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The Hope of Heaven: How the Promise of Eternity Changes Everything
Can heaven really give us hope here and now? We know we're supposed to look forward to heaven, and we certainly feel there must be something better than the pain, disappointment, and grief we experience in this world. But we still have so many questions about eternity, like · Is heaven real?· What is heaven like?· Will heaven heal our disappointments?· Does everyone go to heaven?· Will my pets be there?· What will I look like in heaven?· Will I see and know my family and friends? Beloved author Sheila Walsh takes you deep into Scripture to answer these questions and more. With great compassion and engaging personal stories, she encourages you to endure the trials of this life by keeping an eye on the glorious reality of our forever home. For anyone weary of this broken world, this vivid picture of our eternal future offers a hope that changes how we experience every day we spend alive on earth--if we let it.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2024
61 people are currently reading
2147 people want to read
About the author
Sheila Walsh
249 books588 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Sheila Walsh (05-07-1956) is a powerful communicator, Bible teacher, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold. A featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability, and humor with God's Word.
Author of the best-selling memoir Honestly and the Gold Medallion nominee for The Heartache No One Sees, Sheila's most recent release, The Shelter of God's Promises, has also been turned into a DVD curriculum and in-depth Bible study. The Gigi, God's Little Princess book and video series has won the National Retailer's Choice Award twice and is the most popular Christian brand for young girls in the United States.
Sheila co-hosted The 700 Club and her own show Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh. She is currently completing her Masters in Theology.
Twitter @SheilaWalsh, facebook.com/#!/sheilawalshconnects
Sheila Walsh (05-07-1956) is a powerful communicator, Bible teacher, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold. A featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability, and humor with God's Word.
Author of the best-selling memoir Honestly and the Gold Medallion nominee for The Heartache No One Sees, Sheila's most recent release, The Shelter of God's Promises, has also been turned into a DVD curriculum and in-depth Bible study. The Gigi, God's Little Princess book and video series has won the National Retailer's Choice Award twice and is the most popular Christian brand for young girls in the United States.
Sheila co-hosted The 700 Club and her own show Heart to Heart with Sheila Walsh. She is currently completing her Masters in Theology.
Twitter @SheilaWalsh, facebook.com/#!/sheilawalshconnects
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 19, 2025
One of my goals this year is to read as much as I can about the topic of heaven and life after our death here on earth. It is so evident that so many people are confused and really don't know what to believe. In this book, Sheila Walsh explores the topic in a new and yet simple and straight-forward way answering her questions as well as ours on this topic. I can hear her Scottish voice throughout as she takes us scripture by scripture to lead us into discovering what we can know for sure about heaven. I really like that at the end of each chapter she boils her thoughts into one sentence on "What I Know about Heaven." She also effectively uses her personal stories and illustrations along with quotes from others to emphasize each aspect that she highlights in each chapter. The promise of eternity certainly can change how we live our lives today.
June 22, 2025
Last Christmas, knowing how immensely I appreciate Sheila Walsh’s writing voice, my husband gifted me with her book, “The Hope of Heaven” subtitled “How the promise of eternity changes everything.” Usually, when I get a new book, especially by an author/speaker I admire as much as Walsh, I dig in right away.
That’s why, it seemed odd when I put the book on the bookshelf and it set there untouched for a few months. During those months, while walking by the bookshelf, I would glance at the book wondering if I should begin to read it. Then I would get a strong feeling that I shouldn’t. I now realize this feeling was God’s Spirit saying it wasn’t time.
The day after Easter, when finishing a Lenten study on the book of Proverbs, I sensed it was finally time to start reading Walsh’s book about Heaven. I had no idea only two weeks later, my beautiful 41-year-old niece would pass away rather suddenly. I say suddenly, because truthfully, my family was aware Amanda was battling terminal cancer. Still, she was a real warrior who appeared to have lots of fight left within her. Since my niece lived in another state, I was even really looking forward to seeing her in July. Yet without warning her tired body gave up the battle when I was about halfway through this amazing book about Heaven.
I thank God that since I believe Amanda is resting in the arms of Jesus now, it has been a tremendous gift to read all about her new home in Heaven. I have never in all my years or studies (and I have a Masters degree in ministry) encountered a book as insightful and revealing about what a believer will experience in the Heavenly realm as Sheila Walsh has given us. Walsh is an accomplished Bible teacher who has a sensitive heart and an inspiring way with words.
On another important side note, for folks who have also lost a loved one to a completed suicide like I have, you will find powerful comfort contained in pgs. 90-91. This lady author understands the heartbreak and theological questions for those left behind, because she lost her own father to suicide.
This is truly the best book about Heaven I have ever read. 5 stars plus and thanks to God for His gift of perfect timing!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
That’s why, it seemed odd when I put the book on the bookshelf and it set there untouched for a few months. During those months, while walking by the bookshelf, I would glance at the book wondering if I should begin to read it. Then I would get a strong feeling that I shouldn’t. I now realize this feeling was God’s Spirit saying it wasn’t time.
