Suffering
and the Heart
of God:
How Trauma Destroys and Christ Restores
Diane Langberg
New Growth Press, Greensboro, NC 27404
Copyright © 2015 by Diane Langberg
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by USA copyright law.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible, © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ® (ESV®), copyright © 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Cover Design: Faceout Books, faceoutstudio.com
Interior Design and EBook: Lisa Parnell, lparnell.com
ISBN 978-1-942572-03-9 (eBook)
ISBN 978-1-942572-02-2 (Print)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Langberg, Diane.
Suffering and the heart of God: how trauma destroys
and Christ restores / Diane Langberg.
pages cm
ISBN 978-1-942572-02-2 (print)—ISBN 9781942572039 (ebook)
1. Suffering—Religious aspects—Christianity. 2. Traumatism. 3. Caring—Religious aspects—Christianity. 4. Helping behavior—Religious aspects—Christianity. I. Title.
BT732.7.L36 2015
248.8’6—dc23
2015015583
Printed in United States of America
22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 1 2 3 4 5
Suffering, the World, and the Heart of God
1. Trauma as a Place of Service
3. The Psychology of Evil and Sin
4. The Psychology of Suffering
5. The Fellowship of His Sufferings
6. The Spiritual Impact of Abuse
Ministry in the Context of Christian Community
9. Living with Trauma Memories
10. Living with Ongoing Trauma
12. Leadership, Power, and Deception in the Church and the Home
13. Sexual Abuse in Christian Organizations
Ministry in the Clinician’s Office
15. Understanding Domestic Violence
16. Understanding Sexual Abuse
17. Narcissism and the System It Breeds
18. Ten Lessons for Counseling Students
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About Suffering and the Heart of God: How Trauma Destroys and Christ RestoresDo Trauma and Abuse Have the Last Word?
When someone suffers through trauma, can healing happen? And, if yes, how does it happen? Dr. Diane Langberg tackles these complex and difficult questions with the insights she has gained through more than forty years of counseling those whose lives have been destroyed by trauma and abuse. Her answer carefully explained in Suffering and the Heart of God is Yes, what trauma destroys, Jesus can and does restore.
But it's not a fast process, instead much patience is required from family, friends, and counselors as they wisely and respectfully help victims unpack their traumatic suffering through talking, tears, and time. And it's not a process that can be separated from the work of God in both a counselor and counselee. Dr. Langberg calls all of those who wish to help sufferers to model Jesus's sacrificial love and care in how they listen, love, and guide.
The heart of God is revealed to sufferers as they grow to understand the cross of Jesus Christ and how their God came to this earth and experienced such severe suffering that he too is well-acquainted with grief. The cross of Jesus Christ is the lens that transforms and redeems traumatic suffering and its aftermath, not only for the sufferer, but it also transforms those who walk with the suffering.
This Christian book will be a great help to anyone who loves, listens to, and seeks to help someone impacted by trauma and abuse. There is no quick fix, but there is the hope for healing through the love of God in Jesus Christ. |
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