BOOK REVIEW: The Steadfast Love of the Lord: Experiencing the Life-Changing Power of God’s Unchanging Affection by Sam Storms

God is love. I don’t think there is a more universally held belief about the Christian God than that statement. Things go massively off the rails, however, when we try to understand what kind of love we are talking about. Which is why this book is so necessary.

But before we get into this book let me recommend one that I like even more… and it's also a lot shorter coming in at under 80 pages. A nice summer evening read. It’s The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by D.A. Carson. I like it even more because it is such a necessary and valuable work presented so clearly and succinctly. It is a brief, clear theology regarding a highly misunderstood doctrine. It will dispel any sentimentality regarding the love of God and bring into sharp biblical focus the many dimensions of what it means to say that God is love. You wouldn't need to, but I would highly recommend reading Carson's book first, before picking up Storms’.

Let’s get into our book. Sam Storms is a well-known Reformed pastor-theologian who has given us a wonderful look into the love of God. This is not so much a theological work, but a rich devotional and pastoral meditation on the multifaceted nature of the love of God. Drawing from Lamentations 3:22–23—“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end”—Storms explores the covenant faithfulness of God in the midst of suffering, doubt, and human frailty.

Storms' approach is deeply pastoral. He writes not as a distant academic but as a shepherd of souls, one who has walked with those in pain and who has himself known sorrow. The structure of the book is intentionally accessible, weaving biblical exposition with practical application. Let me pause her to emphasize just how biblical this book is.

Storms is a wonderful exegete and he is an astute applier of Scripture. He knows what the Bible means and he knows where his readers need its wisdom applied.

At the core of the book, Storms contends that the covenant love of God is the anchor for the believer’s soul, especially in times of distress. For readers shaped by a Reformed understanding of redemptive history, this emphasis on God's covenantal commitment resonates deeply.

Storms upholds the centrality of God's sovereignty and covenant faithfulness. He frames divine mercy within the context of God's unchanging character, reminding us that God's attributes -- like holiness, justice, righteousness, wrath -- are not in tension with his love, mercy, and grace but are harmoniously displayed in his dealings with his people. This theological grounding lends the book a depth that moves beyond sentimentalism. Like Carson, but in a different manner, Storms challenges modern notions of love by defining God's steadfast love not in emotional terms, but in covenantal ones—a move that brings forth God’s faithfulness in Christ as the basis for our hope.

This Christocentric focus is a major strength of this work. Storms frequently draws connections between the steadfast love described of God in Lamentations and the person and work of Jesus Christ demonstrated in many ways. Christ is presented not merely as a comforting figure or an exemplary figure but as the fulfillment of the covenant promises—God’s love incarnate.

From the very first words of the book Storms demonstrates his struggles with various aspects of God’s love. He shows throughout the book that he has not only wrestled intellectually with the meaning of God’s covenantal faithfulness, but that he has agonized over its practical effects. There are few who won’t find their questions, doubts, or hang-ups dealt with in this work. As he reflects on the problem of evil, suffering, and the movements of divine providence a true pastoral heart emerges. For those walking through difficulty in life, which we all either are, have done, or will do, Storms offers not platitudes, but the precious promises of God—new every morning, because his steadfast love never ceases.

In conclusion, the strength of the book lies in its ability to demonstrate the biblical nature of God’s love in all of its dimensions and bring those profound truths to bear on everyday life without sacrificing theological integrity. This should come as no surprise for those who have read anything else by Storms. It is his way.

The Steadfast Love of the Lord would be a welcome addition to any library. I would highly recommend it to all.

Soli Deo Gloria