The day after Easter, when finishing a Lenten study on the book of Proverbs, I sensed it was finally time to start reading Walsh’s book about Heaven. I had no idea only two weeks later, my beautiful 41-year-old niece would pass away rather suddenly. I say suddenly, because truthfully, my family was aware Amanda was battling terminal cancer. Still, she was a real warrior who appeared to have lots of fight left within her. Since my niece lived in another state, I was even really looking forward to seeing her in July. Yet without warning her tired body gave up the battle when I was about halfway through this amazing book about Heaven.
I thank God that since I believe Amanda is resting in the arms of Jesus now, it has been a tremendous gift to read all about her new home in Heaven. I have never in all my years or studies (and I have a Masters degree in ministry) encountered a book as insightful and revealing about what a believer will experience in the Heavenly realm as Sheila Walsh has given us. Walsh is an accomplished Bible teacher who has a sensitive heart and an inspiring way with words.
On another important side note, for folks who have also lost a loved one to a completed suicide like I have, you will find powerful comfort contained in pgs. 90-91. This lady author understands the heartbreak and theological questions for those left behind, because she lost her own father to suicide.
This is truly the best book about Heaven I have ever read. 5 stars plus and thanks to God for His gift of perfect timing!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 23, 2025
I can’t wait to go to Heaven 🫶🏼
November 9, 2024
Whether you're like me and daily living in hope of Heaven, of meeting Jesus face to face, of being reunited with loved ones, of trading in a hormonal, gluten/dairy intolerant body for a heavenly body or whether you're simply curious about Heaven, I highly recommend reading this! Sheila has done the research , pulled the Scriptures and has Biblical proof that Heaven is real and it's more than we can ever hope for! Have you accepted your invitation to Heaven yet?
February 10, 2025
We were made for (heaven) and nothing else will do. P. 14.
Based on the book, our lives upon earth may be bitter and disappointing, but, however, heaven will be ecstasy beyond expectation . We can be absolutely sure we will live in a New Earth and a New Heaven or maybe a new-new heaven, in a home created for us by Jesus, if we live for Jesus/God now.
Your dead body will be in the ground awaiting the Resurrection, but your soul will be in heaven with Jesus. And, we will know and recognize each other in heaven. We will have a body in heaven, but it will not be our final resurrected body. We will join in worshiping Jesus forever… along with our family, friends and spiritual heroes.
Who will go to heaven? “Every single person who responds to God’s invitation through Christ will spend eternity with Jesus. Those who don’t, will not.” (p. 77) Later, though, the author discusses a forgiving Jesus who leaves many off the hook.
Hell is for everyone else. Existence will be unpleasant there.
Heaven good. Hell bad.
The heaven supposition certainly excludes a lot of people, possibly including most of the more than 100 billion humans who already died.
But, our beloved pets will be there, and they might talk. However, Walsh did not say if they would have fleas.
Our bodies will be extraordinary and in the prime of life. Maybe infants will grow up a little. I don’t know.
The “body” concept lacked clarification. Apparently it eats- at least according to Walsh. Does it poop? Will the New Earth be resplendent with a non-polluting sewage system? Does the body get laid? If it does get laid does it reproduce and, if it does, will all the rooms of our houses fill up over the next few centuries or do the offspring grow up and fill up other houses? Inquiring minds want to know.
We will all get jobs that are swell in heaven, so we will not be bored.
Walsh says the concept of New Heaven and New Earth may be confusing to us. Well, yes. Now, we apparently have three heavens…
Her theology is backed up by scripture and extrapolated by the author. Satan will have his head crushed. That’s gotta hurt! Details of the upcoming Armageddon are a trifle squishy.
We will walk with God/Jesus on the New Earth and have banquets with our friends and the animals will play together lovey dovely. Everything will be peaches and cream.
Actually, Revelation, often cited, barely made it through the 325 A.D. Council of Nicaea. It could have easily been put in the burn pile in A.D. 325, and Luther did not think highly of the little book either.
Walsh’ message is clear. Everything is for Jesus. Hold on to Jesus because He is coming soon.
The Long Con…
Based on the book, our lives upon earth may be bitter and disappointing, but, however, heaven will be ecstasy beyond expectation . We can be absolutely sure we will live in a New Earth and a New Heaven or maybe a new-new heaven, in a home created for us by Jesus, if we live for Jesus/God now.
Your dead body will be in the ground awaiting the Resurrection, but your soul will be in heaven with Jesus. And, we will know and recognize each other in heaven. We will have a body in heaven, but it will not be our final resurrected body. We will join in worshiping Jesus forever… along with our family, friends and spiritual heroes.
Who will go to heaven? “Every single person who responds to God’s invitation through Christ will spend eternity with Jesus. Those who don’t, will not.” (p. 77) Later, though, the author discusses a forgiving Jesus who leaves many off the hook.
Hell is for everyone else. Existence will be unpleasant there.
Heaven good. Hell bad.
