Though it’s been more than twenty years since my sister Sarah’s first book released, I am still deeply moved by the way God chose to use her desire to write devotionals for Him in order to bless so many. Known to readers by her married name, Sarah Young, her books—beginning with Jesus Calling—have touched the lives of tens of millions of people, showing readers the world over how vital and how doable it is to walk ever more closely with Jesus and celebrate the reality of His presence.

For Sarah, seeking the truth was always essential. When she found “sweet Jesus” in the Swiss alps (as you will see in chapter 8), she knew her search was over. From that day, she walked closely with Him, studying the Bible, celebrating His loving presence, and willingly sharing in His sufferings.

Regardless of what a given day might hold, she always took time to meditate on His Word in the morning, feeling the love that emanates from Jesus’s presence and embracing His support and guidance. This life-giving practice was perhaps largely missing for many of us until Sarah’s books helped us to wake up to Jesus in a more intimate way. That’s true for me, and if you’re reading this book, it’s probably true for you too!

However, when I first read Jesus Calling, I was skeptical. ’Wasn’t this just my sister Sarah writing, after all? On the one hand, yes—as much as I adored her and loved to hang out with her, she was “just my sister,” with flaws and scars and struggles similar to my own. But, as time went by, I began turning to her books more and more frequently for my devotional reading, and I found myself as impacted as anyone else. Her devotionals taught me to see the immediacy of God’s presence and the relevancy of His Word in a way that was different from anything I had ever read. As so many readers have noted, it was amazing how often the message for the day—including the biblical passages quoted—applied perfectly to something I was wrestling with.

Not only so, but as I spent time with Sarah over the years, I saw her practicing what she preached. She was the real deal! Early each morning, she opened her Bible and drew near to Jesus, eager to study God’s Word, to listen, and to write down what she heard within her heart. She felt great pleasure in doing so, not just for her benefit but also for the benefit of her readers. Her daily focus on the disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and time spent reflecting on and writing about the truth of God’s presence kept her faith strong and growing despite the many trials she had to face.

Like many people, I was awash with grief after losing Sarah. I found myself feeling lost, sitting mournfully for hours at the local Starbucks, randomly writing down my favorite memories of her, sometimes with tears flowing, as a way to process my pain. I tried my best to hide the tears, wiping them quickly away, but now and again a kind soul would ask if I needed help. I did, but I had no clue what would help me. After about two weeks of this, it occurred to me that I had essentially begun a “Sarah book” based on my memories of her. Furthermore, I felt a divine nudge—a “calling”—to do so. So I decided to roll up my sleeves and see if I could perhaps write something that would celebrate the amazing work of Christ that so transformed Sarah, me, and our family, honor her in a meaningful way, and truly bless the reader.