With the support of the publisher, Shelf Awareness celebrates the Jesus Calling brand from Thomas Nelson Publishers (a part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing), which in just over 20 years has grown from one daily devotional book to a range of devotionals, board books, picture books, readers for middle grades and teens, magazines, podcasts, a TV show, apps, a social media presence, and more. Written by the late Sarah Young, the books alone have been translated into 30 languages and Jesus Calling has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide, making Young one of the most successful Christian authors in history. It's a brand that continues to expand, find new audiences, and spread the Word.

Thomas Nelson's Jesus Calling brand began in 2004 with the publication of Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, a book in which Sarah Young offered a year's worth of daily devotionals based on Scripture and citing Bible verses. The entries read as if Jesus were speaking to the reader, offering encouragement and love. (More about Sarah Young below.)

The book immediately found an appreciative audience and has remained an incredibly popular backlist title. Always priced at an attractive level for a hardcover (currently $16.99), the small-format book (4 1/4" x 6 1/4") has been what the company calls "very giftable," so much so that the average purchase is for four copies. In 2015, it became a New York Times bestseller, and it was #3 on the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association's list of top 50 Christian bestsellers of 2025. In total, the Jesus Calling brand has sold more than 50 million copies.

Michael Aulisio

Vice President & Publisher Michael Aulisio observes, "The way [that Sarah's] devotional is deeply personal to the reader is what has led to its success. After spending countless hours in prayer and Scripture, Sarah was inspired to share the message of Jesus's Peace. Written as if Jesus Himself is speaking directly to the reader, this creates a meaningful and engaging experience. One where the reader can lay down their cares and worries for a few minutes each day and rest in the devotional's Biblically-based messages of comfort, peace, hope, and joy, no matter the circumstances."

Following on the successful publication of Jesus Calling, Sarah Young wrote more books with devotions, each taking on the voice of Jesus speaking directly to the reader with themes of peace, hope, and joy. They included Jesus Today (2012), which contains 150 devotions and was named the ECPA Christian Book of the Year in 2013; Jesus Lives: Seeing His Love in Your Life (2012), with 180 devotions; and Jesus Always: Embracing Joy in His Presence (2016), Sarah Young's first daily devotional since Jesus Calling.

Jesus Listens: Daily Devotional Prayers of Peace, Joy, and Hope (2021) took a different approach. It's a daily devotional featuring prayers to Jesus, encouraging readers to take on a daily prayer practice. The success of this book led to children's books and seasonal titles such as Jesus Listens Prayers for Advent and Christmas and Jesus Listens for Lent & Easter.

Other devotionals have been geared to specific situations or groups or stages in a person's life, and many with full Scriptures. For example, the Jesus Calling books have devotions focused on Christmas; Advent and Christmas; Lent and Easter; as well as for kids. There are Jesus Calling books for moms, for kids, for families, for graduates, for mornings and evenings; a deluxe leathersoft cover edition includes space with each devotion for note taking. The Jesus Always titles include 40 Days of Jesus Always; an edition with a cloth botanical cover "perfect for gifting"; and small and large deluxe editions. Jesus Calling books have also included board books, picture books, and readers for middle grades and teens, as well as one edition with gold foil called Jesus Calling 365 Devotions with Real-Life Stories, which includes stories from readers.

One of those stories illustrates the power of Jesus Calling. Lisa, who had tried to commit suicide twice in her teens and suffered abuse and depression as a child and wife, wrote that a friend had given her a copy of the book when she was "a mess." She kept the book but ignored it until she was about to shoot herself. Reaching for her husband's gun, she looked down and saw the book. The title called to her and she opened it to a page that read, "Your fragility is not a punishment." The idea that God wasn't punishing her for "every single mistake I ever made" led to her having "her first real conversation with God" and "suddenly I felt alive"--and began the road to recovery.

The popularity of the Jesus Calling books led to products in other formats, including magazines, podcasts, a TV show, and more.

