Love Letters from the Edge: Meditations for Those Struggling with Brokenness, Trauma and the Pain of Life

Love Letters from the Edge is a 12 week book of meditations for those struggling with difficulties in life. It is broken down into days and weekends. There are suggestions made to how to creatively document and reflect on the gifts given to us by God- journaling, writing letters, drawing. Throughout the book are reasons for hope and healing. There are documented scripture paasages throughout appropriate to what is being discussed. the book was written by women for women with understanding.

I recieved the book from the Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

The title of this book says it all - it speaks right to the heart of those of us who have struggled with trauma, especially abuse of any kind. It is sometimes difficult to see God in that brokenness, but this book helps us see how close He really is, even when we don't feel like it. It was instrumental in my healing journey from 20 years of abuse and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to see how God fits in the ugly, horrible parts of our lives.

Love Letters From the Edge: Meditaions for Those Sruggling with Brokenness, Trauma and the Pain of Life is a book of meditions that touch the heart and soul of those that are dealing with any of these issues.

Through twelve weeks the authors, Shelly Beach and Wanda Sanchez, helps the reader as they ask questions such as where God is during these times, will the bad times end? Can this pain be redeemed and more. There are also activities to try to focus the mind and hear such as journaling, letter writing, and art projects.

This well-written book is a gift to each of those that are needed.

This book was given to me by bookfun.org and the author in exchange for my honest review.

Every once in awhile I come across a book which I find exceptionally helpful in sorting out life's messes and anguish. Love Letters from the Edge is one such non-fiction resource that has the potential to do a lot of good for a lot of hurting individuals. It's not exactly a typical instructional work. It's not a how-to manual. You won't find lists and instructions until you reach the appendixes. The body of the book is meditational in nature.

I don't want to review this book in a manner that makes it sound too cut and dried. There is nothing dry in these meditations. Some of them tell a short story, for background purposes, that explains the why behind the hurt. The reader can learn from others' sufferings as they share their heart's cry to God. Each day, a meditation is an honest conversation with God. The second half of the reading is God's loving reply to the searching and pain of the inquirer. His replies are conversational and even personal, based on Scripture (much of it from the Psalms...David was honest about his own pain) and from Biblical revelation of God's Person and nature. These replies are not just someone's opinion or pat answers from a faceless religion. They are truths of God's just and loving Being, heart-felt reassurances and verbal hugs from One who knows everything and aches for His children. Many times I was brought to tears from a day's reading because the exchange was relevant and honest. You will find confirmation, empathy and reassurances in so many of the entries.

As for the cut and dried part, while the focus is on meditating (pondering, mental exploration or focus on particular details to dig into their depths), there is organization and structure to how these exchanges are presented to the readers. The soul of the messages within is based on the authors' painful journeys through life and from others whom they know have been struggling from heart-breaking experiences. Through all these excruciating introspective questions and pleas to God and His intimate responses, the authors make it abundantly clear that He is available to hurting people.

The meditations are arranged by daily entries with one entry for each weekend. Each week has a theme based on the Father's reply. Each set of 2-4 weeks is grouped together by the individuals' needs. There are twelve weeks of devotions altogether. At the end of the book are seven appendixes: one appendix describes and explains PTSD to the reader, others have lists of concepts, further reading suggestions, sources used in writing this book, names of organizations for more information, and one with a list of Scriptural assurances.

Weeks 1-4: Heart Cries (Where Were You, Lord?)

Weeks 5-8: Grieving and Growing (Will It Ever Be Better, Lord?)

Weeks 9-10: Hope and a Future (Can You Redeem this Pain, God?)

Weeks 11-12: Love and Assurance (Can You Say it Again, God?)

The book's sub-title says it all: "Meditations for those Struggling with Brokenness, Trauma, and the Pain of Life." After I read the book through, I realized the scope of this book's reach could be vast. There is a multitude of hurting people who would benefit from participating in the week-by-week plan. Each day's entry is only a couple pages long. It is easy to read, to grasp the truths revealed. The tone is conversational, personal and even intimate. It's a heart-to-heart dialogue between you and God. The exchanges are loving and affirming, not judgmental.

So many of the days' entries touched me deeply. In many of them, I heard my own questions voiced and treated with respect in return. Things that I had shoved out of view a long time ago because they were questioned and treated trivially or scoffed at by even respected "professionals" were addressed in this set of meditations and given thoughtful consideration. The replies were true to His Word. If you know of someone who has given up on counseling or talking about their wounded heart, this book may help bridge a gap or serve as the beginning to the road of recovery. I highly recommend it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) on behalf of Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Letters from the Edge is an outstanding book, an incredible daily devotion with related, suggested journaling ideas and prayers. The authors write that people who have survived abuse, neglect, and other crises or tragedies as having PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in which the actual brain chemistry has changed due to the trauma endured. Going through daily life, those with PTSD encounter triggers that remind their subconscious of their initial trauma; these triggers can lead them to unwelcome physical and emotional changes, resulting in a fight or flight response. For all who have gone through these traumas and for their loved ones, there is good news. Shelly Beach and Wanda Sanchez, both victors through Christ of abuse, have written Letters from the Edge: Meditations for Those Struggling with Brokenness, Trauma, and the Pain of Life.

This twelve-week devotional is scripturally sound. After-effects of crises, abuse, trauma, loss, and addiction can wreak havoc on ones life for years decades to come, if untreated by the hands of our Lord. Letters from the Edge is excellent to use in conjunction with groups such as Celebrate Recovery, twelve-step groups, and when seeking Christian counsel. Devotions for many kinds of trauma are included, even for those struggling with the results of their choices that hurt themselves or others. After one has completed the twelve-week format, it can be used continually or as needed.

I found the daily format beneficial; days in weeks One through Ten begin with a scripture, then a detailed prayer or conversation with the Lord. This conversation is raw, honest, and to the point these daily conversations with the Lord help the reader open their heart and hurt to dialogue with the One who can bring healing. Following is what the authors could imagine as a response from the Lord, an echo of scripture, His love and grace. Hope on the Edge has questions or ideas to consider/ respond to, then Heart Cry concludes the days reading with petitions for what is needed as a result of what one learns from the days reading.

Weeks Eleven and Twelve begin with a scripture, and a letter as imagined by the authors from the Lord that is overwhelmingly full of His love and acceptance without addressing specific events in the readers life. Hope on the Edge and Heart Cry are also part of these days.

There is a weekend devotion for each of the twelve weeks that suggests an activity of one type or another that helps the reader find healing and a different perspective or way of handling remembrances of the event(s).

Appendices are essential reading, addressing the nature of PTSD and suggested treatment, assessment, resources, suggestions of addressing with ones doctor, suggestions for the friends, spouse, and Christian community of the one in recovery. There are several pages of very helpful scriptural affirmations, then a brief section on forgiveness and restoration.

I applaud the authors for pulling the covers from their own feelings and experiences, how they found healing, and pointing to our heavenly Physician who will lead each of us into recovery when and however needed, and graciously is with us each step (and feeling) of the way! I highly recommend this devotional book to anyone who has PTSD, anyone who is a survivor of abuse or neglect, or other trauma or crisis, and those in recovery. I also highly recommend this to anyone in a Christian pastoral ministry or counseling position, lay leaders including Celebrate Recovery and Stephen Ministry who serve those in various crises. It is incredibly helpful you may want to get additional copies, one for yourself and copies for friends!

I received a copy of this book through the For Readers Only group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.