Lifting up the Downcast

Title: Lifting up the Downcast
Author: Patrick Sookhdeo
Major Themes: Devotionals, Hope, Encouragement
Synopsis: A short book of encouragement, pulling from the Bible and great writers of old to remind us that we are never alone.

I have a friend who has a habit of collecting encouraging books, quotations, and so forth—longer or shorter doesn’t matter, but when she comes across one that particularly blesses her, she’ll get some extra copies and share them with people. She’s a blessing and inspiration to me, and one of the books she gave me recently was Lifting up the Downcast. I didn’t think a lot of it—beyond the fact that she found something worthwhile in the pages, it didn’t look like the sort of book that would necessarily appeal to me. But I thanked her and put it on my shelf, and when I was trying to decide what to focus on reading next a few weeks ago, I pulled it out and decided to give it a try.

For starters, it wasn’t nearly as long as I thought it would be! Seven short chapters make up this volume, and all center around God. As you progress through the book, you read about fear, anxiety, trusting God, death, comfort, and the joy of the Lord. Each topic is one that I’ve often pondered on, but the simple, beautiful way Sookhdeo brings out his points—always with a higher view of the Lord in mind—made me slow down and ponder the message more than I expected I would. The presentation has a certain grace about it; each topic was chosen with care, and though parts can tend to step on your toes a little, everything is shared with a gentleness that I admire. Throughout the pages, there are many scripture references to follow, if you care to dig deeper on any one topic. Sookhdeo also brings in many examples from history, often in the form of old hymns, which I loved. Some of the backstories of the hymn writers shared here were fascinating and encouraging in and of themselves!

Written for those struggling to find hope in a chaotic world, I found Lifting up the Downcast a refreshing read. It’s a reminder that God is present with us, that He does have an ultimate plan for our lives, and that He ultimately does have better things in store for those of us that love Him! If you’re struggling in your faith today, find a copy of this book and take the time to read it. It was a blessing to me, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if I find myself picking it up again to read sometime in the future! It’s a goodie!

No warnings!