Let God: Spiritual Conversations with François Fénelon

by Winn Collier

Too many of us walk alone. What would it be like to have a wise spiritual mentor, a guide who has known years of joy and years of heartache, pen leisurely, poignant letters conversing with your questions on life, God and love?

In Let God: Spiritual Conversations with François Fénelon, private correspondence between Fénelon (a French bishop in King Louis XIV's court before being tossed due to resisting the king's power) and his friends still serving in the royal court offers penetrating, modern wisdom.

A pastor and spiritual pilgrim, Winn Collier longed for his own wise guide, an older spiritual director to listen to his story and tend to his questions. This journey led him to Fenelon. Hoping others would hear Fenelon the way he had, Let God sets Fenelon's letters within the context of conversation and friendship, exactly as these letters were first intended.

Though the letters are old, the questions are contemporary. Those new to faith, exploring faith - or those guiding others in faith - will find wisdom and joy in these pages.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Spirituality, Book Club

152 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2007

About the author

Winn has written for periodicals such as Washington Post, Christian Century, Soul Journey, Christianity Today, In Touch, Campus Life, Leadership Journal, Radiant, Preaching Today and Clear & Seven. For six years, Winn was the Deeper Walk editor for Relevant Magazine. His first solo book, Restless Faith: Hanging on to a God Just out of Reach is a candid exploration into the perplexing, riveting and mysterious nature of God - and the humility we discover in the encounter. His second book Let God: The Transforming Wisdom of Francois Fenelon enters conversation with a 17th century French spiritual guide. Winn's most recent book, Holy Curiosity: Encountering Jesus' Provocative Questions, explores the strange reality that Jesus often held out a question rather than an answer. Winn's first fiction was the epistolary novel Love Big, Be Well: Letters to a Small-Town Church which narrates the story of Jonas McAnn and the community of Granby Presbyterian via letters Jonas writes to his friends (i.e. "congregation). Winn's most recent book is A Burning in My Bones, the authorized biography of Eugene Peterson.

A pastor for 25 years and the founding pastor of All Souls in Charlottesville, Virginia, Winn and his family now live in Holland, Michigan, where he teaches at Western Theological Seminary and directs the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination. Winn earned a PhD in religion and literature from the University of Virginia.

Reviews

[Valerie Laws · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with letters from Fenelon to different friends who need spiritual guidance. It's like sitting in on a spiritual direction session or pastoral counseling session. Winn Collier, the author, rewrote the letters in modern English so it is easy to understand and follow. I usually read one or two a day and felt like the letters were written personally to me because each one was relatable to our shared human experience. Not a book for everyone, but I sure enjoyed it.

[Tanner Hawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It is a stark truth when we first run up against it: God isn't always the safe bet or the sure thing. God disappoints us, and this disappointment can be the bitterest kind. It often comes in those tender places where our hearts are most vulnerable or most hopeful or most desperate. We believe God will act for us, and sometimes...we hear nothing" (1).

"Becoming a follower of God is hard because it requires that we submit ourselves fully to a God who is other than us. We must let go of our insistence that we know best what we need. We must let go of our demands that God act when and how we demand...[God] will help us, but he must upset our addiction to control. He will have to unravel all the demands we have placed on him. This is why God's disappointment is necessary. He is helping us, peeling back our fingers, loosening our white-knuckled grip from our life. He has to; if we will ever be free in his care, he has to" (2).

"We would never get over ourselves if God always worked out in the open where we could always see him, with God always bringing some grand miracle to our rescue. It is difficult for God to do a good work if he is limited to working only in broad daylight. It is difficult for God to do a good work if he is limited to using only what is comfortable or easy or obvious" (8).

"With all the mental energy we exert, we can spend so much of our life hoarding knowledge that we will need another whole life to try to actually live any of it. We face the very real danger of thinking that our accumulation of 'spiritual' knowledge is the indicator of our spiritual development. Not true.. We love the learning, the knowledge, the illumination of ideas, just as Adam and Eve did in the Garden. But unfortunately, we do not love simply trusting, simply obeying, simply living" (21).

"I have a hope you will begin to experience the pervasive peace that comes into your life when you stop the pedantic scrutiny. Stop keeping track of how well you are doing. Stop living on high alert, trying to mark every inch of spiritual progress. That's enough to drive a person crazy" (22).

"Stop reading about love. Receive it. When God offers you mercy and friendship in a way you don't prefer (a way that doesn't contribute to your looking 'good' or 'spiritual'), then it is only pride and self that cause you to shove grace away. How can you pray for God's grace when you attach demands that grace can come only if it makes you look good?" (33-34).

"The self-voice obsesses to know exactly what everyone's opinion is of us, who likes us and who doesn't, who will feed our ego and who won't. The self-voice sulks unless someone drones on about how fabulous we are, how beautiful, how good. The God-voice wants self to be forgotten" (39).

"true faith always sees God--and only God--at work right in the middle of the action...true faith never delivers the sort of human certainty we constantly look for...If we drew relief from predictable patterns, we'd trust that instead of trusting God" (41).

"Here's a spiritual rule of thumb: when something connects with us deeply, lighting a little fire in us or giving us joy, then God is speaking...At times God goes mute in all the ways you are used to hearing him. That is when you can have full confidence that God is in fact speaking. Listen carefully" (45-6, 48).

"When you are able to be as patient and kind to yourself as you are to others, giving yourself as much space as you would someone else, self-absorption is gone" (59).

"We need to be particularly on the lookout for the pride that likes to attach itself to spiritual activity. When we think we are growing wise in God's ways (getting lots of spiritual knowledge) and when we think we are becoming quite virtuous (doing or saying the right things), watch out! This is dangerous stuff" (67).

"If you will be frank and raw with your desires, I think you will please God more than if you undertake some great spiritual feat. Telling God plainly what you want--and letting yourself want it--is better than being martyred a hundred times. We hand God pleasure when we express our truest desires to him" (74).

"The hard truth is that God isn't most concerned with how to keep us alive. God is most concerned with how to help us die. Die to ourselves. Die to our delusions. Die so we can really live" (93).

"Many are deceived. They think that God's work (helping them die to their self-absorption) is causing their miserable distress. The truth is that their suffering is not a result of self-absorption being killed but rather a signal that bits of self-absorption are still very much alive. Live bodies feel pain, not corpses" (108).

"Do you want a test to know when you actually are humble? Here it is: whenever someone corrects your faults and whenever you see all the rank sickness in your heart--and you aren't surprised or offended by either--then you are humble. In that place, we don't have anything to prove, nothing to protest or protect...The correcting doesn't hurt because our identity and our well-being aren't tied up with being good, with being right" (118).

"We should treat [studying Scripture] the same as going to the corner market. We go, and we get only what we need on that trip. No more, no less" (124).

[Lynette Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a modern day translation of François Fénelon’s letters to Christian friends in the 1600’s. I found the letters insightful and often convicting. It’s a reminder that “there is nothing new under the sun”; these 17th century believers struggled with the same heart-issues I struggle with today. If you’re looking for spiritual encouragement, I highly recommend this short, accessible book.

[Juli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winn takes Fenelon's works and makes them into letters to a friend. You would swear these were actually written to you because they hit deep to the soul offering heart-piercing,self-releasing, life-giving words. What a gift.

[Seann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must decrease

[Bianca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read Let God: Spiritual Conversations with François Fénelon because my book club chose it—one of those books I would never have picked up on my own. That said, it turned out to be an interesting and challenging read.

Fénelon, as a spiritual guide, is very far from what I would imagine a spiritual director to be today. His tone is firm, uncompromising, and at times feels almost like being “told off.” This is not a gentle or comforting book. If you are looking for reassurance in suffering, emotional warmth, or pastoral tenderness, you may well find this lacking. What Fénelon offers instead is the hard truth—direct, unsentimental, and often uncomfortable.

I didn’t experience Fénelon as particularly compassionate in tone; rather, he struck me as deeply concerned with truth and surrender. That may be his strength, but it also makes the book demanding. At times, I wondered whether I was missing his deeper intention, because the emphasis on self-denial and submission can feel heavy and relentless. This is a book that requires an open mind and, I would say, a strong heart.

