Sarah Edwards: Delighting in God by Sharon James

Book Review: Sarah Edwards: Delighting in God by Sharon James
10Publishing, 2023
144 pages

During church camp one summer, our pastor shared with us “The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards,” which profoundly affected the remainder of my time in high school. It wasn’t until years later that I heard about his wife, Sarah, and his daughter, Esther, and the remarkable spiritual disciplines they had.

What is most impactful about their faith in Christ is how they are able to hope in God throughout all the circumstances of colonial frontier life in America.

Sarah Edwards: Delighting in God is a short, yet broad, account of the life of Sarah Edwards, wife to the famous American preacher Jonathan Edwards, [Those who are fans of Hamilton may be familiar with her grandson, Aaron Burr.]

Sharon James did an excellent job introducing us to Sarah Edwards and her life story. We see glimpses from her remarkable childhood as a preacher’s daughter to how she becomes a mother of ten children while being hospitable in her community as a preacher’s wife. A portion of the book highlights the revival that took place in their region and a firsthand account of a spiritual experience that Sarah Edwards had during that time.

Then we follow Sarah through some dire moments in their life and ministry: the French and Indian War, Jonathan’s dismissal from pastoral ministry, their cross-cultural ministry to the Mahican and Mohawk Indians, and numerous deaths within the family. James says the “eternal and global perspective [of the Bible] enabled Sarah to remain God-centred, even when facing war, poverty, slander, sickness, and bereavement. She was convinced that God is worthy of the praise of every person on earth, and she could not bear to think of him not receiving his due.”

The chapters in Sarah Edwards: Delighting God are short, and each chapter ends with a few reflection questions. I also appreciate the extra resources included: a small map, timeline, and list of resources for further reading.

Sharon James wrote an excellent short biography of Sarah Edwards that was far from dry or irrelevant. The life of Sarah Edwards is inspiring and a remarkable insight into the lives of Christians in early American history and of the legacy a godly wife and mother can have.

[The publisher sent me this book for review consideration but all opinions are my own.]