Lord, I Hurt!: The Grace of Forgiveness and the Road to Healing

by Anne Costa

At the core of every story of forgiveness is Jesus and his cross. In this book, Catholic spiritual writer Anne Costa shares her own story of forgiveness and healing as well as those of many others. In the process, she encourages readers to take their own journey. By dispelling myths about what forgiveness is—“I need to be free of bad feelings to forgive” or “In order to forgive, I have to forget”—Costa helps readers remove the obstacles that may be blocking the healing process. She explores such emotions as anger, grief, and fear and their effect on the healing process and also discusses our need to forgive God—and ourselves. Costa is a reassuring guide who shares her deep insights with compassion and offers us a road to healing that leads us right into the loving embrace of Jesus. •Each chapter ends with a reflection section to help readers make progress toward forgiveness and healing.•Includes healing prayers to pray.•Offers a list of Catholic organizations that can offer help and hope.“Every one of us faces the challenge of forgiving those who have hurt us. This book is a wise guide that will help many people who have been deeply hurt to be transformed so that they can forgive as Jesus does.”—Francis MacNutt, PhD, cofounder, Christian Healing Ministries, and author, The Practice of Healing A How-To Guide for CatholicsAnne Costa is a spiritual coach, motivational speaker, and the author of the best-selling Refresh Me, Lord! Meditations to Renew a Woman’s Spirit, published by The Word Among Us Press. Anne is a licensed master social worker and lives in Baldwinsville, New York, with her husband and daughter.

Genres: Catholic, Nonfiction

161 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 29, 2012

Reviews

[Michael Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, the path to forgiveness is almost all in the storm. There is screaming, there are wounds that reopen, there are hard memories to face. I don't know if I'll ever get to where it ends, but it feels good to know that I've started to walk. Good book. Good reflections. It's nice to think of forgiveness as a grace that comes to you and sets you free. It doesn't erase the suffering (the one you caused and the one you received), but it makes it easier. I will read this book again at a slower pace, I think it can still tell me a lot.

[Michael Seagriff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ordered this book as soon as it became available and read it quickly - too quickly. I just devoured it. I am glad that I did. Having read the author's earlier book (Refresh Me, Lord! Meditations to Renew a Woman's Spirit), I knew that I would not be disappointed. I wasn't and neither will you. Anne Costa has a special gift - birthed no doubt from her own personal and spiritual struggles, as well as from years of helping others in need - to get right to the heart of why we hurt and how God's grace can make us whole. I gained insights into issues in my own life that I had not adequately recognized before reading this book. It spoke very powerfully to me. I intend to do myself, the author and this book justice by going back and more carefully, thoughtfully and meditatively digest the great wisdom and insight contained therein. You will find the "For Your Reflection" segment at the end of each chapter challenging and worthwhile. This is a book you should read. Get it for yourself and those you love.