Finding Hope in the Midst of Tragedy [Kindle Edition]

Shelley Hitz (Author)

Book Description

Have you been through difficult times in your life? If so, you are not alone. Jesus says in John 16:33,  "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Notice that He doesn't say that we might have trouble or that if we have enough faith we will escape it. He clearly states that on this side of heaven we will walk through difficult times in our lives. 

And yet we have reason to hope.

This book is my own personal journey to finding hope after a tragedy hit our family. However, I did not want this book to be my story alone. Instead, I want it to be a resource for you to find hope in the midst of your own difficulties. That is why I have added the sections that you will see through the book called, "From My Life to Yours," where I add journaling prompts and reflection questions for you to apply what you are learning to your life. I pray that God leads you to find His hope no matter what you are currently walking through.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A must read for anyone who has had storms in their life.  I laughed, cried and got so excited. This book gave me the answers to many of my prayers and showed me the right way to forgive." - TALoveRocks
 
"This is a book of hope, trust, faith, forgiveness, and so much more!  Highly Recommended!"  - Sandra McLeod Humphrey
 
"Wow! My eyes are full of tears and my heart is full of God's promises to the author and to each of us.  Great book!"  - Kristie

Product Details

• File Size: 338 KB
• Print Length: 180 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Body and Soul Publishing (August 1, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008RSQFJC
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,201 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #84 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Meditations

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Christan's walk through an unfair world August 8, 2012

By victor brodt

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Too often and very easily pain turns into bitterness. Bitter or better has only one letter difference, the letter i. How I handle the pain, anger, or hurt makes all the difference between bitter and better. (feel free to use my quote) Shelly and her family have proven the difference. If you are struggling, use this as a reference to see how true Christian wisdom ought to be applied.
Never forget....He sees in you the very Best!
Victor Brodt

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A place to turn when life upends August 20, 2012

By Julie A. Saffrin

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Book Review of Shelley Hitz's Finding Hope in the Midst of Tragedy
by Julie Saffrin

When life upends, and unfairly so, what do you do?

Shelley Hitz's memoir-self-help book, Hope in the Midst of Tragedy will help you journey through the disorder, unknowns and not-in-control feelings that come. You'll find a friend in these pages as you live and experience Hitz's account of learning to cope with the unexpected. Hitz's father went into a coma and came out with traumatic brain injury (TBI) after being assaulted in 2009.

Your circumstances may be different, but we are creatures of emotions and where there's hurt, there's most likely anguish. Hitz describes her feelings this way: "My emotions have been up and down today, ranging from sadness to grief to guilt to anger to fear," she writes. "They say this is normal to have a flood of conflicting emotions in this part of the crisis response called "recoil." Normal or not, it's not very fun!"

Recoil. Curling inward, lashing out. What a great word to describe the springing of our emotions. Ordinary reactions to disturbance.

But Hitz doesn't leave herself or us there. Nor does she give us, as Simon and Garfunkel sang, "false hope." She gives us "hope," an action word. If you like picture words, envision, as some ancients did, its definition, "leaping with expectation."

These leaps are sometimes barely visible to the eye, yet, how isn't this how much of change happens - in small increments? Hitz's "hope" comes from signs from above and everyday life, in the beautiful and sometimes simple ways such as her father's squint of trying to understand what's being said to him as he comes out of coma. In this moment, any movement at all brought hope.

Where Hitz could have chosen to live in anger toward someone who hurt her father, where she could have blamed God for allowing this awful circumstance to happen, Hitz instead, chose to embrace loving God through some hard, dark days.

Her books reads in diary form so we experience her inches gained, some miles lost, with her. Because of this, we experience her emotional range too. We applause in the minor and major milestones too.

Her Scripture choices were so comforting. Take the time to look at the ones Hitz does not write out in her book. They are true sources to heal a heart.

The From My Heart to Yours sections are designed for you to apply to your circumstances. I love that she gives her readers a way to ponder and express themselves too.

The beauty of Hitz's writing is, she gets to the heart of what she's feeling but then uses Scripture to help her journey toward healing. And just as it takes time for her father to restart his life, so too, does this give Hitz permission to allow God to gently teach her. And we, in turn, are given this chance as well.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who yearns to find comfort while going through life's unexpected detours. You will feel refreshed and hope-filled as you know you are not alone in your journey. Hitz has gone before you and she offers you the joy she has found in the process. This is a book that is heartfelt, yet so inspiring.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I want to learn how to dance in the rain.... August 2, 2012

By Kristie

Format:Kindle Edition

Wow! My eyes are full of tears and my heart is full of God's promises to the Author and to each of us. These are the statements that most gripped my soul:
" I have become like broken pottery." "Instead of focusing on what I've lost, I need to focus on what I have." Can I trust God will work good out of bad? And my answer is yes! But it is a process and I too want to learn how to dance in the rain and with God's promises echoing in my mind after reading this book, I will...and YOU can too. Great book!

More About the Author

Shelley Hitz is an award-winning and international best-selling author. However, she gives all the glory to God for what He is doing through her life. She has been ministering alongside her husband, CJ, since 1998 and her main passion is to share God's truth and the freedom in Christ she has found with others. She does this through her books, websites and speaking engagements.

She is also the co-owner of BodyandSoulPublishing.com where she shares free Christian books on her blog, owner of Self-Publishing-Coach.com where she helps authors get published and noticed and co-founder of CrossReads.com where Christian readers and authors meet.

The main reason Shelley writes and publishes Christian books is to share her testimony, use the gift of teaching God has given her and bring glory to God. She is humbled and amazed that He chooses to use her and her life goal is to keep her eyes fixed on Christ, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). Shelley's openness and vulnerability as she shares her own story of hope and healing through her books will inspire and encourage you.

==> Connect with Shelley online at her website, www.ShelleyHitz.com.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#54 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#54 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality