The Life You Long For

Learning to Live from a Heart of Rest

By: Christy Nockels

Narrated by: Christy Nockels

A beautiful invitation to discover your place in God's heart and let him set the pace for your life - from a wife and mother, singer-songwriter, and worship leader for Passion Conferences and IF:Gathering

“Christy Nockels is a gentle, strong voice shepherding us into a fuller life with Jesus at the very center. This book will restore your weary soul.” (Jennie Allen, New York Times best-selling author of Get Out of Your Head and founder and visionary of IF:Gathering)

Christy Nockels knows firsthand how easily our desire to serve God - even when using the gifts he has given us - can overshadow our delight in simply being with him. When God called her to lay down her ministry for a season, Christy was forced to confront how her sense of purpose and worth had become tangled up in her work. God then lovingly invited her to discover true rest in his presence as she learned to live as the Beloved.

In The Life You Long For, Christy shows us how to let go of hustle and achievement and instead find our identity in the quiet center of God’s love. As we delight in being with him, we are filled to overflowing with contentment and love that propel us into an entirely new way of being, one in which every act of service and every encounter with the people around us arise from a heart at rest.

With irresistible warmth and grace, this book calls you to step fully into the life you didn’t even realize you’ve been seeking, as you find your highest calling not in a duty to uphold but in a beautiful identity to live out.

This audiobook features original music by Nathan Nockels and is used with permission of the artist.

©2020 Christy Nockels (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Christians looking to slow down and form more intimate relationships will enjoy Nockels’ impassioned reminder that God provides a community and love to those who ask.” (Publishers Weekly)

“In the hustle and grind of life, we can mistakenly believe that our good works and effort curry favor with God. The Life You Long For is a song for us to learn and sing in our own harmony so our souls can be set free.” (Bianca Juarez Olthoff, speaker, teacher, and best-selling author of How to Have Your Life Not Suck)

“As I was reading The Life You Long For, I felt like I was having coffee with a sweet friend who was constantly reminding me and my heart to rest - not just any sort of rest, but resting in God’s love for me and His plans for me.” (Jamie Ivey, best-selling author and host of The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey podcast)

A tangible example of abiding in Christ

This book was really helpful for me as I am so prone to "performing" for God and trying to prove myself to Him. Christy provides countless examples of what it looks like to abide in Christ, which is a topic that has always been mysterious and abstract to me. I really like her writing style, too. You can tell she carefully selected every word to communicate her message and there are so many good lines that I want to remember and quote.

The book helped me rest in who I am in Christ. It was peace to me, like a lullaby in book form. I actually started listening to it a second time to digest all of the deep themes and lessons!

encouraging listen!

loved listening to her read her book... it was like having coffee with a friend

This will touch your soul

I listened to this book while caring for my elderly mother in the hospital. It was just what my soul needed to remind that real strength in tough times comes from living From God rather than living for God. As someone who was at IF Gathering years ago, I remember Christy sitting on the floor of the stage with her guitar singing over us, as the auditorium hushed and 2000 women stilled and quieted their souls to “Be Held” by the Love of God that she shared in her songs. Hearing Christy read her book was a beautiful reminder of that moment as I learn to live from a heart of rest even now.

Restarted it as soon as I finished it

Met me right where I was, and I am going back again for more! I love hearing it from Christy's voice! made it all the more precious to hear her saying her own words with the inflections and pauses that she wanted us to hear.

Rest: something we all need, but don’t make a priority.

This book was a soothing balm to my soul; bringing a sense of rest in this weary world. It helped me grow spiritually & keep my eye on the bullseye of the life I long for.

soul food

This book strengthens the soul and has so much truth in it's pages. I am meditating on what it means to be in Christ with the envelope analogy ♥️ and my heart takes comfort in the hidden place... Christ in me, me in Christ, and Christ in the Father.

A Story Beautifully Written!

A beautifully written reflection of God and His love that expressed how He holds us close and loves us in the good and the uncertain times in our lives! I wept at the end of the painting story! What a precious gift that mirrors the image of being embraced in Him in this world, but also for eternity!

Life Changing!

Not only is this beautifully read, it's beautifully written. I will be buying a hard copy as it is a reference book for life! such truth and wonderful illustrations that inspire and make me want to strive to lean into God even more.

Absolutely Beautiful!

Loved every moment of listening to this book! Didn't want it to end. I look forward to listening again. It was so timely and spoke directly to my heart. I am so encouraged to live in & out of my belovedness ❤️ So glad Christy narrated it herself! I loved hearing her voice.

Wonderful Book!

I enjoyed this book. I almost wish I had a hard copy. several times I paused to recording to write down the reflection questions.