The Sacred Romance (1997)

Find the peace, purpose, and connection you crave by slowing down, asking questions, and deepening your relationship with God—or discovering it for the very first time.

We’ve lost touch with our hearts. In a culture that glorifies busyness, achievement, and self-sufficiency, it’s easy to find ourselves emotionally disconnected—numb, exhausted, or aching for something more.

In The Sacred Romance, bestselling authors John Eldredge and Brent Curtis invite you into a journey of rediscovering your heart and the One who pursues it with relentless love.

This is more than a book. It’s an invitation to return to the story you were made for.

Why this book matters

Many believers live with a subtle emptiness—going through the motions of faith, yet feeling distant from God and unsure how to reawaken their spiritual life.

The Sacred Romance offers a radical, freeing perspective: that our deepest desires are not the problem—they are the doorway to intimacy with God.

This book helps readers:

• Rediscover their heart and the role it plays in spiritual transformation

• Break free from a performance-based faith

• Recognize God’s pursuit woven through their story

• Embrace a life of beauty, adventure, and vulnerability with God

Continue this journey through desire in The Journey of Desire, which helps readers name and walk with their God-given longings.

What you’ll explore in The Sacred Romance

• The ache that won’t go away – Understand the longing you feel and where it’s meant to lead you.

• The story beneath the story – See your life as part of a much larger narrative—one of beauty, battle, and redemption.

• How we lose heart – Learn how we slowly drift from intimacy with God, and what to do about it.

• The invitation to return – Hear God’s personal call to live from your heart and walk with Him in the story of love He’s writing.

This journey is both healing and holy, offering readers a deeper awareness of God's presence and pursuit in their lives.

Revisit these core ideas in the Sacred Romance Series, which beautifully unpacks each part of the journey in visual form.

Who should read this book?

This book is for:

• Anyone who feels spiritually stuck or emotionally disconnected from their faith

• Readers craving more than religious obligation—longing for intimacy, meaning, and healing

• Those navigating pain, disillusionment, or deep questions about their life’s direction

• Believers looking to rediscover the beauty and romance of walking closely with God

Explore the Journey of Desire Conference—a rich companion experience that expands on how longing points us toward the heart of God

How The Sacred Romance can be used in groups

Ideal for church small groups, men’s or women’s studies, and spiritual formation communities, The Sacred Romance invites honest reflection and deep conversation.

Why use this for a group or church study?

• Sparks meaningful dialogue about longing, purpose, and personal faith

• Encourages vulnerability and healing in the community

• Offers practical and spiritual insights for walking more closely with God

• Challenges superficial religious habits and points toward intimacy with God

Pair with Wild at Heart: The Series for a robust exploration of what it means to live fully from your heart, as God intended.

Rediscover the Romance

_The Sacred Romance _is a powerful invitation to live from your heart, not just your head—to walk with God in intimacy rather than routine.

For a deeper dive into these themes, explore the Waking the Dead, a transformative study series by John Eldredge on recovering your heart and living fully alive.