Customer Reviews

Blessings of Brokenness, The

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Charles Stanley has to be one of the greatest people that God has chosen to speak through. This book touched my heart and showed me why things happen to me and the reason they happen. It shows me that even though bad things happen, it does not mean that God is being mean to me. It means that God is reshaping my life so that I can be more of a witness to Him and allow Him to fullfil his will through me. I would tell anyone who is going through tough times to read this book and your life will start to look brighter each word you read.

This is a great book for helping you come to a greater relationship with God. I was going through the hardest time of my life when a good friend gave me a copy of this book, and without the message I received, I would have come through angry, bitter, and further away from God. Instead, I have a closer relationship with Jesus than ever before. Very highly recommended!

Charles Stanley's book can help you get on the right path when you are going through a tough time. I was lost when someone I loved passed away. My faith for the first time waivered. I've learned that when we are the most in need is when we need God most. I have a closer relationship with him and am learning more every day.
There is another book that is helping me to cope, Write from Your Heart, A Healing Grief Journal.
Immersing myself in the word has made a huge difference in the way I am healing.

At the time I brought this book I was going through "HELL" because I didn't know what was going on in my life, Nothing was working out in my life I mean nothing no matter what I did it did not pan out, a friend told to get this book and when I started to read it the answer to what was going on started to make sense God was causing me to be BROKEN so that he could me for his service. You have to read the book for your self to see what I'am talking about. this could be your answer.

This books is an excellent resource for those who are searching for purpose in suffering. Suffering takes on many forms, but all are intensely personal and difficult. There are probably few resources that address the subject with as much compassion and insight. I believe the author writes out of a combination of personal experience and biblical knowledge. Thus, this book serves to affirm those in the midst of suffering. In a "success oriented" society there is little room to explore and understand failure, brokeness, and pain. However, such conditions are more characteristic of the human dilemna than the "health, wealth and prosperity" we are told (by the mass media) we can all have if we just do it right. Thus, the need to address the issues of suffering are paramount. If you're reading this review, then you are guaranteed a degree of suffering at some point in your life - because that's part of life. It would be very beneficial to have this information and understanding before that time comes.

I have to say that this was one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a long time. Reading about a chapter a night it took me through a course of revelations and growth, both introducing me to new concepts and renewing me familiarity with others. I liked that he wasn't afraid to quote scriptures (and let us know where they are so we can read them in context.) This book, coupled with much prayer, changed the way I look at life.

While enduring 10 years of downhill suffering, I could list literally thousands of confused thoughts as I strived insanely to find out WHY... and no matter how hard and long I asked God, no matter how good I obeyed, tithed, read my Bible, turned the other cheek, cried and screamed often... my life's circumstances continued to get worse.

I'd say about 8 years into my own insanity of this life, I was at the gym once again, trying to get some excercise for my health. I was in despair, a really dark place of just being near tears in ongoing sadness... and a young woman walked by with a book in her hand. I saw the title somewhat, I can't recall the details now, but at that time I think I saw "Stanley" or "Brokenness", maybe both.

I was drawn to talk to her, I really wanted to know what that book was about, but she was a younger attractive woman and I am mid-forties... I was concerned she'd think I was trying to hit on her, etc. I finally decided to talk to her and asked about the book, saying I'd noticed the title and knew Charles Stanley. She said, "Oh, you can have it. I've read it and God told me to bring it here for someone." That's exactly what she said, and then she handed me the book.

We ended up having a great conversation and she had suffered a tough situation of her own. I read that book, and after 8 years of mystery, basically 'knowing' but never fully being 100% sure why all the troubles were happening, God finally and clearly told me that is WAS all about brokenness.

My problems were not happening simply because I was evil, or a failure (a HUGE one for men in general), a bad husband, a sinner in general, weak or a corward, or really ANY fault of my own. God finally confirmed what I had hoped was true, that He was truly in control of my life during all these troubles, but could not 'see' because of the massive amount of pain. Knowing WHY something painful is happening is perhaps the greatest need any human being has.

For example, we can bear the pain of surgery, because we KNOW why the pain is happening. However our walk and relationship with God is much different and infinitely more complex, and if really suffering (especialy on a long period of time), MOST often we have to focus EVERY daily thought possible on His word and in faith, because we cannot see HIS side of things and He does not always TELL us EXACTLY what He is doing.

When we naturally question what is happening, start to reason, investigate, wonder... try to LOCK down the issue to something concrete that we can fix... we do not find the answers easily. We then get frustrated, etc., and can QUICKLY lose trust in our Father and Jesus, become afraid, and fall into all kinds of mental head games, anxiety, etc. Satan will directly attack you in your mind, BE AWARE, I did not get this for MANY years. I believed all the self-hatred, 'just kill yourself' thoughts were ME alone, and they are NOT.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Bear in mind that FEELINGS are not SIN... ACTIONS ARE.... even if you DO know what God is doing, as JESUS HIMSELF DID, getting beat almost to death and going to a cross to die was most certainly emotionally terrifying and horrible for Jesus Himself. Yet Jesus was DIRECTLY in God's WILL. It has been extremely hard to me to learn and HOLD ON to the truth during the suffering... that painful events DO have purpose in God's plan.

God had, and is, allowing very, very hard, extremely difficult suffering into my life, and as you continue to endure, as best as you humanly can... and NOTE even when you utterly FAIL in your OWN eyes... God will, I repeat, WILL reveal Himself to you in ways that would not otherwise happen. It is just the way He has decided to work.

Yes, I witness to you that God has proven Himself to me over and over, and over. That is how I know He is full of grace. It is NOT only about good works on our part, it is ALL about good works on HIS part. It IS a fact, through every utter failure on my part to remain faithful, though I tried until total exhaustion, and when I had totally given up on life, even to the point of seeking death... He has NEVER left me or forsaken me, NEVER once. He has now not only saved my soul, but also my life here on Earth.

When life deals a severe blow, it's one thing to hear "you'll be all right," but another to hear "you'll be blessed." "The Blessings of Brokenness" is a reassuring blend of grace and truth that ministers both to the emotions and to the mind. Stanley shares reasons, obstacles, processes, and blessings of being broken. While offering truth to hold on to, the book has the relational tone of a compassionate friend, rather than a detached, academic counseling guide. It's small size, substance, and tone make the book a good choice for giving to those in pain, including grief. (It's also available in audio, a format that could be useful, since sometimes reading even a small book might be too much exertion for a friend who feels like [...], pierced, pummeled, shattered, or just plain world-weary.)

My son has been struggling with a broken marriage, and the resulting loss of his job, his home, and his pets, as well as the "one person who he thought would never hurt him, and the one who hurt him the most" for the past 9 months. It seemed there was nothing more I could do or say to get him through his days without extreme sadness and lack of self esteem. A good friend of mine suggested this book, and it has literally turned his life and his attitude around. I asked him if I could please read it when he was done, because I am so amazed that one book could have such an impact! Whatever Dr. Stanley has shared with him has certainly given him new hope, and I can't thank him enough for sharing his wisdom!

This book has been such a Blessing and a fraction of the original cost. The book looked like new and came in a
timely manner.