dream isn’t what is causing your insecurity problems. Sometimes you need to hold on a little longer, and only God knows why it hasn’t happened yet. - A strange mix of unwavering confidence and consistent humility is required to keep pursuing a dream. - It takes a lot of Jesus to stop wanting to pay someone back. - There can be moments of happiness and pleasure even with the companion of hardship.
This book is excellent for individual use and would make a fantastic resource for an honest, deep-seeking small group.
God Knows When Your Worries and Whys Need More Than Temporary Relief by Lisa Whittle Pub Date 18 Apr 2023 Thomas Nelson--W Publishing,Thomas Nelson Christian| Religion & Spirituality
I am reviewing a copy of God Knows through Thomas Nelson and Netgalley:
Our questions, worries, and angst about life's struggles would find more than temporary relief if we truly believed God's knowledge was enough.
Every day we wake up with looming anxieties over our future and a weariness we can't shake. The daily realities and secrets we feel we cannot share leave us with more questions than answers. For most believers, the question remains: How can I fix it?
Introducing God Knows: a guide to releasing, relieving, and relying on God's omniscience. God Knows explores the hidden picture we are missing, what His great knowing entails, and how His omniscience can bring healing and peace to us all.
In God Knows, you will:
Learn the difference between privacy and secrecy.
Renewed faith in God's will for your dreams and goals
Realign your idea of God's omniscience to how it affects you every day.
Develop a different outlook on tomorrow through God's lens and release your fears.
Learn to deal with injustice in light of God's knowledge.
Even when we are unable to see or understand, God is doing his job well: justice, plan, working together for our good. No problem with God. Let go of what has been burdening you and watch His plan unfold.
Are you guilty of thinking that God knows what's going on in your life but still worrying about those issues? Do you forget that God knows every single thing about us now and He also knows every single thing that will ever happen to us? Every. Single. Thing? Author Lisa Whittle addresses this in her new book, God Knows, and she uses a three-chapter Old Testament book as the basis of her theories. Whittle believes that the minor prophet Nahum was trying to show us that 'things aren't always as they appear, God knows what we don't, and He is taking care of it.' (p. 7) Isn't that a wonderful reassurance in our stressful, question-filled lives?
“The Lord is good. A stronghold in the day of trouble. He knows those who take refuge in Him. “ Nahum 1:7
I admit that I haven't recognized the power of Nahum's words, but Whittle has! She uses them to encourage and comfort her readers, and she accomplishes this in an easily understood, totally relatable manner. I especially love that she freely shares her own experiences!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via FrontGate Media. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.
Lisa Whittle hits it “out of the park” and into the heavens again ! Never was there a time when we needed more of a reminder and reassurance that God REALLY DOES Know. In eight impactful chapters, she addresses the key “worries and whys” we all face in our quest for daily hope and faith. As with all her books, the personal component, vulnerability and occasional humor she shares will bring you comfort and confidence in the knowledge that we are all walking the same path with our questions and our concerns of life this side of heaven.
This one excerpt is one I will read every day because I need to remember this every day. “We don’t know what we don’t know about what God wants to do in our lives and futures, and sometimes because we are so focused on trying to figure those things out ourselves, we miss the beauty of how He is loving us in the regular moments of our lives, even today.” - Lisa Whittle
I have read this book twice already - the first time in two days because I wanted more and more of the wisdom. Give yourself this gift of reading and knowing that truly God Knows.
“The injustice in this world may be the single most important reason we need to believe God’s omniscience to be able to keep going.“ God Knows God’s omniscience is a big topic to teach. This book is a must purchase, read and keep for reference. We all can experience both global heartbreak as well personal trails. Some matters this side of Heaven we search and struggle to find vindication for, not just answers. Lisa writes with solid scripture reference as well as personal application of what she writes. Thanks Lisa for once again encouraging to put my eyes on Him and to trust that God knows our everything… in Him we can dream big dreams, be fully known and fully loved. He is able to handle any size mess, even the ones we don’t speak of. God knows about them anyway and is just waiting for us let him in to heal it. Already looking forward also sharing to the Bible study to be released in the Fall.
It was the subtitle of this book that caught my attention. In a world where I constantly find myself asking God, "Really? Why? Can't you do something?" my heart wants to know there's a plan for the long haul. And this book reminded me of that. Not only does God know (about events and our hearts), but He can also bring relief that's more than a band-aid or cute response that doesn't deal with the source of our pain. In a style that finds that sweet balance between challenging me and encouraging me, Lisa reminds me that nothing is outside of God's reach. That includes my dreams, my limits, and my desires to clear my name when I've been wronged to set the record straight. And this is one of my favorite sentences in the book: "Trust that God has in mind incredible things for you to do." I'm so grateful that Lisa wrote this book.
What a blessing God Knows is to those of us who fear for the future and want to be in control. This book is so helpful to those who need to release their worries … because God knows. Ask me how I know as a special needs mom. :)
“Our fears can stop us from greatness. They stop us from basic living too.” ~ Lisa
I love the way Lisa illustrates the endless ‘fear loop’ we experience if we don’t properly deal with what we are afraid of.
“The more we resist what we need to release, the more we refuse our own pain relief.”
Her passion for teaching God’s Word is evident in the way she breaks down scripture and applies it to our struggles in easy-to-understand terms.
