Books for Dealing with Hard Times

"I am grateful to Lewis for having the courage to yell, to doubt, to kick at God in angry violence. This is a part of a healthy grief which is not often encouraged." - Madeline L'Engle

Written with love, humility, and faith, this brief but poignant volume was first published under a pseudonym, as it was considered too raw. Written moment-to-moment as Lewis processed the loss of his wife to cancer, this is more than a mere book on grief, but a visceral hand outstretched in the darkness, a reluctant guide through the "mad midnight moments" of mourning and loss.

Key learnings that Lewis discusses are:

• Pain is instrumental in the process of spiritual growth
• Through hardship we often gain the best wisdom
• Memories are treasures that will comfort you tomorrow

This work inspired the award-winning film The Shadowlands, starring Anthony Hopkins. Writing A Grief Observed as "a defense against total collapse, a safety valve," he came to recognize that "bereavement is a universal and integral part of our experience of love." A Grief Observed reminds us that, “Grief is like a long valley, a winding valley where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape.” 

This book seeks to restore the lost art of lament in order to help readers discover the power of honest wrestling with the questions that come with grief and suffering.

Find hope and comfort on your hard days (and the good ones too) when you realize that God is with you every day.

Do you sometimes wonder where God is in the midst of your daily battles with loneliness, grief, change, and doubts? New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado uses his signature reassuring and encouraging voice, paired with practical, relevant, and personal messages, to remind you that God is with you every day.

God Is With You Every Day is a reminder for your anxious days, your lonely days, your struggling days: You are not alone. There is One who is always with you, always available, always caring. The One who created the universe, who set the world in motion—He is with you. Not just on joyful days. Not just on tough days. God is with you every single day, cheering for you, lifting you up, and drawing you closer to Him.

This 365-day devotional begins each week with a prayer and scripture, followed by six days of devotions and Bible verses for reflection, weaving in messages of comfort, grace, and encouragement.

God Is With You Every Day makes a great gift for:

• Family and friends walking through a tough season of loss or uncertainty
• Anyone struggling with loneliness, needing a reminder that God is with them
• Those who want a fresh infusion of faith to start each day

This devotional will help you find the hope and encouragement you need to get through the hard days. God Is With You Every Day gives you the daily insight and reassurance you need to recognize God's presence with you every day. He is always there; you are never alone.

Look for additional, thoughtful devotionals from Max:

• Calm Moments for Anxious Days
• Grace for the Moment
• You Can Count on God
• Trade Your Cares for Calm

This latest edition of the 365-day devotional features larger print, a fresh design, and a beautiful ribbon marker for a title that has been loved and appreciated for over 15 years by millions of Anne Graham Lotz fans. Each dated devotional includes a Scripture verse and insightful reflections on topics such as eternity, grief, and faith.

Can God be good when life is not? Rediscover faith in the character, power, and presence of God. Even in the questions. Even in the hurt.

"I want to believe, I want to have hope, but . . ." Pastor and bestselling author Craig Groeschel hears these words often and has asked them himself. We want to know God, feel his presence, and trust that he hears our prayers, but in the midst of great pain, we may wonder if he really cares about us. Even when we have both hope and hurt, sometimes it's the hurt that shouts the loudest.

In Hope in the Dark, Groeschel explores the story of the father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus, saying, "I believe! Help my unbelief!" In the man's sincere plea, Jesus heard the tension in the man's battle-scarred heart. He healed not only the boy but the father too, driving out the hopelessness that had overtaken him. He can do the same for us today.

As Groeschel shares his pain surrounding the health challenges of his daughter, he acknowledges the questions we may ask in our own deepest pain:

• "Where was God when I was being abused?"
• "Why was my child born with a disability?"
• "Why did the cancer come back?"
• "Why are all my friends married and I'm alone?"

He invites us to wrestle with such questions as we ask God to honor our faith and heal our unbelief. Because in the middle of your profound pain, you long for authentic words of understanding and hope. You long to know that even in overwhelming reality, you can still believe that God is good.

Hope in the Dark is also available in Spanish, Esperanza en la Oscuridad.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Find hope and assurance in God's faithfulness when it feels like your world is crumbling.

New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst invites you into her own journey, amid heart-shattering circumstances, and shows you how to live assured when life doesn't turn out how you expected.

What do you do when God's timing seems questionable, His lack of intervention hurtful, and His promises doubtful?

Life often looks so very different than we hoped or expected. Some events may simply catch us off guard for a moment, but others shatter us completely. We feel disappointed and disillusioned, and we quietly start to wonder about the reality of God's goodness. Lysa TerKeurst understands this deeply. But she's also discovered that our disappointments can be the divine appointments our souls need to radically encounter God.

