Friend of God by Rachel Yarworth – A Review

Friend of God: The miraculous life of an ordinary person.

I’m going to come straight out and say this: reviewing memoir is completely out of my comfort zone. And I think it comes down to this: this isn’t fiction, this is someone’s life. This isn’t a story an author has imagined, it’s a story God has devised. And who am I to judge that? 

My first thought when Rachel contacted me asking if I’d review her book was that this was one of those moments I should say ‘No’ (I’m not very good at saying no!) I already had two reviews lined up this fortnight and lots else going on in the family. But when I clicked through to the book description, I felt this was a book I needed and wanted to read. I suppose you could say I planned to say ‘No’, BUT GOD…

But God…

That refrain But God provides the structure for Rachel’s story, where she takes us through her life – from a simple childhood acceptance of God, through crippling pain, inadequacy, loss and dramatic miracles, to where she is today – showing at the end of each chapter how at every step God chose to be her friend and show her something better.

I sat down to read this book thinking I’d give it a couple of hours and then get on with what I needed to do, But her story hit me in some profound ways and in the event I spent hours over it, often stopping to pour out my heart to my Father in Heaven. I didn’t know how I going to review it without revealing painful things about myself. At the same time, I didn’t want this blog to be about me. So I’ve decided I’ll give it a shot, and I hope you’ll bear with me through this longer-than-average review.

Friend of God

Firstly, the title of this book is Friend of God: The miraculous life of an ordinary person. The phrase Friend of God immediately brings to mind Abraham, called the friend of God in scripture (2 Chronicles 20:7, James 2:23). Abraham was not perfect – he made plenty of mistakes – and Rachel Yarworth bravely holds out her mistakes for us to see in this memoir. Yet, it is an uplifting story of faith and action working together, of trusting that God will uphold his promises and acting accordingly. What this book really emphasises is that the life Abraham walked – an extraordinary life of an ordinary person – is open to all.

Early years

The first few chapters detail Rachel’s early life, one where her family attended church nominally and she accepted God the first day she felt his presence, crawling under the blankets to spend time with him. Those years were punctuated by a solitary faith she wasn’t sure what to do with, “I didn’t tell my family because I was worried they might tell me I was too naughty for this to be true.” When they stopped going to church, so did she. She felt loved by God, and in him “there was no sense of shame, chastisement, ridicule or emotional manipulation” that she witnessed in the rest of her relationships. But she had no fellowship. 

Rachel’s journey transformed when she went to University and got involved with a vibrant, charismatic church. There, God took her on a road of spiritual and theological discovery. Not having heard the scriptures, apart from Bible stories in Sunday School, she describes how she started digging deep into the word as she grew in faith. I would have enjoyed reading more about her ‘scripture discoveries’ alongside the ministry stories.

Rachel describes how, at this time, she heard about being born again and being baptised with the Spirit. What encouraged me was that she realised these things had already happened to her when she simply accepted God as a little girl. Although she would benefit from studying scripture, being in fellowship and receiving spiritual gifts, there wasn’t something extra she needed for salvation.

What hit me

A recurring theme in this memoir which resonated with me, causing several emotional moments, was a deep-seated dissatisfaction with the ordinariness of the Christianity she witnessed. By contrast, Rachel felt hungry for something more like the radical faith she saw in the New Testament: “…it felt like a God-inspired hunger for more of his reality in my life. And it became like an itch that wouldn’t go away.”

I have experienced this itch, this longing for more. I experience it almost daily. And that is what had me blubbing like a baby as I read Rachel’s book. I felt understood.

I hesitate to admit this, but I have always been determined not to be normal. Along with Rachel, I have sought a greater reality and mourned the state of the church. Like her, I have experienced “ministry failures” (Oh, how I resonated with the line, “We were young and naïve enough to believe we could change the world!”) The Lord has had to teach me mercy and grace so many times! 

Yet, despite pleading with God for the miraculous in my life, it has usually been withheld and this is something that has been hard to deal with at times. Rachel helpfully shared times of pain, insecurity, unanswered prayer and having to wait for the fulfilment of promises. She struggled, wrestled and cried. And I cried with her. 

And why

My background is very different to Rachel’s. Yet her story spoke to my heart. Many will feel uncomfortable about asking for miracles and spiritual gifts, particularly if, like me, they’ve been taught to question any word outside of scripture. And, of course, there is always the danger of misinterpretation and not testing biblically what is received. This memoir acknowledges that – through Rachel’s experiences with false prophecy, hurtful words and spiritual battles. Unlike her young self, this reflection is not naïve.

Yet, there is also the danger of disobeying scripture itself by not seeking spiritual gifts and growth. Fear has often held me back from earnestly desiring the greater gifts (1 Corinthians 12:30) and I don’t think I’m the only one. But we are told to do it anyway!

Whilst reading, I could identify some areas where I would differ theologically which Rachel, but I have always believed the Spirit has more to give if we will let Him. This memoir has encouraged me to move forward on my spiritual journey within the safeguard of the most excellent way – the way of faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13).

In the rest of her story, the Lord would take Rachel on a road marked by challenges to that faith, hope and love in action. And, like Abraham, the call to be God’s friend also held much pain. 

No stranger to hardship

We know that the greatest times of growth often come through suffering, and Rachel’s story brings that out powerfully through her experiences of insecurity, infertility and miscarriage. I found particularly poignant the time when God asked her if she wanted to go deeper with him, and she enthusiastically said Yes! not realising that what he had in mind was the most painful thing she would ever experience. 

Fear that God would take someone from me in order to bring me closer to him is something I have lived with. I did not experience the difficulties Rachel did in childbearing – but strangely, I expected to. It took me a long time to believe that God is my heavenly father who loves me, and will only allow what I need, and no more. Yet, like Rachel, having been through painful times and come out the other side, I would not trade them.

How it ends (without giving too much away)

In the penultimate chapter, when Rachel describes her later experiences, I was a bit worried. Having been rebuked for it, I am very sensitive about judging other people’s lives and faith. The work of the Spirit will look different for each of us (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). However, Rachel speaks frequently of the love she felt for members of her previous churches. Then in the final chapter, she redeems it all. “It’s not about comparison,” she says, “just each person learning to grow in their own friendship with him.”

She then expresses what I have been feeling God teaching me recently – that God “simply wants us to KNOW him. Not know about him, like learning theory about some historical or famous person you’ve never met – but to truly know him as a close friend.” Now, in order to get to know God we certainly need to read scripture, but I would concur that my journey has been one of learning to love God for who he is, not just studying him. 

While she has often seen the miraculous, Rachel concludes that this is simply because she knows an amazing God. And you, ordinary person, can too – “he’s just waiting for you to ask.”

There’s so much more I could say about this book, but I’ve talked for long enough. Instead, I’d encourage you to prayerfully consider if this is a book you should be reading. It may be that your own But God moment is waiting. 

Friend of God: The miraculous life of an ordinary person can be purchased in all good bookshops and on Amazon.

You can find her online at her website, on Facebook at Rachel Yarworth writer and on Instagram.

Rachel lives in Worcestershire with her husband Mike, their three sons and their miniature labradoodle. When not writing, Rachel can usually be found home educating her younger two boys, leading a home church, or going for long walks in the countryside.

If you want to know more about my story, I share a little bit on my blog, particularly here and here. I’m working up the courage to share more!