Trusting God in the Present

by Jacques Philippe

Life is always full of new and unexpected challenges, but each challenge is also an opportunity to draw closer to God. Fr. Jacques Philippe, a beloved author and renowned spiritual director, will show you how to maintain peace of heart through turbulent times and discern the choices that will be helpful for you and others.
Written in a simple and inviting style, Trusting God in the Present is your spiritual direction manual to trusting God in the midst of difficult times. You’ll find that God is, indeed, with you, and he is inviting you to a new perspective, renewed hope, and a more abundant life.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Spirituality, Faith, God, Christianity, Theology

56 pages, Paperback

Published September 9, 2022

About the author

Jacques Philippe was born into a Christian family on March 12, 1947 in Lorraine, France. After studying mathematics in college, he spent several years teaching and doing scientific research. In 1976, he met the then recently-founded Community of the Beatitudes and answered the Lord’s call to follow Him through this vocation (see below for more information on the Community of the Beatitudes). He then spent several years in Jerusalem and Nazareth immersing himself in the study of Hebrew and the Jewish roots of Christianity. In 1981, he traveled to Rome to study theology and canon law and also began his work as a spiritual director, working in the formation of priests and seminarians of the Community. In 1994, he returned to France, where he assumed various responsibilities including spiritual direction, the development of training in the Community, and participation in its General Council. He has also preached retreats regularly in France and abroad and has consolidated his principal retreat themes into five books on spirituality. In recent years, he has devoted himself primarily to spiritual direction, preaching retreats, and working for the development of the Community in Asia and Oceania, where he travels frequently.

Reviews

[Vanessa Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed that this short book was just excerpts of his other books (Interior Freedom, The Way of Trust and Love, and Real Mercy), but everything Fr. Jacques Philippe writes is gold so it is worth reading again! He writes beautifully about finding hope in difficult trials and his reflections on forgiveness are so helpful. I appreciated what he writes about family life:

"We see our limits, our lack of patience, the difficulty we sometimes have in loving and in forgiving. In our relationships with others, these weaknesses and faults often come to light. Sometimes there is one child who really pushes me to the limit. Or he makes me so angry that I see my failures and how much I need mercy and forgiveness for my lack of love. I realize how much I need God's help because alone, I am not able to love. I am not able to count on my own strength. I have to count on the grace of God, on the Holy Spirit who comes to aid my weakness."

[Chris (thebookaholic) Padgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Father Jaques Philippe. This book is highlighting so many amazing themes common to his writing. I think this work was a great way to end my Lenten journey this year. Highly recommend anything by him to anyone wanting to grow in the faith.

[Rese Tiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the simplicity, yet hard hitting truths of Fr. Jacque’s writing!

[Maria Pfeil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another quality read from Fr. Phillipe. My favorite quote was "How am I called to face this situation? What acts of faith and hope, what progress in love am I being asked to make today?"

[Becker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little booklet was simple but encouraging. “We must be clear about the evils that affect our world, but we must also know that it is more fruitful to use our time to do good than to condemn evil.”
“Trusting God in the Present” is the second book that I have read by Jacques Philippe and I look forward to reading more from him. He writes with a lot of insight and pastoral care and has been one of the many guides to me through a long, difficult season.

[Klara Rawdanowicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bit of a misleading title - should be something more like “Sanctifying your attitude towards suffering and trials”.
But otherwise was filled with some helpful advice on how to react to things you can’t control, forgiveness, warnings against a victim mentality etc
Recommend!

[ally douglas? · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful and enjoyable, especially pertaining to forgiveness and grace

[Ann Gemmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very timely read. Short but oh so sweet. So accessible and beautifully grounded in scripture. Jacques Philippe is a treasure. I will be referring to this one often and gifting it to others!

[Hannah Chartier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is simply excerpts from some of Fr. Phillipe's other popular works, which I didn't realize as I went into it. I always find his words beautiful and encouraging, but I would probably just read the source materials rather than this book.

[Maria Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another stellar book

Trusting God in the Present is another stellar book by Fr. Jacques Philippe. The prelate has an amazing gift for demystifying the spiritual life. His work particularly shines when he writes on the concept of forgiveness.