I highly recommend you read it and make plans for it to be your Fall Bible Study!
Some days I'm on it! I know that I know God loves me, and some days I firmly remind myself, "It's okay because God knows." In her book "God Knows," Lisa Whittle pokes right at the pain point. She writes, "We want to know when we don't understand. We want to control when things are not controllable. We struggle with reliance. We want to do God's job." Um, yes. *hand raised* that's me. All the things. Lisa nailed this one like she's my friend sharing in my uncertainty but bringing much-needed encouragement and understanding. This is not a self-help book. It's a God-knows-and-you-can-rest-confident-in-the-surety-of-Him book. Totally worth your read time.
This book was full of great reminders about God's omniscience and that it is ALL about and for Him.
I wouldn't say there was much new but several things that are helpful to hear again, as we often get distracted and forgetful. I found myself underlining several quotes.
I was disappointed that this isn't really a study. I found myself really wishing for more Scripture, and that the end of chapter questions and activities were more of a deep dive into the Truths of God. There was nothing wrong with what she said, I was just looking for more. Maybe she'll write a study guide in the future.
God Knows is such a beacon of hope during this season of my life. Many times when I’ve watched current events unfold (globally and personally) I can become disheartened. This book is a great reminder of the promise that God is with us, and is sovereign in it. I appreciated the boldness of truth but also the gentle comfort in each chapter. I also needed the distinction between what are dreams and what may not be... A great read for anyone who isn’t sure what their next step is or wondering where God is in all of this. ❤️
This book is so needed right now. Each chapter got better and better as Lisa addressed questions that many of us have - what if your dreams haven’t happened yet? What does God say about justice? What if you’re struggling with something that no one else knows about? Lisa speaks the truth in love and always with kindness. God Knows is the message that He intended for such a time as this, and you don’t want to miss out on it! I know you’ll be blessed, challenged, encouraged, and propelled by this book.
This book is a great reminder that God Knows every detail of our lives. As a wife, mom and grandmother… I need that reminder … everyday. Lisa writes with such honesty as she tackles tough subjects like false assumptions, how we limit ourselves( ouch), waiting on our dreams… each chapter has a great resource at the end with some practical tools to help us grow. The question I had to ask myself as I read this book was “ Am I truly living my life with the firm trust that God Knows everything?” hmmmm.
God knows is a balm for the soul I need right now. I lay in bed at night trying to figure out how to solve all the problems, wondering if God sees what is going on (even though I know He does). This book is a reminder that God sees us and He's got this. All of it. It was an encouragement to know that my limitations don't define me, and the pressure is off of me to pursue vindication. God's sovereignty takes care of my limits and the truth. What a weight lifted! This is a great read (and resource) for anyone who needs to be reminded that God gets it; He gets us.
Lisa works systematically and practically through a list of struggles that feel universal, relatable, and for most of us, un-overcomeable. But instead of a trite self-help approach, Lisa helps turn our focus to God as our most trustworthy and best source of help. The concept of God's all-knowing character was always something I knew about in my head, but this book takes you on a journey of understanding how much relief there is to be found in His omniscience for the human heart and the human condition. A book that is challenging and comforting at the same time!
God Knows is an encouraging book that is a good reminder of who is in control of our days. It contains a few practical tips for stepping out of the worry race and into action. It does contain a bit of past material from the previous two books in what Lisa refers to as her trilogy, this being the third book. However, this book stands alone if you haven't read the other two books. Lisa is a good guide to help us stop blaming others and looking to people for our dreams and start relying on God to give us our hope, comfort, and confidence.
There’s a lot I don’t know, that I wish I did know. This book points us to rest in God’s knowledge of all things to ground our hope, peace and joy as we face an uncertain world. Lisa shared vulnerably and authentically from her own life in a way that resonates with your own places of doubt and uncertainty. I didn’t want to stop reading. Each page is filled with life-giving, hope-filled, scripture-based words that draw us closer to God.
Lisa does a fantastic job at calling out what our heart truly wants - a longing for more than a temporary fix... a yearning for eternal relief. God Knows provides encouragement and tangible resources to guide your heart back to your Creator in every chapter. From Lisa's personal experiences to the biblical study of God's omniscience, God Knows supplies the reader both knowledge and action steps to feel secure in their eternal relationship with the Lord.
Lisa Whittle has such amazing insights and a way of explaining things that makes them make sense. I love how practical this book is. There are practical tips at the end of each chapter. Really helps you put what you just learned to practice. This book makes you feel seen. And then it uses scripture and stories and practical tips to show the reader that God Knows and that he wants you to grow and be transformed in these areas. All thoughts are my own. I was in no way paid for my review.
What a precious reminder this book is. Lisa is gentle yet serious in her call to us to find freedom: the freedom that comes from fully releasing our burdens to an all-knowing God.
This book gave me a much bigger perspective on the fact that God knows. He really does know. Let that not be a fact that rests in your mind only, but let it permeate your heart with comfort and hope. He doesn’t know some things, He knows all things, which means you are never alone in your struggle.
The areas that Lisa chose to highlight are issues common to the human race. In reading this book, you may very well find relief in knowing you are not the only one who struggles. We are a world of hurting people that all need a Savior, and that can all greatly benefit from leaning heavily on God’s omniscience.