Teach Me To Feel

Teach Me to Feel is an in-depth look at 24 psalms. Reissig approaches 24 feelings or experiences common to all humans. She shows us how to meet God, communicate with, and praise Him through each of those feelings. The practice of communing with God in all feelings (not just the ones we want to feel) is a transformative practice, but sadly not one that has always been encouraged by the Western Church.

This book provides wisdom and hope, but most ...importantly it pushes the reader to open their Bible and find themselves in the Psalms. Regularly asking the question of how does God’s character and the delight in His word change us in each situation. One of my favorite lines from the book that displays this idea is “If you don't want to abandon him in despair in your greatest distress or turn from him in self-reliance in your greatest triumph, you're going to need the word.”

This is a book I recommend slowly unpacking over time and not rushing through.

I was provided this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

Courtney Reissig explains that when she experienced her darkest moments, she found the psalms uniquely helpful. When she was dealing with pregnancy complications, fearing her own death and the death of her unborn child, the psalms spoke to her in a powerful way, helping her to process difficult emotions and worship in the midst of her pain and fear. Throughout this book, Reissig explores how Psalms speaks to readers in different seasons of life, and each chapter focuses on a different psalm and the primary emotion its expresses.

This book is like a hybrid between a devotional and a Bible study. The chapters are longer and more in-depth than a devotional reading, but are also simpler and more straightforward than a typical Bible study, since the reader does not have to contribute anything to the author’s full exposition.

This book can help readers connect with the psalms in a new way, and I appreciate how Reissig shares vulnerable reflections from her own life and includes a variety of possible applications for her readers. Many of her personal stories relate to motherhood, but she also includes examples and applications for women in different circumstances and life stages. However, I found it disappointing that Reissig only directed this book to women. The vast majority of this book involves spiritual truths that apply to the church at large, and men need the same wisdom and encouragement, even when illustrations would differ.

“Teach Me to Feel” is an encouraging guide to how viewing our experiences through the lens of Scripture can help us endure through suffering and keep our eyes on God through all of the different things that we feel. The author's many gendered references mostly limit this to a female audience, but the book is full of biblical wisdom and encouragement for dealing with a wide variety of feelings and types of experiences.

Note: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was not trite, nor was it cliche—two things I brace myself for when reading devotionals and books about the Psalms. Instead it was melodic and moving with just enough personal story to help the reader connect.

I started reading this book in an "unemotional" season—meaning, I didn't think I would really connect with it as much as I would if I was going through something challenging, etc. But I was wrong! This book is for those who "feel like ...they're all good," as well as for those going through their Valley of Baca. Stock this book in your home to turn to in joy, sorrow, and every emotion in between.

Thank you to The Good Book Company for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!