That said, I did underline quite a lot. There is much here that provokes thought and invites serious reflection. The book does make you search your heart, question your motives, and examine what it really means to “let God” work in your life. It is not shallow or sentimental spirituality, and for some readers, that will be precisely its appeal.

One practical note: there is a fair amount of repetition. Overall, this is not an easy or comforting read, but it is a thought-provoking one. If you are prepared for a stern spiritual voice and are willing to wrestle with demanding ideas about surrender and obedience, you may find it worthwhile. If not, this book may feel more heavy than helpful.

[Hannah Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each letter is so simple and clear to read, yet the contents make grand statements: things we don’t get told often but need to hear. Very profound and wise.

[Cesar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let God - spiritual conversations with Francois Fenelon by Winn Collier

Letters of spiritual direction to various individuals are grouped by Collier into 8 conversation themes. We only have Fenelon’s letters, but letters are conversational in style often rephrasing the recipients issue in the form question, which he then answers.

Fenelon is implicitly referring to Jesus & NT writers message, by losing your life - you will find it, through out his letters. This loss is necessary to find God and strength, hope, happiness, beauty, pleasure, peace, comfort, and all you really desire. Live in the present moment with God, even in times of loss, He is always there for you.

I really appreciated the spiritual direction offered by Fenelon in his letters…very insightful on human hearts and wise in his knowledge of how God loves & transforms our lives. Fenelon consistently challenges us to know ourselves and let God work, often like a surgeon, on our hearts, vanity & pride.

“With each letting go, we release layers of our self protection…(p.1) and “God is the surgeon, and our self-absorption is the cancer (p. 12).”

I believe in C.S. Lewis book Dawn Trader, the character of Eustace transformation mirrors Fénelon's spiritual direction to let God work in your life:

C.S. Lewis, Voyage of the Dawn Treader - “The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I’ve ever felt.

The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off…Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off—just as I thought I’d done it myself the other three times, only they hadn’t hurt—and there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobbly-looking than the others had been. And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. Then he caught hold of me—I didn’t like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I’d no skin on—and threw me into the water.”

Eighth Conversation and final conversation summed up for me as “Stop trying - start dying”

Further study: Madam Guyon (p. 127) & The Complete Fenelon (p. 128).

[Lis · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful book! I had to read it for a retreat I'm attending - otherwise I wouldn't have discovered it. Fenelon's insights hit me in a very personal way. At least 25% of my book is highlighted with 35 pages noted as "my favorite quotes". My favorite section is "how can I live in community?"
I'll be going back to this book often.

[Austin Grigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt like I was receiving letters from an old sage reading Let God. Winn and Fenelon's voice blend together into a very wise, comfortable tone that sounds like a good friend. I learned much from this book as it prodded at my selfishness and asked about my loyalties.

[Emma Whitaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hidden life

Fenelon captures the hidden part of my soul. The place where God is.
The Lord has said He will give the treasures of the dark places and the riches of the secret place.

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Modern translation/paraphrase of the spiritual direction letters of François Fénelon.

As I regularly say, I appreciate book clubs in part because they make me read things I might not read on my own. This was the second book in this year's Renovare book club.  Generally I do not participate in any of the online message boards for the book club and I do not go to any of the in person meetings that I could go to. But I do listen to the podcasts about the book. This one was with Winn Collier, who was responsible for editing this book.

Spiritual direction is an old practice. And I think that many people met with their spiritual directors in person, but we only have records of spiritual direction that was done by letter because no one as the audio or video of spiritual direction from the 16th century. And except in the cases of spiritual direction supervision, which often has the practice of the spiritual director transcribing their memory of the sessions for purposes of discussion and learning, spiritual direction is intended to be private. As a spiritual director I don't share about the people I meet with except with my own spiritual director who occasionally gives me advice. I occasionally do write about my work of spiritual direction because I find writing to be helpful as I clarify to myself what I think about things. But I tend to get rid of those writings immediately because I want to honor people's privacy.

I have read several other collections of spiritual direction writing from Henri Nouwen and Evelyn Underhill and some others, but I just don't tend to like the type of short writing that letter collections tend to be. I get bored and I rarely finish them. I did finish this one, but it took me about four months. I rarely read more than two letters at a sitting. I tended to read them at night before I go to bed. I often read a couple chapters of whatever I am currently reading until I am too tired to read and for this book I would often read one or two of these and then do my regular reading. The problem with this is that I am not giving myself time to think about them. It would be better if I read them and then went on a walk and was able to reflect on them for a while.

