Pain Is Real But So Hope

What are you afraid of? You could probably fill this page with a list of your fears. Fears about the future; fears about your health, job, and family; fears about inadequacy and failure (and maybe success); fears about how much fear itself seems to affect your decisions, plans, and growth in this life. You might even fear what God thinks about your fears. After all, in his Word God commands us not to be afraid hundreds of times. But how is this possible? We're troubled by evil, we're slammed with bad news, and we can't know what tomorrow will bring. How can we learn to trust God and not be afraid? Kristen Wetherell is in the fight with you. She is a fearful fellow traveler on the road of the Christian life, making strides alongside you in this battle. In Fight Your Fears she carefully searches 10 of God's great and precious promises, equipping you with the practical tools to overcome the fears and anxious thoughts that are robbing you of your joy. Each chapter ends with Scripture exercises, a memory verse, questions to ponder, and a prayer. Discover truths that will bring peace to your soul as you learn to fear God and nothing else.

Ours is an age of anxiety. We worry about our children, jobs, homes, health, and finances. News and social media feed our fears. Even the fear of missing out leads to anxiety. The solution isn't to rid ourselves of the sources of anxiety but to recognize that anxiety originates from a spiritual influence--and then use the weapons of power, love, and a sound mind to fight back and live in God's peace. Sharing her own story of emerging from the battle with anxiety as well as the stories of others, Dr. Michelle Bengtson reminds you of your identity as a follower of Christ and of the peace he promises you in spite of everything. She provides tools to cope with the crushing emotional burden of anxiety now, and, more importantly, shows you how to reclaim God's peace as a way of life so that you can break anxiety's grip.

Being Lost is the First Step to Getting Found As a marriage and family therapist, one of Nicole Zasowski’s greatest joys is helping her clients grow in emotional freedom. What she couldn’t see for many years is that she was living her own life outside of that freedom, clinging to behaviors like shame, performance, and control in order to feel valued and safe. It was only when she was confronted with her own devastating pain and loss that Nicole realized her current way of life was failing her. She then discovered that sometimes God’s rescue looks like prying our fingers off what we think we want so that we can receive what we truly need. And often, on the far side of pain we don’t prefer, we find transformation we would not trade. In From Lost to Found, Nicole shares her story as she helps us name what we fear losing most, identify how our reactive behaviors are failing us, discover what joy we can find in letting go, and move forward in the freedom God has for us. God is writing a story of redemption in your life too. Find out for yourself that sometimes the greatest joy is found when we are drained of all misplaced hope and shallow identities. In the midst of pain or transition, discover a surprising path to healing as you lose your grip on comfort and control—and fall right into God’s transformative grace. Includes discussion questions for individual reflection or small group study

Thirty biblical meditations for women that offer hope in times of suffering. Thirty biblical meditations for women that offer hope in times of suffering. Hurt is real. But so is hope. Kristen and Sarah have walked through, and are walking in, difficult times. So these thirty biblical reflections are full of realism 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 is a book to buy for yourself, or to buy for a member of your church or friend. For anyone who is hurting, this book will give hope, 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.

Gold Medallion Book Award Winner. Over a million copies sold. An inspirational classic for more than thirty years,?Where Is God When It Hurts??honestly explores pain—from physical wounds to emotional and spiritual pain—and sheds new light on God's presence in our suffering. "How can a loving God allow this to happen? God is either all-loving or all-powerful, but he can't be both." You've heard that question, and perhaps you've even asked it yourself. When a loved one dies, we receive a terminal diagnosis, or natural disasters strike, people often wonder whether God is the?cause?of suffering and why he doesn't immediately take away the pain or fix the situation. As a result, we become angry at the once-beloved God who betrayed us. Bestselling author Philip Yancey uses examples from the Bible and from his own experiences to show us how we can learn to accept—without blame, anger, or fear—what we don't understand. Along the way, he answers questions such as: Why is there such a thing as pain? Is pain a message from God? How should we respond to suffering? How can we learn to cope with pain? Where Is God When It Hurts??speaks to everyone who thinks that suffering doesn't make sense. With compassion and clarity, Yancey brings us one step closer to finding an answer when our pain, or the pain of those we love, is real and we are left wondering,?where is God when it hurts? "One of the most helpful treatments of the problem of evil that I've ever read. If I were looking around for something to give to individuals who are going through travail or difficulty, this is the book I'd recommend." —Dr. Vernon Grounds, former Chancellor of Denver Seminar

