Thirsting for more of God? Read this book now

We are all longing for something. And, often, we look in all the wrong places to satisfy that need. The basic premise of Strahan Coleman’s latest book is not a new Christian thought. But in Thirsting: Quenching our soul’s deepest desire (David C Cook) Coleman addresses the idea of human desire – and its root in God’s unquenchable desire for us – in a new and beautiful way.

Rooted in his own story of suffering – spiritual abuse, chronic illness and the loss of a music career to name just a few of the difficult situations that Coleman has walked through – the book explores how we can turn our desires towards God and find fulfilment in the only one who can truly satisfy.

The structure of the book is built around John 7:37: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (ESV), breaking down this life-changing offer into three sections. These loosely cover: what it means to be thirsty and why we thirst; how to turn that thirst towards God and come to him with our desires, and what happens when we do. Each chapter opens with an extract from Coleman’s own prayer volumes, which is a beautiful bonus.

Coleman is part of the teaching team for John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way course and, in many ways, this book sits well alongside Comer’s lockdown hit The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (Hodder & Stoughton). The rise of interest in contemplative Christianity over recent years shows no signs of abating, perhaps precisely because it is attempting to answer the questions that many are asking. In an overly busy, overly anxious and overly stimulated world, how do we find peace? Where do we centre ourselves?

This book suggests that we will find the answer when we realise that our longings are based on God’s longing for us, and when we learn to quench our thirst in him, rather than in the world.

Thirsting: Quenching our soul’s deepest desire (David C Cook) by Strahan Coleman is available now