There is lots to reflect on here. The letters tend to be about 1-2 pages long. I suspect they are edited because there are rarely the types of greetings or personal comments that I would assume are going to be in a 16th century letter. These are more like a devotional reading than anything else. The titles that Collier gives each letter gives a sense of what Fenelon is trying to communicate.

I do have theological disagreements with Fenelon on more than a few points. But that often is less important because while our view of God does impact how we relate to God, the spiritual practices of life often are similar regardless of theological specifics. People still pray and sin and have high and low points in our spiritual lives. How we think about God does matter in those, but there is a care here to help people where they are at, not just by telling them where they should be.

I do think this is a book that would make a good discussion with other spiritual directors because there would be disagreement about his comments. In part, that is going to be natural because people are different, situations are different, our discernment will be different because no situation is exactly the same as another.

But at the same time, I still don't like reading short devotional length collections because I have a hard time with my engagement at that length. I need more to fully engage.

This was originally posted on my blog at https://bookwi.se/let-god/

[Stephen G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of Francois Fenelon prior to reading, Let God: Spiritual Conversations with Francois Fenelon by Winn Collier. Collier first introduces Fenelon, who was a French Bishop from the 17th century. Fenelon wrote letters to various individuals in his congregation, some of whom were on the court of King Louis XIV, the King of France. Fenelon writes to individuals grappling with how to live faithfully to Jesus in a context diametrically opposed to Christ's teachings.

Collier takes the translations of these letters and paraphrases them for a modern audience. In doing so, he introduces us to Fenelon and his wisdom. He organizes Fenelon's letters by theme under a series of eight conversations.

The topics cover the wide range of circumstances a believer might find themselves in: "How do I hear God?" "How do I live in community?" "What do I do when life is dark and bleak?" Topics that every believer, regardless of how mature they are in their faith, can relate to.

Reading "Let God" is like being introduced to an older, wise spiritual director. I found the depth of Fenelon's counsel encouraging and strengthening to my soul.

I'd recommend the book to a follower of Jesus who is going through a difficult season and grappling with questions.

[Ramarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading this over a period of weeks with the online Renovare book club, and I liked that author Collier made Fenelon more accessible. Collier re-writes many of Fenelon's letters in contemporary language, and groups them as "conversations," such as "Why is God so peculiar?" and "How do I cultivate a quiet soul?" So much of what Fenelon was writing in the 1600s is so applicable today, and that always fascinates me: The heart and nature of humanity is basically never changing! Fenelon dwells a lot on dying to our self-love and says "these are the virtues you really need: humility and self-distrust." The book club paired the readings with a weekly podcast talking to Winn Collier and that just added to the richness of reading the book. One note: the book I have is not from a major publisher and so it has formatting issues that bugged me, but the content is good!

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Many of us long for a wise elder voice to provide us with spiritual direction," Winn Collier says. "We long for depth and authenticity."

"We need someone who is more weathered than us, someone whose courage has been tested and whose wisdom carries a certain moxie."

Enter Fenelon. Alive in the 1600s where he first served as a tutor to Louis XIV's grandson and later got exiled to an obscure ministry, Fenelon speaks today via the many letters he wrote from that unimpressive and unseen station. In this book, Collier has thematically categorized and paraphrased some of those letters into eight "conversations," ranging from "How do I pursue spiritual maturity?" to "How can I live in community?"

Best book I read in 2025.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series of letters Fenelon wrote on a number of topics. By all accounts Winn Collier paraphrased these letters from a French translation he had read and even though we don't know the questions, Collier's paraphrase gives us sufficient content in each letter to give us an idea what it might have been.

Collier 'interrupt's' each new section with his own words which I appreciated. Collier has a wonderful writing manner, gentle but direct. I found some of the ideas Fenelon explored to be so relevant to me: death of the self-life, looking to God and scripture rather than gathering knowledge from other Christian writers, and surrendering to God's immense love.

I think I'll start reading it again as I'm sure I'll pick up more on the second time around.

