About the Book

Book: Walking with Jesus

Author: Troy A. Waugh

Genre: Non-Fiction

Release Date: Feb, 2020

When God spoke to Troy Waugh saying, “I want you to walk the Natchez Trace,” he obeyed.

Never mind that he wasn’t young anymore—he would be seventy at the completion of the 444 mile walk. Never mind that the thirty-five-day walk would be far above his physical capabilities and experience. Never mind that this was Mississippi—in the summer.

Taking the challenge, Waugh uses the time to slow down and reflect on his life—his upbringing, his relationships, his struggles with workaholism—and to raise awareness for a homeless ministry. More than a travelogue, this is a journey into the soul of a man learning to walk with the Lord daily. His reflections will inspire others to reach for and accomplish their own difficult goals.

I believe my walk on the Natchez Trace was God’s method of shaking me loose from the regrets of my past and firming up my spiritual belief system so I could walk into the future closer to Jesus.

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My Review

When I saw the book Walking With Jesus on the Natchez Trace, I signed up to review it because it hit close to home. Literally. Waugh lives in Leipers Fork, Tennessee (and worked in Nashville) which is less than an hour from me. I’ve been on parts of the Natchez Trace, although I haven’t been challenged to walk the entire trail, as Troy Waugh did.

I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book, but I thought there would be more on the actual walking experience than he shared. In all fairness, he specifically pointed out in the description that this is not a hiking or nature book, which it is not. I understand that he used his time to draw more closely to God, and in doing so, was reminded of how far he’d come in his spiritual walk.

I found this book to be more of a memoir of Waugh’s life, as reflected in his walking journey. He faced some hard truths about his life and where he believed he’d failed. It’s not an easy thing to lay our failures out for the world to see, and I applaud his courage to do so. I understand he’s hoping to inspire others to be transparent in their spiritual walk as well.

There is definitely a component of biblical teaching in Waugh’s book. He connects the experiences he faced with biblical truth—where he failed and what he learned from that failure, even if it came years later. If you’re looking for a book that will help you to connect the pieces of your life, both good and bad, with your spiritual life, this book may be for you. If you’ve spent your life putting God on the back burner or living in a way that does not glorify Him, and you want some encouragement and inspiration, I would recommend this book.

About the Author

Troy Waugh is a CPA with an MBA from the University of Southern California. A mentor with Mission Development International, he helps leaders of Christian nonprofits achieve God’s vision in their lives and their organizations. The retired founder, former president, and CEO of The Rainmaker Academy, a training program for CPAs, is also the author of several books, and he lives with his wife, Sheryl, in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee.

More from Troy

Please join me on a spiritual journey along the Natchez Trace Parkway from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. This book relates a journey of spiritual renewal and rediscovery. While it does describe what I encountered on this historic parkway, this is not a hiking or nature book. It is about my walk with Jesus and how He has loved me even during the times I may have strayed from Him.

In 2014 I experienced a deepening of my relationship with Jesus like no other. This book is about that cleansing and invigorating experience. My prayer is that you, too, will feel God’s love for you and you will recommit yourself to loving Jesus.

These thirty-one chapters are based upon notes from the daily journal I kept throughout the hike. Each of the days is unique, and each day God revealed Himself to me in a different way.

I trust your spirit will be renewed as I share some of my experiences of angels’ visits, hearing the audible voice of God, the move of the Holy Spirit, a shocking suicide, the miracle of a change in the climate, and the renewed life that comes from turning your life over to God.