Review: The Power of a Whisper

Worked my way through The Power of a Whisper on a recent plane trip.  Bill Hybels’ newest book, Whisper is the anchor to a new church-wide campaign by the same name.  Like so many of his previous books…it is an inspiring read.

There are a number of sections in the book that I found myself re-reading to make sure I caught a story or an idea.  I found the chapter on personal stories of times that people heard God’s whisper very compelling.  Hybels tells of a time when he sent an email to the congregation asking them “to describe a time when they heard a whisper from heaven and then to explain how they had responded to that whisper.”  Let’s just say their answers were amazing, very poignant, and tremendously inspiring.

Another chapter that I found particularly compelling was on promptings for parenthood.  If you’ve followed Bill and Lynne Hybels’ story over the years, you’ll find the insights here very interesting.  At the same time, as I read this chapter I found myself wishing there was a rewind button on the tape deck of my own parenting.  If you’re still in the stage where you’ve got younger children in the mix, I think you’ll find this chapter very helpful.

Finally, one of the most helpful aspects of The Power of a Whisper is the lengthy chapter on God’s written whispers.  Much like the way Too Busy Not to Pray impacted me over 20 years ago, this chapter left me motivated to memorize some new scripture.  Very inspiring to see how these key passages have been a source of guidance over the years.

Like many of Bill Hybels’ books over the years, this one was prompted by a message series and no doubt will prompt message series everywhere.  Whether or not they’re coupled with the church-wide campaign, these messages will encourage and equip seekers to listen more carefully for God’s whisper.