The heaven supposition certainly excludes a lot of people, possibly including most of the more than 100 billion humans who already died.
But, our beloved pets will be there, and they might talk. However, Walsh did not say if they would have fleas.
Our bodies will be extraordinary and in the prime of life. Maybe infants will grow up a little. I don’t know.
The “body” concept lacked clarification. Apparently it eats- at least according to Walsh. Does it poop? Will the New Earth be resplendent with a non-polluting sewage system? Does the body get laid? If it does get laid does it reproduce and, if it does, will all the rooms of our houses fill up over the next few centuries or do the offspring grow up and fill up other houses? Inquiring minds want to know.
We will all get jobs that are swell in heaven, so we will not be bored.
Walsh says the concept of New Heaven and New Earth may be confusing to us. Well, yes. Now, we apparently have three heavens…
Her theology is backed up by scripture and extrapolated by the author. Satan will have his head crushed. That’s gotta hurt! Details of the upcoming Armageddon are a trifle squishy.
We will walk with God/Jesus on the New Earth and have banquets with our friends and the animals will play together lovey dovely. Everything will be peaches and cream.
Actually, Revelation, often cited, barely made it through the 325 A.D. Council of Nicaea. It could have easily been put in the burn pile in A.D. 325, and Luther did not think highly of the little book either.
Walsh’ message is clear. Everything is for Jesus. Hold on to Jesus because He is coming soon.
The Long Con…
January 12, 2025
I thank God for Sheila Walsh and her gift of writing and expression. This book gives me so much to look forward to and so much to strive for. It also gives a fresh look at how we as humans can often fall short of our own perfection standard but reminds us that God loves us, He has chosen us, and He wants us to live eternally with Him. He has promised us eternal life and it’s a choice that each of us gets to make to accept. The invitation is ours from God. Everyone is given this invitation. I highly recommend this book.
May 19, 2025
This book was challenging because it exposes one to the reality of a heaven and eternity. The Hope of heaven will comfort us knowing we will all go into eternity with Christ to those that believe. On the opposite, eternity without Christ will be the ultimate tragedy.
I have peace of heaven but many others do not.
Direct my steps dear Lord!
I have peace of heaven but many others do not.
Direct my steps dear Lord!
August 16, 2025
I am a practicing Christian and I believe in the afterlife, but I found this book simplistic. We humans live in linear time. It's how we perceive reality. Human beings can't imagine eternity, but eternity is where God lives. Whatever the afterlife may be, it's beyond anything we can imagine now. I don't think the author touched on this idea at all, and I would like to have seen it addresses.
November 7, 2024
I love this book The Hope of Heaven I am reading. Sheila Walsh has been such a beautiful blessing in my life. When I heard her say how much it had changed her life I said I need to get it. I would recommend everyone to read it. I am thankful to the Lord for using Sheila in my life. ❤️
December 4, 2024
These and other questions are addressed by author Sheila Walsh, who delves deeply into Scripture. She urges you to persevere through life's hardships by remembering the wonderful reality of your eternal home, all while displaying a great deal of compassion and captivating personal tales.
March 4, 2025
Loved the book! The author did an excellent job in explaining in detail regarding questions individuals have regarding eternity! That should be everyone’s Hope to make in to Heaven and see all the beauty and love and Joy that awaits all who believe in Jesus Christ!❤️
November 5, 2024
Absolutely wonderful and so full of hope. What we all desperately need right now! Highly recommend.
January 4, 2025
Very interesting.
February 28, 2025
A book filled with hope and wonder about heaven. Loved it.
March 27, 2025
This is a very encouraging book. It’s an easy read, the author’s writing style is smooth and gentle.
July 3, 2025
An excelllent read that can't help but get you excited about heaven and inspire you to live a life that ends with that destination.
August 19, 2025
Amazing!!!!!!
December 3, 2025
Excellent book on why you can trust God and His promise of a heavenly home waiting for us!
January 12, 2025
Read two chapters in a store and decided to buy on audible and listen. It was fantastic! Very comforting!
March 23, 2025
I wonder what happened to the review I wrote? If I write on my phone app, it does not show up on my laptop app. Oh well.
I liked the beginning a bit more than the rest of the book. It's nice to think about heaven. She did not give a strong theological foundation but I don't think that was her point. I appreciated that she tied the talk of heaven into aging. It's just good to think about heaven with everything else going on in our world. The fact is, though, the world has always been this chaotic. Most people just did not know because there was no internet, breaking news etc.
She seems to really love her dog and some of her illustrations related to the dog! People who love their dogs can appreciate this.
I liked the beginning a bit more than the rest of the book. It's nice to think about heaven. She did not give a strong theological foundation but I don't think that was her point. I appreciated that she tied the talk of heaven into aging. It's just good to think about heaven with everything else going on in our world. The fact is, though, the world has always been this chaotic. Most people just did not know because there was no internet, breaking news etc.
She seems to really love her dog and some of her illustrations related to the dog! People who love their dogs can appreciate this.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews