Heartbreak Makes Room for God's PowerJason Vallotton thought his world was burning down around him when he found out that his wife, Heather, was having an affair and planned to leave him. Using his own story as a poignant, evocative illustration of God's grace and healing, Jason, along with his dad, Kris Vallotton, invites you to reframe your understanding of redemption. Together, they show you how to steward the hardest times and deepest pain of your life so that God can lay a foundation for complete restoration and empowerment for your future. While it may be hard to see emotional wounds as gifts when they still hurt so deeply, The Supernatural Power of Forgiveness will help you discover that God can not only heal your wounds, but He can also use the healing process to equip you for a whole, fulfilled and powerful life!
"The outcome of your hard times will be what thrusts you into your destiny. The harvest you produce in adversity will provide you with the fruit that will sustain you in your later years. In fact, what has been sown through the sacrifice of your youth will be passed down and carried throughout the generations. The next time you enter a difficult season in life, let the plow of perseverance prepare your field of prosperity." (Kris & Jason Vallotton, The Supernatural Power of Forgiveness)
When I first started this book, I really didn't know what to expect. The reason I decided to read this book was because I felt I had unresolved bitterness toward some people that had caused me much grief and pain. Even though I said over over again verbally and mentally "I forgive them." I didn't feel I had forgiven them in my heart. The moment I realized that I hadn't really forgiven them was when I began to pray and declare: "calamity, destruction, confusion and shame" upon them. Even through this is Biblical (See Psalm 6:10), the Holy Spirit gave me a check in my spirit that this was not quite right and that I had some unresolved bitterness and unforgiveness. Hence, I was attracted to this book like a magnet when I saw it.
What this book made me realize is that you have not really forgiven someone if you want them to be punished and judgment to come upon them. The authors say, "Unforgiveness is a relentless taskmaster that guards the dungeon of past offenses. Forgiveness is a choice, but it's not an option for anyone who wants to live a joy-filled life. It's important to remember that forgiveness is an act of the will, not an act of the emotions. Therefore, you cannot measure the depth of your forgiveness by your feelings. When Jesus forgave us for all of our sin, He gave us the power to forgive everybody who'd wronged us. We know when we have truly forgiven, because we no longer want the one who has wronged us to be punished."
The authors explain that the Justice paid for us on the cross was forgiveness, and that true justice is found when each person gets what Christ paid for on the cross.
Now, this book is part autobiographical, and it deals with unfaithfulness in marriage, particularly, the wife having an affair with one of the author's best friends. I did not find that the authors were trying to blame anyone, in fact, I would say that they encouraged forgiveness, and taking responsibility for one's life and getting your power and control back.
The book ends with the wife leaving the husband and kids, but there was restoration of the family: The husband forgiving his wife and taking responsibly for his own actions, wife asking forgiveness, and immediate family members and children going through the process of forgiving, healing and restoration: The Supernatural Power of Forgiveness!
I read this, then asked my son to read it, and I would recommend it to everyone else I know.
The Supernatural Power of Forgiveness is a relatable, raw look at dealing with pain, remaining pure before the Lord, and seeking restoration through forgiveness.
From the very first chapter, you feel like you can relate to Jason and the pain he is going through. I felt like I could especially identify with Kris Vallotton from the perspective of being a dad trying to help his son.
Jason’s story is heartbreaking, but how he has walked out healing into wholeness is incredible and brings hope to those walking the path with Jesus to wholeness. Engaging. Practical. A must read.
Great book. This is an easy read (not a lot of technical language). It would be a great book for someone experiencing grief, especially from divorce or betrayal by a spouse, but good in general on grief.
The writer shares a lot of his personal experience including a heart breaking divorce. He also shares how he was able to recover. One especially meaningful parts of the book talk about how the Dad (father-in-law) was able to finally forgive the daughter-in-law who cheated on and left his son with young children at home. This was especially meaningful to me as I am the father of two adult children.
It's a quick read. I probably finished it in 4 or 5 hours total. I would recommend this book.
I am over half way through it and have found it pretty helpful in realizing that I need to move on from the past and look towards the future. I am also looking at how this book could be beneficial for my clients.
