Beautiful devotions in Sara Cormany’s “Even When” (a review)

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I could not be more grateful to have had the opportunity to read Sara Cormany’s exceptional and exquisite book of 40 devotions. Thanks to Sara and to The BlogAbout Blogger Network, I received a copy of this beautiful book. I’m thrilled to be able to share my impressions and reading experience with you.

About Even When:

“From award-winning author Sara Cormany, Even When is a raw and reflective devotional that ushers readers into God’s presence during difficult times and reminds us that even our hardest stories are written by the hand of a good God. 

In these uniquely challenging and unprecedented post-pandemic times, the notion that God’s goodness ensures an easy journey has been met by the unfaltering truth that life is hard. It’s not a question of if there will be trials, but when. Sara Cormany knows this reality all too well. However, through personal health complications and family tragedy, she has chosen to believe that Jesus is enough. 

Even When beautifully weaves together the inevitability of hard times with the unyielding heart of God’s goodness and inspires readers to experience His presence amid the storm in their lives. Each devotion begins with an “Even when…” statement, followed by a poignant personal story, a Bible verse, and a thought-provoking question that will encourage readers to embrace the truth that God is enough—even in our darkest moments. 

This powerful devotional helps readers to:

• Become more comfortable with the difficult truth that life not only can, but will be hard. 
• Reflect on where God has shown up in their own hardships.
• Experience God’s goodness while enduring life’s challenges.
• Explore what it looks like to “suffer well” and trust God as Jesus did on the Cross. 
• Love God and know God’s love in a fallen world. 

Vulnerable and authentic, Even When strikes a universal chord and points readers toward the heart of God’s goodness in even the most challenging of circumstances, knowing that even when life is hard, He is always good.”

How Even When impacted me

So. This book (you can even see this on the cover) is designed to be read over 40 days in devotional-sized portions. I, however, didn’t read it that way. Instead, I sat down and read…and read…and read. The entire book. In one chunk.

I’m usually good at following directions. But this time, I found an author (Sara) who spoke to my soul. And I couldn’t quit reading. Because as she spoke to my soul, she also spoke to my hurts and to my disappointments. (Have you ever seen a toddler cry, and it seems like tears are shooting out of the sides of their eyes? Yep. That happened to me as I was reading too. Although sometimes, the tears just oozed. And yes–I’m tearing up and crying again as I page through this book to consider what I want to share with you.)

Sara is a woman who has endured significant suffering. Serious suffering. And she asked herself, and God, questions. Would she still trust God—even if this (bad thing) happened? Or that (horrendous thing) happened? Was God still big enough to handle tragedies, disappointments, personal mistakes, or failings? Again and again, Sara came to her answer: “Yes.” And her answered “Yesses” (or “Yeses,” if you prefer; the Oxford Reference says both work) were not facile or surface. They came out of her deep conversations with God, or her serious perceptions of His word and His answers.

I found enormous application in this book, for my own life. To apply to my past hurts, or to my moments when I questioned God’s love for me; or to times I considered whether He was big enough to cover my own failings. Sometimes, in my past, I’ve just used my good friend “Denial” to not deal with these big questions. But guess what? Our God is big enough to deal with all of these; our questions, our hurts, our pains, our sins. He IS big enough–and He, Himself, is enough. Always.

Get yourself a copy of Even When. It will speak to you, come alongside you, comfort you, and bless you. I believe it’s a book God will use mightily in your heart and in your life. Sara Cormany, and her words, will make a difference and speak to your own hurt, pain, and faith–and you’ll be encouraged by this woman of faith.

Where you can purchase this lovely book

Here’s the Amazon link, where you can purchase Even When.

Even When Purchase Link

And to Sara Cormany, I just have to say, “Thank you!! And bless you!!”

Blessings to you! –Wren

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.