Tragedy Transformed: How Job's Recovery Can Provide Hope For Yours

by Gordon Grose

“How do I recover from tragedy? Where do I find hope?” We want answers as we try to pick up the pieces of our life from misfortune, accident, illness or grief.

Using biblical Job as a guide, pastor and counselor Gordon Grose offers hope for sufferers today.

In this book you’ll find that hope through:
- Stories of recovery from natural disaster, mental illness, loss of a spouse, unexplained physical illness
- Self-help strategies to overcome some of our most difficult emotions: suicidal depression, anger, fear, grief
- Job’s story: “If Job recovered, so can I!”

Tragedy Transformed provides hope in your present tragedy—or the one just around the corner!

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 27, 2015

About the author

Gordon, an ordained Baptist minister, pastored churches in Boston, MA, Rio Vista, CA, and Cortland, NY. From 1992 to 2003 he served as a pastoral counselor at Western Psychological and Counseling, Portland, OR. He retired in 2003 to write a book on biblical Job that would help modern readers heal from traumatic trauma. In 2015, he self-published Tragedy Transformed: How Job's Recovery Can Provide Hope For Yours. Tragedy Transformed: How Job'a Recovery Can Provide Hope For Yours He and Elaine, his wife of 60 years, have 4 children, 8 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. He has published in Christianity Today: Job's Most Beloved Verse May Be Different Than You Think. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/...
At present, Gordon counsels at Good Samaritan Ministries, Beaverton, OR. He loves to preach and teach the Book of Job through his Hope For The Hurting ministry.

Reviews

[Pamela Fernandes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about dealing with tragedy. Tragedies could come in all shapes and sizes, the loss of a job, pain, sickness, grief and natural disaster. The author uses various stories of real people, including his own life to explain tragedies and how to turn them to strength. Using the example of Job the author teaches how to recover in this time of pain.

[Gordon Grose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Endorsement
Tragedy Transformed by Dr. Gordon Grose
Prepared by Dr. Richard J. Gehman

In church we heartily sing: “God leads His dear children along. Some through the waters, some through the flood, Some through the first, but all through the blood; Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song, In the night season and all the day long.”
Trials are common to humanity, but God in his wisdom calls some of us to endure deep trauma that overwhelms the soul. Job is a classic example. Though a God-fearing man who was blameless and upright, he suddenly lost all of his possessions, his children and lastly, his own health. In anguish he questioned God and felt unjustly treated. Like Job many Christians today need the help of wise and compassionate counselors, not the kind who pushed Job further into depression.
Dr. Gordon Grose is uniquely qualified to expound the Book of Job with practical lessons for both the traumatized and those seeking to counsel and encourage those down in spirit. With his B.D. from Gordon Divinity School and an M.A. in Near Eastern and Judaic studies from Brandeis University, Waltham, MA. Dr. Gordon grapples expertly with the Hebrew text of the Book of Job. His Ph.D. in Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Counseling from Boston University Graduate School enables him to intertwine principles of counseling when expounding the biblical text.
Added to these professional qualifications, Dr. Gordon and his wife, Elaine, have grieved deeply for their son, Paul, and daughter-in-law, Juli, both professional musicians, who have both suffered for 28 years with a severe case of chronic fatigue that has entailed fragile health and agonizing pain for Julie. With the comfort and instruction from God’s Word, and the daily help of their parents, they have found strength to persevere.
With these divinely bestowed gifts, Dr. Grose has provided us with a compelling study of the Book of Job with direct application for the traumatized and those who seek to counsel them. Tragedy Transformed offers hope for recovery through the study of Job. With his life-long experience of pastoring and counseling, Dr. Gordon has been able to intersperse case studies to illuminate the many struggles that people face in life. On-line helps for group discussion are provided for pastors and group leaders. Gordon’s blogs on Job are offered for dealing with death and dying, mental illness and recovery from addiction.
Tragedy Transformed flows from the need for transformation, to the steps towards transformation and concludes with a model of transformation.
He explores the initial feelings of one whose serenity is suddenly destroyed, the fears and doubts, the bitterness and anger towards God that may erupt. Job offers an example of one who vents his feelings. His unhelpful friends only aggravate Job’s feelings of despondency. The wise counselor learns to listen and gather information in the early stages without admonishing or reprimanding. The one suffering hears and values the empathy and feelings of a friend.
Surprisingly, the steps toward transformation proceed rather slowly in this book. Recovery is not easy and quick. This is exemplified by Job and other case studies. It may involve continued disputes with God and a sense of loss of God’s presence. Even prayer may seem useless. Grieving requires remembering what one misses in the loss. Though emotionally painful, remembering is a necessary step in grieving. Contrary to what one may think, the long process of recovery requires utmost empathy, not rebuke or admonition, in order to help the traumatized move out of depression into recovery.
Modeling transformation begins with the discourse of Elihu, and most importantly, God’s direct address to Job. Elihu quotes the words of Job, showing that he had been listening. A counselor must first listen, but after the grief stricken person has time to express his deepest feelings, the counselor must become less passive in listening. Empathetic listening, essential in the early stages, is not enough. In a climate of trust more direct guidance is appropriate. Denial must be challenged in order to come to terms with reality.
Basic to all spiritual healing is a renewal of one’s relationship with God. To recognize that God is God; that He is in control and that we are ignorant of God’s purposes in life. Job is an example of perseverance in faith, learning to trust God in the dark.
This well researched book of 200 pages is an excellent tool to help both the one suffering trauma and the counselor with lessons learned from the life of Job.
I would rate this book at #5 in valuation, excellent in every dimension.