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended. A very pastoral book. While I've not read Fenelon before, it seems to me that Collier had made him very accessible here. There is not systematic theology but a series of letters from the heart. Like reading Proverbs, we can't apply every letter to our situation, we need wisdom to allow the HS to speak through Fenelon and Collier here-- though there is much to convict us! The letters are very personal; Fenelon clearly knows the person he is addressing well and does not shy away from strong rebuke. But his proposed remedy is often not what we might expect; after scolding his reader, he often says do less, read less, rest more.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of letters from a French spiritual guide who lived in the 17th century. I read Let God with a handful of people from my church, and we had a good discussion about several of the timeless themes Fenelon touches on in the book. It's wonderful to hear advice from a 350 year-old Christian and to consider how true it is that "there's nothing new under the sun." Still, without context for each letter (readers only get one side of the conversation) I felt like I couldn't get as much out of it as I would have liked.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Francois Fenelon was born in 1651 into French nobility. He was a bold and truthful spiritual guide to others even after being kicked out of the king's court (because he was bold and truthful). He believed that the path for spiritual transformation was aided by dialogue and freedom. He believed that the work of God in the human soul is something only God can do. "Prayer is just another name for loving God. . . To pray, then, is to desire, wanting and hoping for all the good God wants and hopes for us."

[Brian S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep, Simple Wisdom for the Christian Disciple

Who would imagine you could draw so much relevant Christian wisdom from reading personal letters written by a French bishop in the 18th century? Winn Collier makes Fénelon accessible to us with a fresh paraphrase, casting Fénelon as a seasoned spiritual guide, sitting with us in a quiet place, helping us learn how God’s love really works. I filled my copy with highlights!

[Don Harton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong recommendation without reservations. Very helpful book for seeing how God works. Format is on point, as Collier has collected Fenelon’s letters from 17th century France into groups that address similar themes, and provided an introduction into each set of letters with modern day questions on the same themes. So the book feels very current.

[Wesley Channell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional

This book is inspiring, on point and relevant in today’s world as much as it was 300 years ago. The personal and gracious care which each letter makes delivers truth in a gracious and practical way. Added to that this modern translation makes it accessible to everyone. No wonder I’ve shared it with so many.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one I will return to. Winn Collier has compiled letters from Fenelon, and they are as applicable today as for the recipients in the 1600s. This was the second book in the Renovare Book club, and I'm thankful to have read it. Several times I sent snippets to my kids, or read aloud a letter to Emma. Fenelon cuts to the heart of what it means to live in Christ and the power of the gospel.

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was like having a spiritual advisor at hand. It is hard to believe these letters were written 500 years ago, they are so applicable today. Collier does an excellent job of sorting them by subject and providing intros for each section. Highly recommend for individual use and group discussion. I read as part of Renovare Book Club.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful book! So much wisdom to be received from Francois Fenelon. If we could care for our friends as he models in these letters what great communities we could have. This is a book I will read again and again!! Winn Collier does an excellent and very helpful job putting together these conversations! I cannot recommend this book enough!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm thankful this was a Renovare Book Club selection as I'm not sure this book would have crossed my path. These letters, translated and paraphrased into modern English, provide thought provoking, much needed fodder to mull over. These letters are not a quick or easy read but well worth the time. I foresee returning to these again.

[Forrest Callicutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a lot of doubt about the interest and value I’d find in reading a book of letters by a French bishop who lived 1651-1715. But there was much spiritual advice that still remains fresh and pertinent to today’s struggles.

[Sandra Lineweaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful book!

I will read this book over and over again. Fenelon’s letters are so heartfelt and portray the love of God so beautifully. Winn Collier did an excellent job of bundling them into categories. So helpful! I recommend this book highly

[Heidi Whitman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent modern paraphrase of a classic book

Winn Collier does a great job of putting Fenelon‘s words into today’s vernacular, in the great tradition of Eugene Peterson and The Message Bible. Highly recommended!

[Ron Kastner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot recommend highly enough these selections by Winn Collier. Fenelon is a wonderfully insightful spiritual mentor. I will also say though, as a Protestant, that Fenelon might have been more attuned to the importance of grace in making the spiritual journey even possible.