"Off the Charts! Grand slam home run!" Greg Von Tobel, President and Founder of Prisoners for Christ Outreach Ministries All of us have pain.....most of us waste it As he sat in the back of the police car, hands cuffed and heading to jail, Damon was abandoning his young family like he'd been abandoned so many times as a child. Could what happened on this night finally help him overcome 30+ years of hell and heartache, or would the generational curses he so desperately wanted to stop continue through his children? Damon grew up with alcoholism, divorce, homelessness, life in foster homes, sexual abuse, and deep rooted anger towards his parents. As an adult he struggled with bipolar, domestic violence, time in jail, depression, addiction, failed relationships, divorce, homelessness, and a teenage daughter struggling with addiction. In Pain Drives Change Damon shares how embracing this pain in his life transformed him. His story offers a path and practical tools for personal change in our times of pain. Endorsements: "A riveting story of God's redemptive power. I have used Damon's story to help hundreds of my clients." Dr. Jim A. Talley, drtalley.com, author Reconcilable Differences, Too Close Too Soon, and multiple other books "I'm honored to endorse Pain Drives Change because I was an eyewitness to much of it. What makes this book unique-it's not just a riveting story but the author actually takes you on the journey with him and in so doing encompasses your own journey. All of us have pain in our lives, but this book shows us how pain can propel us into our greatest victories in life." Dr. Don Ross, author "Turnaround Pastor" and Leader of Northwest Ministry Network "I have always loved Damon's transparency, his passion for Jesus, and his ability to see things in life-changing ways other people just plain miss. All of us have pain. Most of us waste it. In Pain Drives Change, Damon will show you, from his life experience, how to maximize it for God's great purpose in your life." Boyd Pelley, Co-founder & President Churchteams.com, member of Damon's online men's group "A brilliant book! Damon opens up and tells the story of the difficult experiences he had growing up lost, damaged, and poor; he digs down to the pain and looks it in the eye. In so doing, he creates a clear path for the reader to do the same. What follows is a template for breaking the damaging cycles that often get passed on to the next generation. As a father, he essentially earns the right to be heard with his children because he is filled with love, courage, self-control, wisdom, and forgiveness. Children, preteens, and adolescents watch their parents to see if they can respect them. Because of his courageous choices, he has a chance with his kids. Read on If you want to learn how to build a stable marriage relationship, blend a family, and lead your preteen out of drugs while being held in the faithful embrace of a loving God." Sharon Hartnett, Ph.D. Emerita Faculty in the School of Education at Seattle Pacific University "An incredibly motivating story. There are few people one meet's in their life who have the gift to listen more than they talk. With Damon, this trait is profound, genuine and authentic. He has been a 'difference maker' in my life and has provided me with constant and consistent motivation though his wisdom, his passion for life, his love of the Lord, and now his incredible story as told in his book Pain Drives Change! This book will certainly make you look both spiritually and conceptually at the relationships that are placed in your life's journey, and how reflection can lead to redemption and ultimately internal and eternal peace. " Bill Marsh, Head Football Coach Cedar Park Christian Schools "Amazing - courageous and moving. It will inspire many to action and to dare hope." Dr. Pam Bryan "I was in tears while reading it. I need my whole family to read your story. Very inspiring and priceless."

Kelly M. Kapic meditates on how our suffering—particularly our physical suffering—relates to the Christian faith. This is not a theodicy or a book of easy answers. It is an invitation to reshape our understanding of suffering into the image of Jesus. What we discover is that in Christ and through his church, God displays his deep love and provision for his people.

When all seems lost, where can you find hope? Katherine and Jay Wolf married right after college and sought adventure far from home in Los Angeles, CA. As they pursued their dreams--she as a model and he as a lawyer--they planted their lives in the city and their church community. Their son, James, came along unexpectedly in the fall of 2007, and just six months later, everything changed in a moment for this young family. On April 21, 2008, as James slept in the other room, Katherine collapsed, suffering a massive brain stem stroke without warning. Miraculously, Jay came home in time and called for help. Katherine was immediately rushed into brain surgery, though her chance of survival was slim. As the sun rose the next morning, the surgeon proclaimed that Katherine had survived the removal of part of her brain, though her future recovery was uncertain. Yet in that moment, there was a spark of hope. Through forty days on life support in the ICU and nearly two years in full-time brain rehab, that small spark of hope was fanned into flame. Hope Heals documents Katherine and Jay's journey as they struggled to regain Katherine's quality of life and as she relearned to talk, eat, and walk. As Katherine returned home with a severely disabled body but a completely renewed purpose, she and Jay committed to celebrating this gift of a second chance by embracing life fully, even though that life looked very different than they could have ever imagined. As you uncover Katherine and Jay's remarkable story, you'll be encouraged to: Find lasting hope in the midst of struggle Embrace the unexpected Welcome God's miracles into your everyday life In the midst of continuing hardships, both in body and mind, Katherine and Jay found what we all long to find: a hope that heals the most broken place--our souls. Let Hope Heals be your guide along the way. Praise for Hope Heals: "As I read this book, tears streamed from my eyes even as joy flooded my heart. Jay and Katherine are a raw yet refreshing testimony to the unshakable trustworthiness of God amidst the unimaginable trials of life. This book reminds all of us where hope can be found in a world where none of us know what the next day holds." --David Platt, author of the New York Times bestseller Radical and president of the International Mission Board "Hope Heals is a beautiful, true story that illustrates the love and protection God has for us even in the darkest times of our lives. Katherine and Jay's dedication to each other and the Lord through their most devastating season is inspiring. This book will help your heart believe that He sees, He knows, He cares, and He is still working miracles today!" --Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries

Neuropsychologist Offers Hope to Those Struggling with Depression As a board-certified neuropsychologist, Dr. Michelle Bengtson sees the devastation of depression. Early on, she practiced the most effective treatments and prescribed them for her clients. But when she experienced depression herself, she found that the treatments she had recommended were lacking. Her experience showed her the missing component in treating depression. In Hope Prevails, Dr. Bengtson writes with deep compassion, blending her training and faith, to offer readers a hope grounded in God's love and grace. She helps readers understand what depression is, how it affects them spiritually, and what, by God's grace, it cannot do. The result is an approach that offers the hope of release, not just the management of symptoms. For those who struggle with depression and those who want to help them, Hope Prevails offers hope for the future.