"Finding Strength in God's Presence: A Review of 'God is Our Help'"

I want to start by expressing my gratitude to NetGalley and Our Daily Bread Publishing for granting me the opportunity to dive into this ARC of 'God is Our Help'. This captivating 8-week devotional is a profound exploration of God’s unwavering greatness and His constant presence in our lives.

In 'God is Our Help', the author masterfully weaves together Scripture, personal anecdotes, and heartfelt prayers to guide readers through a transformative journey. Each week is thoughtfully crafted, offering a blend of reflection and action steps that invite readers to deepen their relationship with God.

The themes explored in each week—such as God's provision, faithfulness, and guidance—are not just abstract concepts but deeply personal truths that readers can apply to their own lives. The author's personal stories infuse the devotional with authenticity, making the messages relatable and encouraging.

Ultimately, 'God is Our Help' is more than a book; it's a companion for anyone seeking to cultivate resilience and faith in the face of life's challenges. It's a reminder that God's presence is constant and His love is unwavering, serving as a beacon of hope and strength in our daily lives.

The author's new 8-week devotional spoke directly to my hurting heart. Just reading her encouraging foreward fortified my faith and brought me joy. In it, she writes about a simple song she heard as a child in an inner-city Denver neighborhood:

"If you trust Him through your doubt, He will surely bring you out.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave
it there."

I cried when I read this. It spoke directly to life with my near-blind husband. We rely on the Lord during our many daily crises, and literally, for our daily bread. Through her grace-filled prose, Patricia showed that she and the Abba Father understood and cared.

The remaining pages beckoned, radiant with God-Light. I read them hungrily and found my anxiety and fears quelled, as an infant's cradled at her mother's breast.

GOD IS MY HELP is highly recommended for any human walking this earth, looking high "unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."

Thanks to author Patricia Raybon, Our Daily Bread Publishing, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

“He rescues indeed, as only He can. There is no greater rescuer.”

Every time I read something that Patricia Raybon has written, it’s like my soul gets a warm hug. So I jumped at the chance to read her new devotional, God is Our Help, and yep she did it again – spoke right to my soul. When I first picked up this devotional, I thought that was the only reason I’d be reading it – just to soak in her insight and wisdom and the way her words consistently point me to Jesus. But then my husband lost his job unexpectedly, and just like that I was clinging to these daily & weekly readings as timely reminders to put in front of my anxious heart so that my eyes looked to my Helper and not to the uncertainty.

“…in the end it’s all about God.

And God – our All – is our Help.

Help when we can’t, for the life of us, find help that actually matters. Help when we’ve run dirt-dry and can’t find one decent drop of water to quench our tough spiritual thirst. Help when nothing else can help…”

The 8 weeks of devotional readings are full of Scripture, prayer, applicable anecdotes, thoughtful questions, and Raybon’s conversational-but-also-rich writing voice. She gets to the heart of the matter – Jesus – and keeps pointing us right back to Him from start to finish. I loved how each week begins with a longer, more in-depth reading (I drank in every single word of these – such wonderful insight) which leads us into 5 shorter readings that help us continue to meditate on different aspects of that truth throughout the week. I also really enjoyed the cross-cultural perspective as well as the emphasis on praising God in the storm and extending His help to others.

“We need Him. Every hour. Our days without Him would be incomplete and empty. So He invites us to seek Him. Then, glory to God – He and His help are forever here.”

Bottom Line: In God Is Our Help, Patricia Raybon takes us to the throne of grace and invites us to reach out to the One who came to rescue us. Each devotional reading is insightful and encouraging, reminding us with well-chosen Scriptures and engaging stories that we aren’t alone and that He meets us where we are. I really enjoy this author’s writing voice – whether it be in fiction or non-fiction – and this book is no exception. It felt like sitting down to talk about Jesus over a cup of hot chocolate, and I appreciated the multi-generational and multi-cultural perspectives. God is Our Help would be a marvelous addition to your morning devotional routine, or given as a gift to someone who needs a Rescuer.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

God Is Our Help, Our Daily Bread Reflections for Living with His Love and Strength by Patricia Raybon is a wonderful read that I needed without knowing that I needed it. Trouble in this life is inevitable but looking to God for his Help is our answer. I am reminded and reminded in this devotional to go to him first not after I have exhausted myself.

My past and my circumstances now may seem different from this author’s but our God is the same. What an inspirational and enlightening this eight-week study is showing me who my God is and what He can do. I will be re-reading it again and again.

A great 8 week long devotional that focuses on God and how He is our shelter, rock, and friend. Patricia Raybon intersperses stories with Scripture to illustrate the topic. The daily prompt questions are great and very thought provoking. Recommend this as a great daily devotional.

"Our locked-away lives- along with our fears, burdens, and difficult situations- can't keep God out. Even in our most dismaying times, He's there- standing among our thorniest foes and even our best of friends."

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

God Is Our Help
Our Daily Bread Reflections for Living with His Love and Strength
by Patricia Raybon
Pub DateMay 07 2024
Our Daily Bread Publishing
Christian| Multicultural Interest| Religion & Spirituality



My Daily Bread Publishing and Netgalley sent me a copy of God Is Our Help to review:


Through these reflections from Our Daily Bread, you will be reminded of God's faithfulness in the midst of trials.


In these 8 weeks of daily devotions, Patricia Raybon explores themes such as love, reconciliation, and unity. Using Bible verses and insights derived from the wisdom of Scripture, Patricia encourages you to lean on God.


I give God is Our Help five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!