In It's Not Supposed to Be This Way, Lysa invites you into her own journey of faith and, with grit, vulnerability, and honest humor, helps you to see your life in the context of God's bigger story. Whether you're dealing with daily disappointments or life-altering loss, you can find unexpected strength as you learn what it means to wrestle well between your faith and your feelings. With refreshing honesty and deep encouragement, Lysa will help you to:

• Stop being pulled into the anxiety of disappointment by discovering how to better process unmet expectations and other painful situations.
• Train yourself to recognize the three strategies of the enemy so you can stand strong and persevere through unsettling relationships and uncertain outcomes.
• Discover the secret of being steadfast and not panicking when God actually does give you more than you can handle.
• Shift your suspicion that God is cruel or unfair to the biblical assurance that God is protecting and preparing you.
• Know how to encourage a friend and help her navigate hard realities with real help from God's truth.

Disappointments are an inevitable part of life, but they don't have to be the end of the story. In fact, they are often what must happen for something new to begin. It's Not Supposed to Be This Way, offers you a safe guide, fresh biblical insight, and a reorienting perspective to help you rediscover God's faithfulness and renew your strength when it feels like the world is crumbling all around you.

Let God help you win the war on worry and receive the lasting peace of Christ so you can experience freedom and joy.

Does the uncertainty and chaos of life keep you up at night?
Is irrational anxiety your constant companion?

We all experience anxiety, but we don't have to let worry and fear control our lives. In Anxious for Nothing, from New York Times bestselling author, Max Lucado, provides you with a roadmap for coping with and healing from anxiety. Complete with Lucado's signature storytelling and relatable anecdotes, this book invites you to study Philippians 4:6-7—the most highlighted passage of the Bible and any book on the planet according to Amazon.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

In Anxious for Nothing you will experience CALM as Max encourages you to:

• Celebrate God's goodness
• Ask God for help
• Leave your concerns with God
• Meditate on good things

Stop letting anxiety rule the day. Join Max on the journey to true freedom and experience more peace, joy, clarity, physical renewal, and contentment by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Look for additional inspirational books and audio products from Max:

• He Gets Us
• Calm Moments for Anxious Days
• Help Is Here

Hard times come for all in life, with no real explanation. When we walk through suffering, it has the potential to devastate and destroy, or to be the gateway to gratitude and joy. Elisabeth Elliot, no stranger to suffering, learns that suffering and love are inexplicably linked, as Christ walked the ultimate path of suffering and won victory on our behalf. This truth led Elisabeth to say, "Whatever is in the cup that God is offering to me, whether it be pain and sorrow and suffering and grief along with the many more joys, I'm willing to take it because I trust Him." Because suffering is never for nothing.

For anyone who's ever wondered how they'll get out of a situation or if any good can come of a trial, Dr. Charles Stanley provides clear, biblical answers for trusting in the Lord—no matter what.

You may be in the midst of an emotional hurricane right now, or you may be stumbling through the aftermath of a physical or financial crisis, fearful that you’ll never get back on your feet.

In How to Let God Solve Your Problems, Dr. Charles Stanley:

• Demonstrates how God allows times of trial to test and strengthen you.
• Shows you how to find clear guidance through prayer and Scripture reading.
• Offers you guidance for reaching your full faith potential in the midst of suffering.
• Reminds you that you are loved—always have been and always will be. No matter what.

Whatever you're going through, God has a plan for your life. He is aware of your circumstances, He has not forgotten His promises, and He will guide you through your difficulty to victory!

A New York Times bestseller! Do you want to live a life of unstoppable strength, unmovable faith, and unbelievable power in the face of every challenge? Learn how to become an Overcomer—starting right now.

We live in a time of deep uncertainty, and yet the Bible promises that we were created to enjoy lives of freedom, even in times when the world around us seems filled with darkness. You were not made to live in disappointment, disillusionment, and defeat, and God has given you the tools to live a life defined not by your trials, but by your victories.

In Overcomer, beloved Bible teacher Dr. David Jeremiah offers his insights on one of the most quoted but least understood passages of the Bible: the apostle Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians to take up the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). With his signature depth, wisdom, and compassion, Dr. Jeremiah explores the powerful relevance of spiritual armor as a critical tool each day as we confront the specific challenges in our lives and of our time.

Overcomer contains:

• Examples of how the people of God have overcome their enemies in the past
• Inspiring stories of victorious Christian living today
• Specific strategies you can practice armoring yourself in God’s strength

In Christ, believers have everything necessary to live a victorious, overcoming life. If you’ve had enough of living in defeat, it’s time to find renewed strength and claim the promises of God’s Word to overcome life’s greatest threats.