Hope When It Hurts: Biblical reflections to help you grasp God's purpose in your suffering

by Kristen Wetherell, Sarah Walton

Overview

Thirty biblical reflections that are realistic about the hurts of life, yet overwhelmingly full of hope about the God who gives life.

This book will gently encourage and greatly help any woman who is struggling with suffering—whether physical, emotional or psychological, and whether for a season or for longer. It illuminates the hope that the gospel offers, not just for life beyond the suffering, but for life in the suffering.

Each chapter contains a biblical reflection, with questions and prayers, and a space for journaling.

Buy for yourself, or for someone else you know who is hurting,

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784980733
Publisher:	The Good Book Company
Publication date:	04/01/2017
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.04(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.91(d)

About the Author

Kristen Wetherell is a wife, mother, and writer. She is the author of Fight Your Fears: Trusting God’s Character and Promises When You Are Afraid, co-author of the award-winning book Hope When It Hurts: Biblical Reflections to Help You Grasp God’s Purpose in Your Suffering, and editor of 12 Faithful Women: Portraits of Steadfast Endurance. Kristen also enjoys teaching God’s Word to women of local churches. She and her husband, Brad, live in Chicagoland, are members of The Orchard, and are parents to Joanna and John.

Sarah is the author of Hope When It Hurts. She is married to Jeff and is mother to four young children. She lives in Chicago and blogs at setapart.net.

Table of Contents

Intro
1. The Gospel Makes a Difference
2. Christ’s Power in our Weakness
3. Affliction and Hardship
4. Anxiety and Worry
5. Pain is Real
6. Peace amid Confusion
7. The Detours of Life
8. When God seems Silent
9. The not-surprise of Persecution
10. The Opportunity of Suffering
11. Coming to the End of Yourself
12. An Alternative to Numbness
13. He Suffered too
14. What is in the Heart
15. Comfort
16. Joy
17. Freedom
18. Patience
19. Contentment
20. This is not All There is
21. Momentary
22. Your Earthly Home
23. Your Heavenly Body
24. You are Not Alone and you are Not Unloved
25. God is Faithful
26. On Feeling Angry and Bitter
27. Pour out your Heart
28. Walk by Faith
29. God is at Work
30. You will See His Face

Editorial Reviews

We have been told that we can do anything, to dream big, because women are strong and capable. But what happens when you are confronted with your limitations in the form of suffering? When you no longer feel strong and capable, but weak and weary? Kristen and Sarah provide hope in your desperation. They uniquely, as women from the "I can do anything" generation, speak to the discouragement that suffering can bring, and they drive us to the cross of Christ, where all of our suffering makes sense. There is much hope in this book for any weary Christian. And there is much wisdom for anyone seeking to love those who are weary and broken.

Courtney Reissig (Author of Teach Me to Feel and Glory in the Ordinary)

Kristen and Sarah have let us in to listen to their meditations in the midst of pain and limitation. They've opened up their hearts, their stories, and their Word-filled words. From our various contexts, we will all learn as we listen. I'm grateful for this book's faithful call to lift up our eyes to a God of mercy who loves and saves.

Kathleen B. Nielson (Ph.D

As I turned the pages of the book I thought ‘Yes! They really get suffering…’ They ‘get’ suffering because both the authors ‘are’ suffering. Present tense. They are writing it in the storm.

Ruth Clemence

Hope When it Hurts isn't a collection of slogans and Christian jargon. It's biblical reflections from the heart of two women who have trusted Jesus in the hurts of their own lives. With refreshing honesty and clarity they talk about how the gospel looks from the trenches of life; never condescending, never canned, and always gospel-focused.

Dan DeWitt (Dean of Boyce College and author of Jesus or Nothing)

Kristen and Sarah speak with fresh voices formed by their love of Scripture and their experience of walking with God through suffering. The faith and courage I’ve seen in them will overflow on you as you read this soothing and insightful book, giving you strength to stay the course even when you are tired of the battle.

Colin S. Smith (Pastor Emeritus

In this broken world, we should expect to suffer. That’s why I want to recommend this book to you, Hope When it Hurts. It’s a series of short chapters meditating on 2 Corinthians Chapters 4 and 5. You could read one a day, or read big chunks at a time. Either way, I think it’s a really precious resource.

Catherine Brooks

Hurt is guaranteed. Hope isn't always. In a style as comforting as a hand-delivered casserole, on pages as beautiful as the message you'll find written on each page, this book will drive you to the Gospel again and again, lifting your eyes toward the only source of lasting hope. Keep your copy close—you'll find yourself running to it again and again.

