Parenting Book Reviews
Abandonment to Divine Providence
“Let go and let God.” This familiar phrase beautifully captures the heart of Abandonment to Divine Providence, Father Jean-Pierre de Caussade’s beloved 18th-century classic on trust in God. Written for anyone who doubts, suffers, or feels anxious under the weight of life’s trials, Father de Caussade offers a gentle yet profound spiritual remedy: to abandon ourselves entirely to God by embracing the duties and circumstances of our daily lives.
With wisdom and tenderness, he teaches that holiness is not found only in extraordinary moments, but in peaceful submission to God’s will in every situation—whether we are beginners or seasoned travelers on the path to perfection.
True abandonment, he explains, is a trusting, childlike surrender to grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Though we may not always understand God’s ways or the mystery of suffering, learning to rest in His providence transforms interior struggle into hope. Father de Caussade reminds us that all things are working for our good, and that as children of God we can receive everything—joys and sorrows alike—as coming from the loving hands of our Father.
In doing so, we become contemplatives in the middle of the world, learning to love God’s presence in the ordinary and to live with the simplicity and peace of little children.
