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Hurt Runs Deep

This book was given to review by Waterbrook/Multnomah Press, Blogging for Books.




Noted Bible teacher and Precepts Ministries founder Kay Arthur has written a thought provoking and biblically based work entitled When the Hurt Runs Deep. This book takes a look what it means to suffer, the questions we have we enduring trials, and how the Bible offers answers to our deepest concerns. One of the great aspects of this book was the Healing Truth sections throughout the chapters. This little nuggets of truth distill some key foundational stones which every Christian can hold onto in times of distress. On p.94 the Healing Truth section says, "Wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever you have done, there is hope because there is God. He is a God of hope, redemption is his business." These truths are expounded in the text throughout each chapter.



Secondly, I thought that Kay opened herself up to allow the reader understand that she has been down the road of disappointment before. She tells of her first marriage ending in divorce and the "devastating experience" that was for her and her family (28). Yet, she uses these experiences as a way to relate how God used those times of great grief to bring her to saving faith. Kay goes through the Scriptures in this book to bring the reader great comfort in knowing that the Scripture are full of men and women who knew pain, who walked through the sorrow of defeat and hopelessness. Yet, Kay's message in this book is that hope is not lost, that at the foot of the cross Jesus has dealt with our suffering through his and he is able and willing to strengthen us in our time of great need. The healing truths at the end of the book remind the reader God is in the midst of our pain, that he loves us regardless even to the point of using pain to drive us to him. I enjoyed this book very much and would pass it along to a friend in need of some encouraging words.



The chapter on the benefits of suffering was particularly illuminating. Why? Kay says that suffering reveals our true status and disciplines us. I certainly was not ready to hear those words as I read them. Yet, as I begin to look more closely at the heart of her message, I think she is right. Suffering causes the Christian to open his eyes to the idols of his heart and the ways in which our faith sometimes dwindles because we don't always get what we think we need. Secondly, many times we are left wondering what purpose did suffering have in our lives. God teaches us to trust him more and more in suffering, to let go of the strangleholds in our lives and follow him. This is a book for every believer who goes through trials and hurts

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