Erin Davis (Revive Our Hearts; author of Fasting and Feasting and Beyond Bath Time)

Pain is a place where hope grows best and this book will convince you of that. From beginning to end, Hope when it Hurts invites you to see the light of Jesus in the darkest times. I hope this book catches fire. As you turn each new page, listen for the voice of God, and you'll hear him cheering for you.

Karl Clauson (Radio host at WMBI; author of Thrill: When Normal Is Not Enough)

This is a wonderful, vulnerable and honest book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who needs the good news of Jesus in a difficult time. Kristen and Sarah have suffered immensely, but both of them know that our only hope is found in Jesus. In Hope When It Hurts, they have labored to encourage our souls with the gospel, give us space to grieve our loss, and turn to the only source of real hope. I'm praying God uses this book in extraordinary ways!

Dave Furman (Senior Pastor of Redeemer Church of Dubai; author of Being There: How to Love

It is easy to read, conversational and yet deeply theological, and the genuiness of their faith, scarred and battle-weary though it is, drips through every sentence with raw honesty.

Clarina's Contemplations

I had not finished reading the introduction to this book before I was making a mental list of friends that I knew would find it a balm to their weary hearts. Kristen and Sarah minister to fellow travelers on the road of suffering, out of the resources they have received on their own journey, from the God of all comfort, grace, and hope. (Author

It’s great to have a book written by people who know protracted suffering and are still in the thick of it, which shows us how to apply the gospel to our suffering so that we can persevere and also grow through it. Honest but not self-focused, the authors faithfully explain and direct us to Scripture throughout, give us words to pray based on Scripture, and encourage further reflection on biblical truth. This will be an invaluable resource to those in the midst of suffering and to those who seek to support and encourage them. I thoroughly recommend it.

Barbara Sherwood (London Women's Convention Committee member)

Kristen and Sarah speak with fresh voices formed by their love of Scripture and their experience of walking with God through suffering. The faith and courage I’ve seen in them will overflow on you as you read this soothing and insightful book, giving you strength to stay the course even when you are tired of the battle.

Colin S. Smith (Senior Pastor

I had not finished reading the introduction to this book before I was making a mental list of friends that I knew would find it a balm to their weary hearts. Kristen and Sarah minister to fellow travelers on the road of suffering, out of the resources they have received on their own journey, from the God of all comfort, grace, and hope.

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth (Author

If you are in the midst of suffering, or someday will be (and that means us all) you will do well to read this book. I found myself moved, reflected, and re-engaged with the truth of the gospel in the context of my own suffering—and then elevated out of it to focus on what is truly important: Christ, the gospel, eternity, and pleasing him. The whole book is full of empathy, a “coming-alongside” tone, and insight for your soul.

Josh Moody (Senior Pastor

We have been told that we can do anything, to dream big, because women are strong and capable. But what happens when you are confronted with your limitations in the form of suffering? When you no longer feel strong and capable, but weak and weary? Kristen and Sarah provide hope in your desperation. They uniquely, as women from the "I can do anything" generation, speak to the discouragement that suffering can bring, and they drive us to the cross of Christ, where all of our suffering makes sense. There is much hope in this book for any weary Christian. And there is much wisdom for anyone seeking to love those who are weary and broken.

Courtney Reissig (Author of The Accidental Feminist and Glory in the Ordinary)

Hurt is guaranteed. Hope isn't always. In a style as comforting as a hand-delivered casserole, on pages as beautiful as the message you'll find written on each page, this book will drive you to the Gospel again and again, lifting your eyes toward the only source of lasting hope. Keep your copy close—you'll find yourself running to it again and again.

Erin Davis (Author of Connected and Beyond Bath Time)

Kristen and Sarah have let us in to listen to their meditations in the midst of pain and limitation. They've opened up their hearts, their stories, and their Word-filled words. From our various contexts, we will all learn as we listen. I'm grateful for this book's faithful call to lift up our eyes to a God of mercy who loves and saves.

Kathleen Nielson (Director of Women's Initiatives

Kristen and Sarah speak with fresh voices formed by their love of Scripture and their experience of walking with God through suffering. The faith and courage I’ve seen in them will overflow on you as you read this soothing and insightful book, giving you strength to stay the course even when you are tired of the battle.

Colin Smith (Senior Pastor

In this broken world, we should expect to suffer. That’s why I want to recommend this book to you, Hope When it Hurts. It’s a series of short chapters meditating on 2 Corinthians Chapters 4 and 5. You could read one a day, or read big chunks at a time. Either way, I think it’s a really precious resource.

Catherine Brookes

Hope When it Hurts isn't a collection of slogans and Christian jargon. It's biblical reflections from the heart of two women who have trusted Jesus in the hurts of their own lives. With refreshing honesty and clarity they talk about how the gospel looks from the trenches of life; never condescending, never canned, and always gospel-focused.

Dan DeWitt (Director of the Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity