The One Year Book of Hope

I came across this book from a Christian book review, and fell in love with it. Nancy Guthrie does not pull any punches. God is holy, no matter our circumstances. After working through just a couple of weeks, I gave copies to each of my friends and co-workers on their birthdays throughout 2006. Even if you have never experienced great pain in life, you will find this book a blessing. And when you do experience tragedy - and we all do - you will be better able to work through it.

This devotional is written in such a gentle and sensitive way. I try to read it daily but sometimes while grieving you just can't stick with a routine. There's nothing to 'push' me along -- no dates, weeks, or months of the year. No 'guilt' for getting behind. It's ready for me when I'm ready for it. Sometimes I read several days at a time then miss several. It encourages me, and encourages thought and reflection. It tells me to trust in a loving God (which I do). This book also points to the scriptures and gives references which can be read in tandem with the devotion. This is a wonderful resource for those overwhelmed by grief.

I was given this book by a friend who had originally bought it for herself (her father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer) but after she read the forward she felt that it was meant for me. I lost my son to a terminal genetic muscle defect 11 days after he was born. I have been learning so much about myself and so much more about who God is. Because Nancy's situation was very similar to my own, I feel like she knows how I feel and the experiences I am having. I love being able to spend time everyday learning more and gaining new insight into God. Also to be able to heal little by little while growing stronger in my faith is very encouraging. The layout is great. It is written so that it can be read daily on schedule or it can be read at your own pace. The topics are relevent to the grieving processes and offer verses that correspond. Often the verses are ones that I have read before but I had never thought of them in the way that she offers them. I recommend this... its truly is a book of hope.

Author Nancy Guthrie understands the depth of grief, but she also knows the power of hope. In this book, she comes alongside readers to share her experiences, thoughts, and most importantly, her belief in a merciful God. Each page is like a gentle hug, as her words breathe life from the precious promises of the Bible. The book is arranged around fifty-two themes, which encourages daily reading for a year. However, the author's sensitivity to sorrow has led her not to include days of the week or dates with each section. She realizes that grief has no timetable and therefore her words may be read slowly or with greater urgency, depending on the individual There is a gradual progression in these pages, as the first theme acknowledges the brokenhearted and the last entry is on letting go. Throughout the book, the reader will come face to face with different aspects of the healing process while their attention is always directed toward a vibrant hope in God. However, the heart of this book is the heart of the author. Her personal acquaintance with grief makes her compassionately qualified to minister to others. She has sought answers and comfort, and through her experiences, she has also learned a great deal about hoping in the Lord. Her spiritual insights, which were gleaned from serious study of the Scriptures, lead readers through the darkness of sorrow to the light of victory. Her words are trustworthy because she has been tried in the furnace of affliction. Grace, beauty, and truth flow from these pages. Although sorrow is never trivialized, the author consistently causes the reader to look ever onward and upward to the Source of all comfort and hope. And that's the perfect way to spend every day of the year! -- Joyce Handzo, Christian Book Previews.com