Jesus Calling for Moms publishes in March, perfectly timed for Mother's Day.

As Vice President and Publisher Michael Aulisio notes, "After we initially published Jesus Calling in 2004, one of the most common pieces of feedback we received from readers was 'it feels like each day is written just for me.' That same phrase was repeated thousands of times by individuals of all walks of life. Sarah would say that is because when we spend time in the Bible and meditating on His Word, Jesus meets us right where we are. So, we want to share these stories with others and let them know they are never alone no matter where they might be on their faith journey. Our desire is to lean into whatever medium people are consuming to share about the impact Jesus Calling has had." 

Among the major parts of the Jesus Calling brand:

Jesus Calling Magazine is distributed free quarterly to Mardel Bookstores, select Christian independent bookstores, and digitally on the Jesus Calling app. The issues include features on celebrities such as Harry Connick, Jr., Savannah Guthrie, and Tim Tebow, inspiring stories by many people, travel tips, recipes, social media spotlights, games and puzzles.

Jesus Calling has more than two million followers across social media, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

The Jesus Calling App has 4.9 stars with more than 54,000 ratings and is available on iOS and Android.

The Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith TV Show has four seasons airing on UpTV and its streaming service, Faith & Family. This is a 30-minute show, and each season has between 10 and 16 episodes airing weekly. There are different hosts every season, including country music singer Lauren Alaina, country singer Susie McEntire-Eaton, Christian singer-songwriter Chris Tomlin, and author and influencer Faith Broussard Cade. Episodes are produced by Four Eyes Media and share stories of success, loss, heartbreak, and redemption told by people of faith from all walks of life.

The Jesus Calling podcast has had more than 25 million downloads and is available on iHeart, Apple, Spotify, and LifeAudio each week.

Guests on the Jesus Calling podcast and TV show have included Anne Lamott, author of Bird by Bird, nonfiction titles about alcoholism, being a single mom, depression, and Christianity, as well as novels that include Imperfect Birds and Rosie. On the podcast, Lamott recounted her long, roundabout path toward spirituality as well as struggles that included severe bouts of alcoholism, bulimia, and depression.

She said in part, "You know, I picked up Jesus Calling the other day, just because I got that Holy Spirit nudge and I was feeling mentally ill. I felt like this over-caffeinated hummingbird of judgment and just unhappiness, really caffeinated unhappiness. And I happened to pick up the book and I can't remember what day it was now, but it was March. And I picked it up and it just said, like Jesus says, 'I bring that radical self-love. You want to be happy? Share that radical love, share that radical self-love. Just give it all away and you'll feel me. Go where--you want to feel me? Go to where the poorest of the poor are.' And there are many ways of being poor. There are many kinds of living water. And I went, 'Oh, right. If you want to have loving feelings, do loving things.' "

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Also on the podcast, TV sportscaster and NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw talked about dealing with major medical problems and three divorces, and finding solace in Christianity, aided by Jesus Listens. He said in part, "I'm a big 'as I'm doing stuff' prayer guy. I'm walking around and I just think, Hey, Lord, this is a beautiful day. And then you know what I discovered the other day? It's okay to argue with God. Man, that's been like a relief. I'm so thankful that prayer is real, prayer is powerful. I believe in it. I've seen the miracles from prayer."

He then quoted a prayer for April 2 from Jesus Listens:

"Help me to trust You and not be afraid. You have been training me to view trials as exercises designed to develop my trust-muscles. I live in the midst of fierce spiritual battles, and fear is one of Satan's favorite weapons to use against me. Whenever I start to feel afraid, I need to affirm my trust in You--praying, 'I trust You, Jesus.' If circumstances permit, I can pray this affirmation out loud. 

"The Bible tells me that if I resist the devil, standing firm against him, he will flee from me. Then I can refresh myself in Your holy Presence. As I speak and sing praises to You, Your Face shines graciously upon me--blessing me with Peace.

