One year ago, we released our very first book.
One year ago, Craving Connection: 30 Challenges for Real-life Engagement was launched into the world, landing on bookstore shelves and family rooms and in book clubs and women’s church circles. You shared your excitement with us (and we had SO MUCH FUN celebrating together!):


We recognized that we all long for meaningful relationships, the Colossians 3:14 kind that fulfills our desire for unity and connection with God, our friends, and our community. We asked together, “Where do we start?” And we responded that Craving Connection is a journey with (in)courage writers sharing real-life stories, practical Scripture application, and connection challenges that will encourage you to:
- Embrace the desire God has given each of us for connection.
- Invest in meaningful relationships, right where God has you.
- Become the friend you wish you had.
The (in)courage community invited you to grab a cup of coffee, pull up a chair to the table, and commit to creatively and prayerfully fulfilling your cravings for connection. How could your life be different after prayerfully and intentionally connecting with God, friends, and your community? And then we saw you answer that very question in your very real lives.
We saw you bring the book into summer book studies, sharing your pictures and stories on Instagram.
We saw you join the live conversations with several of the book’s authors as they shared more from their chapters’ story.
We saw you read along in our blog book club as we journeyed through five weeks of challenges.
We saw you illustrate your faith alongside Craving Connection, and discover more about your friendships through your art.
We watched in awe and wonder as God took the message of Craving Connection and gave it wings. It’s been a year of Craving Connection, and we want to celebrate with your stories. Because you are the ones who have taken the message of this book and let it sink in soul-deep, impacting your friendships, your neighborhoods, and your relationship with the Lord.
Check out these words from several sweet Amazon reviewers:
We live in a world with more “friends” and less “connection” than ever. This book hits at the heart of the matter with encouraging — easy — things to help us recalibrate. The (in)courage website has always been my favorite online place for encouragement and inspiration. Now it feels like they’ve come for coffee at my house every morning. I love the layout of the book and the ease in which I’ve begun to incorporate the principles. It doesn’t feel like another thing I have to do, instead this book is helping me shed my to-dos and find freedom in being. Definitely a book that you’ll want to have on hand to give to friends!
~Edie MelsonHow many of us feel all alone, even in the midst of many people? “Craving Connection” is filled with 30 readings, and challenges to push us to make a connection, a connection with God, a connection with a friend or a connection with one’s community.
~KI
I wouldn’t have this friend today if I never picked up this book. This book encouraged me and successfully inspired me to take risks and take the first step. I now have four new unlikely friends that the Lord has done amazing things with in my life. We are very close and I owe it to this tool that the Lord used. I wouldn’t have gained any of them had this book never made it to me. I have always struggled with people pleasing. I always examined my text messages heavily and read into others’ words. I am a very confident girl, but I this is where I fall. The Lord used this as a tool to completely change me.
~Michelle RugerI have been desiring a book like this, but didn’t even realize it… It’s true that we all crave connection and that we don’t always realize what we need to do to create it, or to maintain it. Craving Connection gives you ideas, as well as challenges, to help you understand what it is you’re truly looking for and to send you on your way toward developing healthy relationships.
~J. Hart
Those are just the stories from one small section of the Internet. There are countless others out there, in real life and in real spaces. And if you haven’t yet read Craving Connection, we suggest two things:
First, watch the book trailer below. It offers a great picture of the heart behind the book:
We know it’s been a whole year, but we are FAR from tired of hearing your Craving Connection stories! Keep ’em coming. If you’ve read or studied Craving Connection, we would love to hear how it’s impacted your heart and life! Share your story today in the comments.
Leave a Comment
(in)courage,
Happy Birthday “Craving Connection”!! Has it been a year already? “Craving Connection” is a great tool for getting you (me) outside your comfort zone and into building friendships that have staying power. I often refer back to it. Just another great offering by (in)courage. So thankful for the space you provide here for us to be real and encourage each other. I visit here, most days, first thing in the morning as part of my quiet time. It’s like sipping my coffee with good friends. God’s Word, Good Friends, Great Way to start the day! Thank you (in)courage community for just being here and for all you do….so thankful for the friendships I’ve developed here <3
Many Blessings,
Bev xx
In Courage
, work part-time
Happy Birthday to Craving Connection. A year already my how time flies. I totally agree with Lisa-Jo. Life gets busy & hard. We don’t always have or take the time to make friends like we should. Aliza Latte hit the nail on the head for me. Most people my age are parents, with careers/full-time jobs and busy lives. Here I am falling short or so I think. I don’t have children and work part-time-most days. You could say I feel like I’m not enough or don’t have much to offer. In reality I quit a job to care for my aging dad. Thanks for the encouragement you offer daily. You women do a wonderful job.
Blessings 🙂
In CourageIn Courage
Happy Birthday to Craving Connection. A year already my how time flies. I totally agree with Lisa-Jo. Life gets busy & hard. We don’t always have or take the time to make friends like we should. Aliza Latte hit the nail on the head for me. Most people my age are parents, with careers/full-time jobs and busy lives. Here I am falling short or so I think. I don’t have children and work part-time-most days. You could say I feel like I’m not enough or don’t have much to offer. In reality I quit a job to care for my aging dad. Thanks for the encouragement you offer daily. You women do a wonderful job.
Blessings
Awe, Happy First Birthday, Craving Connection! For some reason, it feels like longer than a year to me. A sweet book filled with treasures in story-form; gifts of vulnerability shared with grace and courage. Love the authenticity that is the standard of (in)courage. Eat lots of cake! (Because, a birthday party without cake is so very unfortunate. 😀 ) xoxo
P.S.) Just in case it’s happening with others and it’s not just a glitch with my email, thought I’d let you know that your email didn’t come through my inbox this morning. ♥
You are not alone. Mine finally came around 2:57 pm.
Beth Williams
Thanks for being here, ladies!
We had a little tech glitch with the email today. All should be back to normal tomorrow! Thanks for letting us know 🙂
Happy first birthday Craving Connection – I will certainly be scooping up a copy or two or three to pass on to friends!! I am new to this (in)courage community, having been ushered in by the gentle whispers of the Holy Spirit a few short weeks ago – I look forward with great delight to opening my (in) box every morning – I am grateful beyond words for the (in)couraging/encouraging words that jump start my day – since retiring a couple years ago after a 35 year awesome career as a registered nurse, I love that I now have the time each morning to strengthen my relationship/connection with the Lord – blessings all !
Debra, we are so glad you are here! Thankful you found us, and happy to meet you.
Thank you Anna!
Hi Debra,
Congratulations on your retirement from nursing
Please pray that my last 10 years working as a nurse will be used for His glory.
Love Maggie
Thank you Maggie – Praying that your last 10 years in nursing are used for His glory !!! Love, light and blessings from me to you!!!
Happy Birthday! I loved this book and I’m sharing it again on social media. Such a great resource to encourage women to reach out in friendship.