The Journey of Desire

What do you really want?

In The Journey of Desire, John Eldredge invites you to explore the deepest longings of your heart—the ones that often feel dangerous, ignored, or even wrong. For too long, many have believed the lie that desire is something to be suppressed, replaced by duty or religious obligation. But God created your desires to lead you to Him, not away from Him.

This book is an honest, hopeful invitation to awaken your heart again, abandon resignation, and search for the life you were truly made for.

Why this book matters

Many Christians settle for safe, numb lives, afraid that their longings will only disappoint them, or worse, lead them astray. The modern church often teaches that desire is sinful and must be killed, leaving people resigned and disconnected from their true selves.

The Journey of Desire helps readers:

• Rediscover their God-given desires as good and purposeful

• Stop living in resignation and awaken to life again

• Understand the dangers of misplaced or suppressed desire

• Find freedom from destructive patterns born from unfulfilled longing

• See how desire ultimately points to God and the restoration He promises

These themes are also echoed in John Eldredge’s books All Things New and The Sacred Romance.

What you’ll discover in The Journey of Desire

• The truth about desire – Why it’s not the enemy but the key to a life fully alive.

• What happens when we kill desire – How suppression leads to resignation or destructive behaviors.

• The invitation to hope again – Learning to trust that God placed your deepest longings in you for a reason.

• The ultimate fulfillment of desire – How all longing finds its true home in the heart of God.

For readers exploring similar themes, The Sacred Romance offers another deep look into the story of desire and God’s pursuit of your heart.

Who should read this book?

This book is for:

• Anyone who feels disconnected from their heart and dreams

• Christians who have been taught to suppress their desires in the name of duty

• Readers struggling with resignation, boredom, or hidden destructive patterns

• Men and women longing to live from a place of passion, freedom, and authenticity

For a companion exploration of hope and restoration, see All Things New by John Eldredge.

The Journey of Desire as a group study for churches & small groups

Many churches, small groups, and discipleship circles have used The Journey of Desire to open honest conversations about longing, disappointment, and hope. It’s a perfect starting point for deeper spiritual formation.

Why use this for a church or group study?

• Encourages honest reflection on the role of desire in the Christian life

• Challenging false teachings that equate desire with sin

• Creates space for healing around past disappointments and broken dreams

• Offers practical steps to live more wholeheartedly with God

Pair with journaling or a discussion guide to help participants process their own desires and what they reveal about their walk with God.

Awakening the Heart Again

The Journey of Desire invites readers to recover the longings God placed within them—offering a path out of resignation and into a life fully alive in Him.

It’s an essential resource for anyone who has felt disconnected from their dreams, showing that desire is not the enemy but a guide that leads us back to God’s heart.

To explore these themes further, consider John Eldredge’s other works, including The Sacred Romance and All Things New.