The Promise Is His Presence: Why God Is Always Enough

“Glenna is an excellent writer who carefully traces the theme of God dwelling with his people, from Genesis to Revelation. As she weaves in her personal stories of pain and loss in memoir fashion, we journey with her on a discovery of new and more meaningful ways that God is always near and good and faithful and kind and enough. Overall, I was convicted in the sweetest way to remember that abiding in the Lord’s presence through his Word is enough for me in the midst of my every fear, unmet desire, struggle, and joy.”

“Glenna Marshall has done it. In her book, The Promise Is His Presence, she has managed to pull off a balance that is rare among Christian authors: a book that clearly and accurately portrays the story of redemption reflected throughout the Bible while also connecting it with the author’s very gripping, heartbreak- ing, and inspiring personal story of suffering. With her beautiful writing style, she reminds us that the answer to joy in suffering is not the alleviation of suffering but the reality of God’s pres- ence in it. I commend this book to all those who are seeking the secret to experiencing the nearness of God in the darkest of places.”

“If you are weary, discouraged, or suffering, you will find refresh- ment, encouragement, and comfort in these pages. Glenna Mar- shall masterfully combines biblical truth and relatable personal narrative to explore the doctrine of God’s presence with his peo- ple. The result is a stunning display of the hope, joy, and peace that we have because of God’s presence with us.”

“I resonate deeply with the title and message of this book. The promise of God’s presence has sustained me through the darkest days of my life and has given me hope for the future. This is Glen- na’s story, too, and she writes of the pain we all face—not with pithy clichés but rather with deep, experiential knowledge. She gives voice to our humanity while consistently pointing us to the goodness of God. I am thankful.”

“In The Promise Is His Presence, Glenna Marshall repeatedly speaks a beautiful truth—that in our painful struggle, though we may never find out the why behind our sorrows or see how we will make it through them, because of Immanuel we know who dwells with us in our suffering. Marshall reminds us again and again that the most important thing for us to remember is who—in our wan- derings, God has given us himself, and that is the greatest promise he could ever keep.”

“In this book that is achingly beautiful and brimming with gos- pel truth, Glenna Marshall follows the thread of God’s goodness and faithfulness throughout the entirety of Scripture while also seamlessly weaving in her own path of pain and suffering. This is a charge to God’s people to remember that the point of our trials isn’t how quickly we can barrel through them but, rather, who we can come to know and love more deeply along the way. I found a fellow sojourner and was reminded of a faithful shepherd in The Promise Is His Presence.”

“A truly refreshing read that has forever changed my perspective on suffering. Where is God when we suffer? Glenna Marshall’s personal journey of suffering reminds us that the problem is not that God is not present but that we look for evidence of his pres- ence in the wrong places. Whether you are walking through the valley of broken dreams or stuck in a rut of spiritual dryness, Mar- shall shows us just how God’s presence can answer every longing of our hearts.”