"When the Hurt Runs Deep" by Kay Arthur

[reviewsbyerin]

One doesn't have to live long to realize that Jesus was right when He said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” Hurt crops up all over the landscape of our lives. Sometimes the pain become crippling, devastating, and we're left wondering what to do while we wait for the promised “overcoming” of this world (John 16:33). Kay Arthur offers twelve healing truths while drawing from the lives of Biblical characters, those willing to share their stories, and her own personal experience. Can Jesus meet you in your deepest need, your most desperate hurt? A resounding yes is presented in this volume!

 

I appreciated that this book was chock full of Scripture. The chapter entitled How Can Jesus Possibly Understand Your Pain? was beautiful as it presented the truth of His love and His sacrifice for us. The lives of Joseph, Jeremiah, Paul and others are also examined, some quite in depth. Pain, whether self-inflicted from sin or coming from the actions of others, is not a new obstacle. These people of old drew their strength from God, and that God is the same one we serve today!

 

The first half of this book was a little difficult for me to get into. It seemed hurt was approached on a very clinical, studious level, which was not particularly helpful to me personally. When I'm hurting I don't want to read a treatise on the subject, I'm looking for some direction on it! The second half seemed almost like a different book as Kay begins to share personal examples and delve into applicable answers for those in the midst of the battle.

 

There are several things I will be remembering from this book, and several Scriptures which I'll be looking at differently after her explanation of them. The appendices are not to be missed as well, as some of the most practical get-through-the-rough-times help was presented there. Overall I would recommend this for anyone who is beginning to reach the questioning stage of their hurt, when God's purposes seem to grow more obscure by the day. He is there, He is working in you... and you will be all right in His care!

You can read the first chapter of this book online here.

WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group provided this book to me for free in exchange for this honest review as part of their Blogging for Books program.