See More from Gordon Grose

[K.A. Hitchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book of Job in the Bible contains some wonderful and thought-provoking passages on the question of suffering. It is an honest and raw account of human grief, but having studied it several times I was always left feeling that I hadn’t fully grasped the implications of God’s answer to Job in the last chapters, or why Job’s friends had got it so wrong when some of the things they said were sympathetic and supportive.

‘Transforming Tragedy’ by Gordon Grose is a different kind of Bible study guide than I have used in the past. Instead of a line by line theological exposition, the author examines the stages of grief that Job experiences, including shock, anger, depression, suicidal thoughts and fear. Grose skilfully weaves together a readable blend of personal testimony, relatable stories, theology, psychology and philosophy, with relevant questions and suggestions for action at the end of each chapter.

Seeing the Book of Job as a journey through grief rather than a theological treatise on human suffering made it much more relevant to my own situation. I was particularly encouraged by the thought that, whilst Job’s comforters had got some things wrong – holding a simplistic view that tragedy must be in response to sin in the sufferer, and that righteousness would be rewarded with material blessings - their well-meaning presence did enable Job to articulate his grief and anger at God’s apparent indifference. Having the opportunity to be honest about his anger and protest his innocence, eventually brought Job to the place where he was able to hear and accept God’s response. It’s comforting to think that even if I don’t know what to say to my grieving friends, or get things wrong, my supportive presence can still be used by God.

This is a well-written, insightful book, which will be a blessing to those recovering from tragedy, for those who wish to support people who have experienced a traumatic event, or those who want to have a clearer understanding of one of the most profound and puzzling books in the Bible. Ultimately the Book of Job testifies that suffering can lead us into a more authentic relationship with the living God and a deeper understanding of His sovereignty.

As Grose writes on P 164:

“When we acknowledge God’s design with all its ambiguities, disappointments, and setbacks, we gain a better grasp on reality. The sovereignty of God transforms our life from that of a passive victim to that of an active servant. Our relationship with God grows into a deeper, more dependent, and more humble bond.”

Highly recommended.

[Felice Mathieu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't imagine any serious laborer of the Word of God not finding this book tremendous. The author's exegesis of relevant scripture is done throughly, simply, and practically. While reading the book, a Christian can't help but identify with Job, and think on events in one's life where you did respond like Job. For example, the author has a section where he seeks to help those transform their tragedy. That resonated with me deeply. I lost my immediate family at a young age, and for a long time I thought my bio, was a curse. It wasn't until decades later where I realized how God sought to use my story to bless others. The transformation was just a shift from how I thought in my pain, vs how God's wisdom oversees and cares for His creations.

Throughout the book expect wisdom from the depth of God's Word, chapter summaries in the form of simple action steps, and true transformation from our sinful flawed thoughts, to His thoughts on our tragedies, our suffering, and the process of recovery.