"Please keep reminding me that there is no condemnation for those who belong to You. Because You died on the cross for all my sins, I have been judged 'not guilty!' for all eternity. I will trust and not be afraid because You are my Strength, my Song, and my Salvation."

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Another podcast guest was country singer and actress Reba McEntire, who appeared with her sisters, Susie McEntire-Eaton and Alice Foran. They talked about growing up in straitened circumstances in Oklahoma, having learned about religion from their grandmother and father, and spending so much time with cousins that they were like brothers and sisters.

Reba McEntire recalled, "I think I read that in Jesus Calling the other day, that when you pray, when you give thanks, it's the thing that goes straight up to heaven and they hear it the loudest--the thankfulness. But the main thing that I've learned over these last couple of years is love. With the prejudices, with the madness over politics, and what's going on and who's getting more attention, who's not getting attention, if we would just all love one another and accept the faults, love them for who they are, give them grace because they might have had a real rough day when they came in and chewed you out for something. Just back off and think, Maybe they had a rough day. I'm having a good day. Everybody should be happy like me. No, that's not the way it works. That's true. Cut them a little slack and just love them no matter what color or what their belief."

She then quoted part of a devotional for November 27 in Jesus Listens that reads, "Beautiful Jesus, I give thanks to You, for You are good; Your Love endures forever.

"I want to take time to think about the many blessings You provide. Thank You, Lord, for the gift of life--for every breath You give me. I'm grateful also for everyday provisions: food and water, shelter, clothing, family and friends. But the greatest gift I've received from You, my Savior, is everlasting Life!

"As I consider all that You have done for me, I delight in who You are--the great I Am! You are one hundred percent good. There is not even a speck of darkness in You, the Light of the world! Moreover, Your Love is unending; it goes on and on throughout eternity.

"Because I belong to You, I am never separated from Your loving Presence. I know that You are always near, so I don't need to worry about whether or not I sense Your Presence. Instead of focusing on my feelings, help me to simply trust that You are with me--and to thank You for Your unfailing Love."

Sarah Young (photo: Jeremy Cowart)

Sarah Young, creator of Jesus Calling, was born in Tennessee and graduated from high school in Virginia. After receiving a B.A. in philosophy at Wellesley College, she obtained a Master's in child development at Tufts University, a Master's in Biblical studies and counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, and a Master's in counseling from Georgia State University. During her post-graduate time at Tufts, Young, then a lapsed Christian, was deeply influenced by the work of evangelical theologian Francis Schaeffer. Later, when visiting an evangelical center in Switzerland, she had a spiritual awakening; that night, as Young put it, she "asked Him to forgive all my sins and [be] my Savior-God." She married a Christian missionary, Stephen Young; together they had two children and did missionary work in Japan and Australia and also lived in Georgia and finally in Tennessee. In Australia, Young set up a Christian counseling practice for women who had been sexually or spiritually abused, and around that time had another spiritual experience.

Throughout her adult life, Young battled various chronic health problems, including Lyme disease, melanoma, and vertigo. She died of leukemia on August 31, 2023, at age 77.

In the introduction to Jesus Calling, Young explains the origins of the book and gives a sense of why it has resonated with so many people. For many years before she wrote the book, she wrote in prayer journals in which "I did all the talking," she stated. But after a while she wanted more of a dialogue. "I wanted to hear what God might want to communicate to me on a given day. I decided to 'listen' with pen in hand, writing down whatever I 'heard' in my mind." She emphasized that what she heard was not inspired like scripture, but these moments helped her "grow closer to God."

This led to the devotionals in Jesus Calling. A good example of these is the one for January 1, which reads, "Come to Me with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed. A close walk with Me is a life of continual newness. Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year. Instead, seek My Face with an open mind, knowing that your journey with Me involves being transformed by the renewing of your mind. As you focus your thoughts on Me, be aware that I am fully attentive to you. I see you with a steady eye because My attention span is infinite. I know and understand you completely; My thoughts embrace you in everlasting Love. I also know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future. Give yourself fully to this adventure of increasing attentiveness to My Presence."