[Luke Tappen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encouraging little book. I’ll be coming back to it to reflect more in the future. The content is taken from other works by Father Jacques Philippe, and I’m excited to enter into more of his writing. This is a helpful and easy resource for growth towards living in God’s presence and stepping into his peace, despite and through even the hard times.

Wrote a longer review but the app crashed and don’t feel like writing it again haha

[Tobin Karlberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, short read - encouraging me to look at everything as an opportunity to press deeper into faith, into hope and into becoming a person of love!

“The only way to be satisfied and happy is to love freely, without expecting recompense, to forgive the evil done to us and not demand anything for the good we do to others. This is really the path of freedom of heart.”

“Our only security - and we have only one - is that God’s mercy is unlimited.”

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Father Jacques Phillipe and anything he writes always speaks to me. However the marketing and pricing of this book bothered me ( perhaps it was Amazon) because it really more of a quick read booklet than a full book. Phillipes points are excellent as always. I was just disappointed in getting a booklet instead of a book. Very quick read

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is small book of 50 pages - but what powerful messages are packed within those pages.

Fr. Philippe gives many great examples from scripture on what we are called to do and how we must live. On the last page, we are called to reflect on our notes taken and to create a list and prayer of what God wants next for us.

Excellent resource to help you grow in hope, faith, trust, and love.

[Stephanie Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deepening Our Trust for God

This is a well written booklet. It encourages us to avoid being indebted by giving and receiving and instead do this freely to family, friends, and I might confer, even our “enemies.” Most, if not all of our suffering is a purification and trust issue. Thank-you Fr. Philippe for another enjoyable and quick read.

[Aurelia Wishart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple yet lasting truths. So good to remember our response to suffering should not be “Why is this happening?” but “How am I called to respond to this situation in faith, hope, and love?” We cannot control the why but we can control the how, and the how is what transforms us. The last chapter was good but felt unconnected to the rest of the book.

[Chris Collier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic little book. The portion of how to get through suffering by moving from “why is this happening” into finding purpose in the midst of struggle is absolutely critical to health. And for friends or counselors walking with someone through suffering, we can’t answer the questions for anyone. We have to simply guide the along graciously.

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fr. Philippe is always good. Not perhaps his best but then maybe I have read so many of his books, so many times it didn't strike me as anything remarkably new. Still, good information to be reminded of at any time.

[Liz]

I was surprised how thin this was when I got it - more of a booklet than a book. This book is just excerpts from two of his other books (interior freedom and way of trust and love) woven together in short form - so I would recommend just reading those books instead of this short guy.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and easy but very impactful read. Only 50 pages but full of a lot of wisdom. Particularly appreciated the reflection questions at the end of each chapter. Likely a book I will continue to come back to.

[Sally Khouzam · Rating 4 out of 5]

very helpful

Helpful for the spiritual journey , practical tips that one can remember and use in times of difficulty, using moments of trial as an invitation to greater hope faith and love

[Delores Lemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is good!

Just what needed at a very low point in my life! A reminder that I do love and trust God and need
Him for every day of my life. Forgive me Lord and allow me to love You forever.







Him
Forever in my life.

[Chloe Briscoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a super short and simple read. It is fill of great reminders, but not super deep. I’d say it is a great quick read to grow and reflect, but it wasn’t my favorite Fr. Jaques Philippe book.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s more of a booklet than a book, and I was a little disappointed that it’s just excerpts from previous books…But it was still definitely worth the read.

[Chelsea Moga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend reading this when facing great difficulties!! I see this as a Spiritual Direction Manual to trusting God amidst great trials and sufferings.

[Philip Lopresto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short reflective book on building deeper trust in God. Not a lot of "meat" here, but some wonderful nuggets to ponder on and pray over.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!! Short and to the point.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.7

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Fr. Jacques Philippe. This little book includes some chapter themes I've read before, but always worth a revisit. He is a spiritual master.

[Monika Culjak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great themes but I found that many of his other works were far more impactful.