[Bruce J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must for those who have experienced loss. Grose shows how the ancient book of Job is powerful and revelant for those who experience sudden, inexplicable tragedy. In this beautifully written book, modern day people come face-to-face with same questions as Job. Grose shows that people will get through their grief and pain if they, as Job did, face God with their raw and fragile emotions. In the back of each chapter are "how to" points, which are thought provoking and give the reader helpful hand in coming to terms with their own loss and questions for God. As one reads through the various stories, it feels as though the victims of tragedy, death, and loss, experience God in a way many do not. But only as they face their situation through the eyes of Job, and come to their Creator in their most vulnerable time. This book provides practical help for those who can't make sense of their dark season or feel as if their grief cannot be survived.

[Stephanie Reck · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful and compelling book focusing on human suffering and the myriad effects trauma has on our relationships, including God.

Author Dr. Gordon Grose of Tragedy Transformed explores the in-depth perils of modern-day suffering in relation to what Job experienced in the Bible. The author uses tender compassion as he shares delicate and personal issues of examples of his own life and the lives of friends and family to bring an awareness into the complexity of suffering and points you in the direction to transformation from tragedy.

If you are someone you love has endured suffering, trauma, or grief, I would recommend reading Tragedy Transformed, as a tool and a resource for your recovery. There are application questions at the end of each chapter that you can use to go further in your healing recovery

[Tony Salerno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragedy can happen at a moment’s notice. It can turn our lives one hundred eighty degrees in a second.
In a very poignant way, Dr. Grose shows in his book, that it depends on our resolve to cope with matters that have befallen us. Taking everyday people who have been struck with tremendous tragedy and implementing the book of Job, shows us how to not give up hope. Though Job may be somewhat a complicated reading, Dr. Grose gives it the everyday meaning through his examples on how to deal with life’s tragedies and to maintain faith and hope that God will in some way answer our prayers.
I highly recommend this book for not only people who have had tragedies entered into their lives, but all who look for God’s grace in life’s circumstances.

[Read-n-Bloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great book. It’s a book on Job, a historic figure in the Bible. One who went through much tragedy. It took me so long to read the book because I was studying Job along with this book. It was well written and had questions for you at the end of each chapter to help you through your tragedy or trauma as well. I love the cover and I loved the pretty illustrations throughout. I believe you will learn a lot from this if you’ll give it a read. And if you’ve had some tragedy or trauma, it will help you overcome it, as Job overcame his through being honest with God in what he was going through. I received this book from the author through Christian Books Only Review Group for my honest review. I thank the group and the author for opportunity to read and review this book.

[Vonette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was helpful to me during a time of grief and healing and questioning God. The author helped me to better understand the stages of grief and healing that Job goes through as well as God’s apparent silence through much of the book of Job. When your own heart is broken, it is difficult to wade through a theological treatise, but this book gently pulls you in and holds your attention. Each evening I enjoyed a few peaceful minutes of heart therapy with this book. If you are looking for help in rebuilding your faith after tragedy has shaken it, this book can help you a little further along the path.

[Tena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this in a GOODREADS giveaway.

[Gregory Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can we recover from tragedy and loss? It has often been said that we are either going through a trial or about to enter one. Therefore, the topic of recovering from loss and tragedy is important for everybody. Gordon Grose in his book Tragedy Transformed provides hope for our tragedies by looking at the story of Job. Job loses his business, his children, and his health. His friends question his integrity, and he curses the day that he was born. However, in the midst of his trials, Job never curses God. Most teachers and preachers spend most of their time in Job’s narrative; however, Gordon digs deep into the prose as well, which I really appreciated. In Tragedy Transformed, Gordon not only shares Job’s story of tragedy, but his own and that of others. The transparency in this book makes it relatable and easy to enjoy. The result is a hope-based book with encouragement for all.

Thanks to Gordon for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathryn Spurgeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! I thought I knew all about the book of Job, but I knew only a glimpse. Grose takes this familiar story and delves into the details, such as the way Job began, how he struggled with unfairness and trials just like we do. The author extrapolates lessons we all need. It made me want to go back and read Job again, taking more time to see truths that I missed before. I recommend this to anyone who has ever had troubles, who is having troubles, which means I believe everyone would get something out of this book. I'm sure glad I read it.