A Grace Disguised
By
Gerald Sittser
“Loss
came suddenly for Gerald Sittser. In an instant, a tragic accident claimed
three generations of his family: his
mother, his wife, and his young daughter…. A
Grace Disguised plumbs the depths of our sorrows, whether due to illness,
divorce, or the loss of someone we love. The circumstances are not important;
what we do with those circumstances is. In coming to the end of ourselves, we
can come to the beginning of a new life—one marked by spiritual depth, joy,
compassion, and a deeper appreciation of simple blessings.” --editor, A
Grace Disguised
Not By Accident
By
Isabel Fleece
If you
have lost a loved one and have struggled with the concept of God’s sovereignty
over all things, then I highly recommend this book. The author, Isabel Fleece,
lost her teenage son in a tragic car accident. This is her story of pain,
questions and finally, resting in the arms of her Heavenly Father.
When There Are No Words:
Finding your way to cope with loss and grief
By
Charlie Walton
This
book was given to us by the social worker in the emergency room where we
learned that our son had died. We found it to be a valuable resource for
navigating our way through grief. It helped us to know that we were not crazy
or abnormal, but in fact we were learning to define our lives by a different
standard, a new normal.
Trusting God through Tears
By Jehu
Thomas Burton
We
highly recommend this book to anyone who has lost a child. “Offering gentle
encouragement for the grieving spirit, Trusting
God through Tears tells the moving story of a family’s loss and a father’s
struggle to trust his Creator in the midst of tremendous pain.” Editor, Trusting
God through Tears
The Misery of Job and the
Mercy of God
By John
Piper
Be
comforted by John Piper’s poetic paraphrase of the story of Job, the man who
lost everything yet still trusted God. (The book on CD, read by John Piper is
also included.)
The
following four books are in a series by John Piper called The Swans Are Not Silent.
These books contain stories of great men of faith who endured hardships and
suffering yet still trusted God.
The Legacy of Sovereign
Joy: God’s Triumphant Grace in the Lives
of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin.
The Hidden Smile of God: The Fruit of Affliction in the Lives of John
Bunyan, William Cowper, and David Brainerd
The Roots of Endurance: Invincible Perseverance in the Lives of John
Newton, Charles Simeon, and William Wilberforce
Contending For Our All: Defending Truth and Treasuring Christ in the
Lives of Athanasius, John Owen, and J. Gresham Machen
From Grief to Glory
By James
W. Bruce III
Bruce
looks into the lives of men of faith such as Luther, Calvin, Bach and Spurgeon
to find words of comfort and encouragement. The words of saints who have
experienced suffering give hope to those who walk the path of pain.
Safe in the Arms of God
By John
MacArthur
MacArthur
offers a compelling argument that young children and infants who die are safe
in the arms of God. The scriptures themselves hold the key and answer the
question: What happens to children—those
unborn, stillborn, infants, or young children—when they die? With the warmth of a pastor’s heart, John
MacArthur answers this question for hurting parents.
An Early Journey Home
By Mary
Ann Froehlich
Froehlich
brings fresh insights and warm counsel to families who have lost a child of any
age, or who are losing a child through terminal illness. Chapters include Helping through the Illness and
Hospitalization, and Helping Patients
and Families through the Death. In this book, Froehlich offers invaluable
help to people who are in the dark journey of grief. She declares, “God’s
promises stand firm. His faithful children are saved and delivered—sometimes
from suffering and sometimes through suffering.”
Beside Still Waters: Words of Comfort for the Soul
By C. H.
Spurgeon, Edited by Roy H. Clarke
In the
early, dark days of grief it is difficult to concentrate, and often, reading a
book is out of the question. That is why a good place to begin is with a
devotional style book. Spurgeon himself experienced pain and loss in his own
life, and these one page devotionals speak to the griever’s heart. Roy H.
Clarke has done fine work in compiling these lessons of comfort and spiritual
guidance taken from Spurgeon’s sermons.
How to Help a Grieving Friend: A Candid Guide for Those Who Care
By
Stephanie Grace Whitson
The name
of this book says it all. If you are interested in becoming a more effective
comforter to anyone who has suffered loss, this book can help. Throughout the
book, Whitson addresses the specifics of “How It Feels” and “How to Help”.
Holding On To Hope: a pathway
through suffering to the heart of God
By Nancy
Guthrie
Nancy
Guthrie is a woman of courage and faith, who after the death of two infant
children is still Holding on to Hope. Her small book covers a wide range of
topics from Loss and Tears to Submission and Worship.
Her story is a beautiful picture of Christian grief and the hope that is ours
in Christ.
When I Lay My Isaac
Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable
Circumstances
By Carol
Kent
Carol
Kent brilliantly describes her journey through shattering, heart-wrenching
circumstances. Her world is torn apart after her 25 year old son commits a
murder. She uses the story of Abraham and Isaac to instruct us in the School of
Trust and addresses the questions: What if there is no ram in the thicket? Is
God still there? Can I trust Him? From Kent’s experience and insights we can
learn about the healing powers of redemption and hope.
Knowing God
By J I
Packer
Have you
ever heard the catch phrase “To know me is to love me”? I don’t think that can
really be true of any person because we all come with faults and the baggage of
sins and hurts both past and present. But we can say that about God. The more
we know Him, the more we love Him. And that is J I Packer’s point and purpose
of this his book. A fuller knowledge of God leads to a deeper love for God.
Then, when our love of God is based on facts, not feelings, we will worship Him
in spirit and in truth (John 4:23).Knowing
God has become a Christian classic, a literary treasure for every Christian.
Trusting God Even When Life
Hurts
By Jerry
Bridges
In an
easy to read style, Jerry Bridges covers topics which every Christian must
grapple with. The book includes such chapters as “Can You Trust God?” “Is God
in Control?” ”The Sovereignty of God,” “The Wisdom of God”
and “Experiencing God’s Love.” The desire of every Christian should be
to rest in God, and even in the midst of trials to say with David, “But I trust
in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the
LORD, for he has been good to me.” (Psalm 13:5-6)