The Silent Shades of Sorrow: Healing for the Wounded

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From the introduction by Zack Eswine.
Pastor Charles Spurgeon was a friend to those who physically and mentally suffered. He and his own dear wife, Susannah, suffered truly through years of physical and mental pains. In this light, Charles preached transparently about sorrows and their many kinds, including depression in all of its forms. He was no trite preacher. He spoke as one who had been there.

This collection of works from C. H. Spurgeon offers a healing taste of his powerful ministry on our sorrows. Among the many and silent shades of sorrow, the sorrowing have a Savior. There is hope for the broken–hearted.

Genres: Christian, Faith, Theology, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

Published November 20, 2015

About the author

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) was England's best-known preacher for most of the second half of the nineteenth century. In 1854, just four years after his conversion, Spurgeon, then only 20, became pastor of London's famed New Park Street Church (formerly pastored by the famous Baptist theologian, John Gill). The congregation quickly outgrew their building, moved to Exeter Hall, then to Surrey Music Hall. In these venues, Spurgeon frequently preached to audiences numbering more than 10,000—all in the days before electronic amplification. In 1861, the congregation moved permanently to the newly constructed Metropolitan Tabernacle.

Reviews

[Andi Hagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a comfort to me when I felt deep in the throes of sorrow.

“The mighty God will not despise
The contrite heart’s plea for sacrifice;
The deep-fetched sigh, the secret groan,
Rises accepted to the throne!
He meets, with tokens of His grace,
The trembling lip, the blushing face;
His [heart] yearn[s] when sinners pray—
And mercy bears their sins away.”

Joseph Hart, “Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy,” Hymns Composed on Various Subjects, 1759.

[ThePrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly thought-provoking book.

Through the lens of Scripture, focussing on Job, David, Elijah, and the Lord Jesus, Spurgeon directs the mind to contemplate the reasons for their sorrows and how their sorrows were manifested. And all types of Christ! Job, an innocent man to whom sorrow was undue; David, who cried out that Lord might make glad his wave-beaten soul; Elijah, who wearied of life itself and begged for its end; Christ, a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief.

Besides the encouragement of knowing that God's servants are not immune to suffering and the exhortation of running to Christ in our weaknesses for great is His Sympathy, I found this book profound in how it views leaders. The greater the entry into the sorrows of those under your care, the more miserable it can incline you to be. The more injustices upon your person, particularly those whom you care for, the deeper the thorn pierces. How great a comfort to know that 'He heals the brokenhearted/ And binds up their wounds'.

[Charles Adkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It's hard for me to describe in words, the way that God used this book, in this particular season of my life, to bind me up and heal my heart. I felt the sermons in this book in a way that I have not felt much writing in my life. The funny thing is, I never really enjoyed reading Spurgeon's sermons before this. I would hear or read a single quote, and I would say, 'Ooh that is a brilliant quote!' But when I tried to read the full sermons, there was too much extra flowery language there. But it seems as though God really saved this particular one of His servants for a time in my life when I really needed him. Anyways, there are two instances where he uses an unnecessarily racist illustration to make a phenomenal point. If you can get past those, this book is solid gold, start to finish. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Caroline McGill · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of sermons on the topic of “sorrow” by Spurgeon. I especially loved the first few expositions on the sorrow of Elijah.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been convinced for a while that the church needs a new theology of suffering, sorrow, and depression, but I think what we really need is an old theology. This book is certainly a good start! These six sermons are dripping in grace and truth, and tied together with thoughtfulness and depth in an introduction by Zack Eswine. I’m looking forward to hearing more about what Eswine has to say on these painful and often over-simplified human experiences.

[Heidi Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I have ever read on suffering and sorrow. Spurgeon doesn't offer cheap cliche messages or overused bible verses as encouragement to his readers; he offers compassion in a real and immediate way. This is a book filled with his personal wisdom and insight and is an absolute must read for anyone battling depression.

[Karen Butman]

Anything by Spurgeon is wonderful. This book shows us how God heals us in our suffering. The examples he uses and the imagery is beautiful, though provoking, and convicting. Gives me hope for the sorrow we experience.

[Jamie McHale · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a slow but healing read for me. Each chapter is a stand alone message from Spurgeon and it felt like each chapter was better than the last. A healing balm to a weary soul. Filled with truth and hope for the Christian who finds themselves enwrapped in sorrow.

[Nick Roark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraging

[Enhui · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last chapter was great - He heals the broken in heart (Psa 147:3)

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is comforting and encouraging to read, especially when going through a time of deep suffering.

[Jared Kassebaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a Christian who understands sorrow seems to be a unique thing in our cultural moment, with most Christians propping up a perception of joy and happiness in order to react against the nihilistic and hedonistic tendencies of our society. But struggles and despair are not absent from a Believer's life, and so Spurgeon understands this. Reading these sermons from the Spurge feels like reading an old friend, intimately acquainted with my sorrows, as if we'd talked about them before. But no, he speaks of them as one who knows them himself, in his own experience, and in such a way as they are relatable and applicable to any who feel anything of the sort. But the true beauty comes from this, that Spurgeon is able to make, convincingly, the case that Christ himself has the same shared experiences and shared sorrows. He was a man of sorrows, and Spurgeon's sermon on this is one of the sweetest and most beautiful expositions of Jesus Christ's manhood in the mystery that is the incarnation; more beautiful truths have rarely ever been spoken, especially to one who knows sorrow him/herself. Read this slowly if you want to be encouraged beyond belief, into faith.

[Iain Hamill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful collection of Spurgeon's sermons on the difficult but ever threatening dark clouds on the horizon for believers.