The Urgency of Slowing Down
Biblical Wisdom for Everyday Renewal
by Laura L. Smith
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Pub Date Dec 03 2024 | Archive Date Not set
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Description
Advance Praise
If you’ve struggled to slow down, but you feel like a hamster on a wheel that won’t stop spinning, The Urgency of Slowing Down is what you need right now. Author Laura L. Smith knows that nonstop struggle and she invites you to discover why slow is the solution that you’ve been praying for. As you’re inspired by Laura’s personal journey, encouraged by Jesus’s teaching, and learn practical tools, you’ll find success in allowing God’s prescription for slow to soothe your soul. -- Barb Roose, speaker and author of Stronger Than Stress: Ten Spiritual Practices to Win the Battle of Overwhelm and others
This book speaks to my soul with its reminders to take a breather, lighten your load, and find rest in the chaos of everyday life. From practical tips on how to slow down to deep reflections on what truly matters, this book is like a gentle nudge in the right direction. So if you’re ready to hit pause, catch your breath, and rediscover what’s important in life, give this book a read. Trust me, you won’t regret it! -- Ashley Henriott, Christ-based confidence coach, author, and speaker
Laura shows us how to take Jesus up on his offer to ‘get away with me and recover your life.’ I’ve learned to expect Laura’s compelling vulnerability in her writing and this book does not disappoint. But I didn’t expect to feel such personal invitations from Jesus through her words into the slower, sweeter life we are all desperate for. -- Alli Patterson, teaching pastor at Crossroads Church and author of How to Stay Standing: 3 Essential Practices for Building a Faith That Lasts
We live in a toxic hustle culture. No matter the age, everyone seems to be busy and our fast pace of life is slowly killing us. That is why Laura’s book is not only timely but necessary. I love how she invites readers in with relatable personal stories and leads us to a place of understanding how to practically slow down. -- Simi John, Bible teacher and author of I Am Not
This book is like sitting with a wise spiritual director—someone who knows the way and is willing to walk beside you as a guide when you can’t see the full picture yourself. Laura has such an invitational way of writing that she makes slowing down, even in our fast paced world, attainable for every person reading. As a pastor, I agree with her plea. The need to slow down—the need for rhythms of life that protect people from burning out or burning down all that is good in life—is urgent. . . . I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a way to live fully instead of exhausted. -- Kristan Dooley, discipleship pastor of Anthem House Church and author of Left Turns: Following Jesus Off the Beaten Path and Bigger: Rebuilding the Broken
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781640703650 |
| PRICE | $16.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 248 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 1553899
I liked the last half of it, it started very slow for me I kept getting distracted but soo soo many great notes I got. I will be rereading in the future!
Natalia O, Reviewer
I like how personal this book feels, it's easy for the reader to connect and relate to the struggle.
I like the formatting too, how the pages are often broken with a powerful sentence and pretty graphics. One can also learn a lot about the Bible from this book in an easy and not intimidating way.
With this book, we get many opportunities for reflection and prayer, and it comes with some useful hints on how to practically slow down. Thanks to the short chapters, this book can be used as a part of daily time alone with God.
Librarian 115610
I was really encouraged by reading this book,. I saw things that I was already doing to slow down and connect with Jesus, as well as things I needed to implement in my life. Challenging and encouraging all at once.
Amy M, Reviewer
I was excited to read *The Urgency of Slowing down *, gifted by NetGalley, as the premise sounded refreshing and deeply meaningful. Unfortunately, while the book had moments of brilliance, it didn’t fully meet my expectations.
The author has a gift for weaving scripture into her writing—these parts were beautifully written and truly resonated with me. When the focus shifted to Jesus and how His teachings can be applied to our lives, the book was insightful and inspiring. However, much of the content felt overly personal, centering on the author’s family and life anecdotes without enough connection to a broader, Christ-centered message.
While personal stories can enrich a faith-based book, in this case, I found they often overshadowed the spiritual depth I was hoping for. It felt more like a memoir with scattered verses rather than a guide to slowing down in a way rooted in faith.
That said, the sections focused on scripture were powerful and made the book worth finishing. I appreciated those moments of reflection, but overall, I wished the balance had been tilted more toward Jesus and less toward the author’s personal narrative.
A solid 3 stars for its potential and the beautifully written spiritual insights
Caitlin A, Reviewer
A huge shout out to Laura L Smith and Netgalley for this ARC. Cannot recommend this book enough, this is everything my mind, body and soul needed.
Reviewer 1, Book Trade Professional
I enjoyed this title very much. Laura Smith is a new author for me, but I found her writing fresh, insightful, and relatable. Her thoughts were practical and realistic. Although it was a “self-help” book, it pointed us to the greatest Help available—God. Deep without being boring or theoretical, this book is a keeper and one I will share.
Colleen M, Reviewer
Such a good read! Very Christian. What I needed right now ... so thankful to have the opportunity to read The Urgency of Slowing Down ... especially at this Christmas season. So much to do and rushing around. So important to take some moments and just thank God for the day and to look for the beauty in it and to appreciate the good and great things that have happened in the day.
There is a chapter on fasting. It is why Catholics fast at Lent. :)
Many thanks to NetGalley and Our Daily Bread Publishing for the opportunity to read the advance read copy of The Urgency of Slowing Down in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommended! Approx 248 pages.
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