Jesus never promised that we would be free of difficulties in this life, that neither suffering nor hardship would cause us pain. What he did promise was to be with us no matter the situation—“even to the end of the age.” Sacred Space: A Little Book of Encouragement offers seventy short chapters to comfort us with God’s presence in the midst of life’s challenges and to remind us that Jesus journeys with us step-by-step. Each entry—which includes a Gospel reading, a short reflection, and a prayer—is given a descriptive title so that readers can easily find the encouragement they need depending on their situation at the time. Lovingly compiled by Vinita Hampton Wright using select material from Sacred Space (the online prayer site that serves millions of spiritual pilgrims), this inviting and reassuring little book gently reminds us of the compassion, care, and calm that God provides in our moments of need.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• How to Use This Book
• 1 Don’t Give Up Praying to God
• 2 Mary’s Vision of God’s Desire for Us
• 3 When It’s Time to Get Away
• 4 Am I Obsessed with Things?
• 5 Safe in God’s Hands
• 6 When I Feel Unseen and Insignificant
• 7 Sometimes the Temple Needs Cleaning
• 8 In Need of a Larger Heart
• 9 Am I Afraid to Surrender?
• 10 Jesus Finds Us Weeping
• 11 Can I Trust God to Hear Me?
• 12 Jesus Was Praying for Me, Too
• 13 Am I Facing Temptation?
• 14 Do I Really Want to Be Healed?
• 15 When Life Seems to Be Over
• 16 Is Life Worth the Cost?
• 17 When I’m in a Painful, Frightening Place
• 18 How Can I Share My Resources?
• 19 The Solution Is to ‘Abide’
• 20 God Has Already Shown Me Favour
• 21 Is My Heart Troubled?
• 22 Remember That God Took the Initiative
• 23 I Am a Beloved Child of God
• 24 Help Me Focus on My Purpose While Suffering
• 25 Weighed Down with Sorrow
• 26 God Is Doing the Work
• 27 My Neediness Will Not Drive Jesus Away
• 28 Light Overcomes Darkness
• 29 Jesus Speaks When We’re Ready
• 30 All Sinners Have a Future
• 31 Help Me Receive Your Peace
• 32 Regain a Sense of Wonder and Joy
• 33 Jesus Calls Me as I Am
• 34 Can I Call Out for Help?
• 35 Am I Lost?
• 36 Doubting with the Best of Them
• 37 A Less-Than-Perfect Family History
• 38 Difficult Decisions and the Need for God’s Prompting
• 39 When Plans Change and Life Looks Bleak
• 40 Even Jesus Needed a Push
• 41 When Labels Threaten to Limit Me
• 42 Give Up the Burden of Vengeance
• 43 God Shows Up in People Who Might Surprise You
• 44 Jesus, Set Me Free
• 45 Jesus Encouraged Mary and Martha, Too
• 46 What Do I Want Jesus to Do for Me?
• 47 The Intensity of Jesus’ Love for Me
• 48 Jesus Calls Me Friend
• 49 Jesus Does Not Sugarcoat Pain
• 50 We’re Meant to Need Our Friends
• 51 Forgiveness Involves Mind, Body, and Soul
• 52 The Reality about Suffering
• 53 I Need Peace That’s Real
• 54 We Don’t Have to Understand It All Now
• 55 Spiritual Progress Does Not Require Genius
• 56 Prayer Changes Me, Not God
• 57 What Holds Me Back?
• 58 Bad Times Are Not Evidence That God Is Punishing Me
• 59 God Works Patiently with Me
• 60 If Jesus Needed to Pray All Night
• 61 When Grieving the Loss of a Loved One
• 62 When in Denial
• 63 I Need to Forgive, But It’s So Hard to Do
• 64 When I Want to Help Someone
• 65 Troubled Heart, Fearful Mind
• 66 When Your Life Is at Its Bleakest Moment
• 67 Relationship Blame and Shame
• 68 When I Need Wisdom and Discernment
• 69 I Am So Weary
• 70 Overwhelmed with Worries
• About the Editor