A powerful, POWERFUL book about the difficult path to forgiveness, wholeness, and beautiful redemption through heart-shattering betrayal. Personally, I think it's one of the most incredibly stretching and inspiring stories of reconciliation I've heard. Jason Vallotton does a great job of capturing the dynamic of how difficult the path to wholeness is with how very POSSIBLE because of the power of the cross. The story doesn't end how we probably would wish it did, but it ends in a fashion that has the fingerprints of the great redeemer ALL over it.
This is not just a book about forgiveness, this is a book about everything! No matter what you are going through or what stage of life you are in, everyone needs to read this book! It is packed so full of wisdom and godly perspective that it just blew my mind over and over. I will read this book at least once a year for the rest of my life just to remind myself of the truths in this book.
Sometimes it feels impossible to live out the Christian values I believe in my heart. In this book the possibility to do that is proved, and the steps and struggles are laid bare. I am encouraged, uplifted, and strengthened in my resolve to live my life, continuing to learn to love others as Christ loves me.
It's an amazing read. The book speaks about how important it is to forgive, many would think its a one time decision but its a lot more than that, it's the process one has to go through and choosing forgiveness every single day. i would recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with unforgiveness as the book will definitely help change your prospective and enable you to forgive
Everyone should read this book because everyone has issues of pain and forgiveness in their lives. There are so many great strategies, tools and stories that are helpful and relatable. Read it!
very easy to read, but really interesting to learn about the significance of forgiveness when it comes to mental/ spiritual health and practical steps to break free from unforgiveness
It was a good easy read, it did become repetitive half way through the book. It did have good points though, ones such as being ok with feeling emotions and processing them. Overall a good lite read
Forgiveness one of the hardest things we are called to do as Christians. Hearing how Jason walked through his pain and forgiveness helped me with a hurtful situation that I had to walk through. I followed the steps in his book and the next morning woke with God's peace in the situation. I am so grateful that he was brave and shared his story of God's redeeming power.
Kris and Jason Vallotton worked together to tell the deeply intimate story of Jason’s painful divorce, and all the areas of his life that were in desperate need of God’s healing because of it. They portrayed what true forgiveness looks like through the hardest pain a vulnerable heart could ever endure, so that others who are suffering in the same turmoil may come to know the victory that Jason—and even Kris—found, and that this victory is available to everyone.
This book was perhaps the most intimate, down-to-earth real book I’ve ever read. I give props to Jason and Kris for being so incredibly vulnerable about their walk in such a terrible circumstance. By sharing this, it is without a doubt that many lives have changed and hearts have been healed! This book has definitely opened my eyes to see the reality of divorce and the very real effects it has on family and spouses. It has made marriage become that much more serious to me (in a positive way). I will not ever forget Jason’s story!
This combo effort between primary author Jason Vallotton and his co-author father Kris Vallotton delivers an epic blessing. As top ministry dogs at Bethel, they possess undeniable scriptural cred. However, as fathers, sons and husbands, they could also be the two guys sitting next to me on the patio at Starbucks on any given morning -- Excuse me fellas. Is this seat taken? Hence, their ability to convey powerful biblical messages through their own often difficult and painful personal experiences makes for a compelling read. The title truly says it all. By the conclusion, I placed the book on my shelf, feeling "fed" and equipped to apply the message effectively to my own life.
A moving account of a broken relationship that includes the depths of grief and loss associated with divorce. The power of God to advance his children in troubled times is beautifully expressed through the story of the Vallotton family in this book. I am reminded of the old adage, "better to have loved and lossed than to never love at all." A promising read for any parent who is concerned about their life after divorce.
OH WOW. One of my favorites from the Vallotton crew. SO MUCH powerful truth in this book. This was so much more than I expected. Much more than just forgiveness, it covers ways to heal broken lives in order to move on and be WHOLE the way we were meant to. I think ANYONE can identify with the truths that are written in this book and/or can relate it to someone they know. Amazing.
This book taught me how to forgive. Not just petty, daily life things but heartbreaking, devastating, you-almost-killed-me things. Absolutely amazing and a true Godsend. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has been hurt deeply by others.
4.5, I would say. An excellent read on emotional health in general, not just on forgiveness. Commendable, vivid storytellng as well as a deep exploration of human emotion.