The Cry of the Soul: How Our Emotions Reveal Our Deepest Questions about God

I have read many books about how emotions affect our emotional and spiritual health. These authors bring a completely new spin as to the role that anger, despair, fear, contempt, and various other "negative" emotions play in our spiritual journey. As a mental health counselor, I meet many people who want to "fix" these feelings, demanding to be happy. I find most Christians look at these negative emotions as straight from Hell, and not allowed. This book - focusing on the Psalms -reveals how "dark" emotions are vital because they raise questions - questions that will either drive us to God or away from God. It is a must read for anyone truly desiring a richer walk with God.

This is on of those "beginning of the rest of your life" books. Before you read this book you have to ask yourself1) Will I obey the Bible if it requires me to leave my comfort zone?2) How close do I want to get with God? This is a book about really dealing with God in all of life. Here's why it's a cruical book: there are more palms of complaint (lament/argument) than any other type of Psalm. The Hebrew title to the book of Psalm is "Book of Public Praises." But this is not what WE call worship! In the midst of all the talk about what it means to worship God, you never hear the honest and biblical perspective that Allender and Longman present. God knows your heart, why won't you engage with him the way the Psalmist did- the way God directs us to?! This is not a book about corporate worship per se, this book is broader. It's about life in relationship with God (I think that's still worship). Tired of being numb? Grow up or reside in a church that just doesn't seem completely real? Not able to be continue pretending you are "just great." Want to have a real relationship with God. Read the book!

The soul is said to be the place where human emotions reside. It is the place that reacts or responds to the vertical or horizontal affects of God and society. The emotion is also said to be the link that connects the inner world with the outer world. But if the emotional make up is so active and influenced by God and man how can we as christians learn the language of the soul and communicate that language in a society that shuns reliance on emotion? Well, all these questions and more are answered in this ground breaking book. Discover how God invites His children to be respectfully honest with how they feel. Learn how to deal with the Emotional Struggles of life that seem contrary to "good christian ethics" from God's OWN Word, the Psalms. These writings in the Bible amplify the battle man faces with anger, pain, plea for justice, shame, envy and how they discoverd the goodnes of God in a "strange land". This book is for anyone wishing to face what they feel and gain a fresh perspective into the CRY OF THE SOUL.

This is an excellent book, it reveals through the Psalms how our angry questions directed at God reveal the depth of our battle with Him. It shows how are emotions lead us to the reality that the world is fallen and tragic and that we are far from home - something we would rather run away from. Its premise is that every emotion is a theological statement, that all dark emotions are rooted in our reactive response (flight) to being out of the Garden, out of fellowship with God, and our aggressive response (fihgt) in attempting to regain access to Eden. It clearly and sensitively deals with emotions like despair, sorrow, sadness, anger, fear, jealously and envy - showing that these are mirrors to our soul and also, reflections of the nature of a God. It invites ther reader to deal honestly with his or her emotions, to rise from despair and hopelessness to the mystery and miracle of godly sorrow, repentance, gratitude and worship. This is not secular pop psychology, but a thoroughly biblically based 'guide' to ourselves and our longings for meaningful relationships and ultimately, how all desire points to a hunger for God's redemption, healing and reconciliation. Hope for the hurting, wisdom for anyone wanting to be signposts to a holy and loving Creator God.