When the Hurt Runs
Deep: Healing and Hope for Life’s Desperate Moments
by Kay Arthur
by Kay Arthur
When I think of someone trying to bring hope during times of another’s
great distress, I tend to anticipate trite words and an inability to connect
with the sufferer and understand real deep pain and heartache. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen several
well-meaning people say things to hurting friends or acquaintances that don’t
bring any real hope or healing to a situation.
Because of this, when I speak to
others to encourage them in tough situations I am conscientious to consider
their pain as very real and something I may or may not be able to relate
to. I don’t always know what to say
either, but when I can relate to the person and/or to the situation, it makes
the conversation much more meaningful.
In addition, it brings about great opportunities to share how Christ has
worked in my heart to heal me and how He continues to be my source of peace and
strength during challenging times. In
this book, readers get a glimpse of Kay Arthur’s personal life and the pains
she has experienced. She connects with
the reader and you get the sense that she shares from the heart.
More importantly than sharing her own stories, Kay takes the reader
through the experiences of several figures in the Bible (such as Joseph and Job
and of course Jesus). By sharing their
experiences we can see examples of others who suffered real neglect, betrayal,
abandonment, injustice etc. We can also
see how God works and what that means for us as believers. Throughout the book the reader will learn more
of God, what His Word says and how to find real hope.
Two things stood out to me the most in
reading this book. The first was the
sheer amount of scripture and the ability Kay has to draw the reader to a
deeper and closer relationship with a loving Creator. She even takes a chapter
to address the question many have when they experience suffering or think of
others in dire circumstances, that is “What kind of God allows our pain?” Kay Arthur is a well-known teacher of God’s
Word and one that teaches by getting students to mark words, phrases, names,
locations and other things in scripture passages. This method helps to bring out various points
a reader may have missed and help to get deeper in God’s Word. Her writing in this book is well done as she
is able to focus on the topic, yet weave in times to get out your Bible’s and
start marking! If you wish to make the
book a personal or small group study, there is a study guide in the back as
well.
The second thing that stood out was the little boxes interspersed
throughout the book for Healing Truths.
These are great summaries of the information she shares as well as great
reminders and words of encouragement. At
the end of the book she lists these all together. It would be great to print these off with
some scripture and post them somewhere where I will read them often. Hmmm….
Finally, I love that after the study guide, at the very end of the book,
Kay has included several pages of practical helps. Sometimes we can know the spiritual things,
but we miss taking practical steps to get us through painful times. I hope and pray with Kay that her book, and
the Lord’s Word, minister to the hearts of many who are hurting.
NOTE
: This book was received free of charge by Waterbrook Multnomah for the
purposes of a review through their Blogging for Books program.
