Moving Forward: Finding Purpose in Your Pain

by Angela Roberts Jones

Moving Forward: Finding Purpose in Your Pain taps into the deep wells of experience gained by author Angela Roberts Jones from her grief over the death of her husband. She reflects on her loss from the perspective of the Bible's message of hope and suggests ways to find through scripture words of encouragement and guidance for living today with hope for tomorrow.

Moving Forward sketches three legs for the spiritual journey from loss to hope. The grief stage takes a clear-eyed look at profound loss and the pain that accompanies it. The healing process proposes how to make adjustments, to move ahead despite one's pain, and to sidestep barriers that would block one's progress in healing. Finally, the strengthening phase outlines how, after the death of a spouse, one may move from marriage to singleness, let go of one's old ways, and choose between mourning and happiness.

By contemplating the author's story and her guides for living as you read Moving Forward: Finding Purpose in Your Pain, you can face the transformative times that pain inevitably brings. You can discover how God is leading you to embark on a path that leads to healing, celebrating life, and discerning His purpose in your own pain. You can move forward knowing that the best is yet to come.

124 pages, Paperback

Published February 17, 2016

Reviews

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a recent Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

I found this book helpful and interesting. Having lost my 32 yr old son just over 2 yrs ago, it has not been easy moving forward, but am getting there. I shall pass this book onto family, as I feel they will benefit from reading this book. Recommended.

[Marquez Hughley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a true gem and "must read" for anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one or who has experienced an abrupt disruption in their normal lives (i.e. divorce, loss of a job, recovery from natural disasters, etc.). Having been through many challenges in my own life, I found it very therapeutic to walk through each chapter as Pastor Angela Jones so transparently and gracefully explains her own personal journey from dealing with grief; and having the courage to walk on into purpose and destiny. There is no doubt that each reader will be empowered to "move forward" in life if they will allow this wise counsel to restore their hope for a brighter future.

[Madam Ambassador Dr. Nealy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastor Angela Roberts Jones takes the reader through a personal journey of events immediately following the death of her Co-Pastor husband, father of her children and her best friend. Pastor Jones writes from the unique perspective as she becomes the Senior Pastor of a church, GreenHills which had never had a female pastor in the 140 plus years of its existence. Clarksville, TN is a small town with a micro community of African Americans as its residents. Pastor Jones infuses biblical references throughout the book while leading us on a journey of hope, recovery and a jubilant return to a new normal. Pastor Jones gives lists of suggested ways to Move Forward and Find Purpose in Your Pain. Pastor Jones is a second generation pastor and my Fisk University classmate. I sat next to her in our Chapel at our 25th reunion. Three weeks later I received word that her husband had past. My heart broke with her heart at the news. Over these past nine years we have forged an enhanced friendship as we learned just how much we shared. This book really helped me to move forward as my parents past away 10 months apart, my God Mother, My Mentor of 30 years and a dear track and field coach all past very close to one another. After finishing Pastor Jones book I felt as though a weight had been lifted and I fully understood the events that occured in my life had a very divine purpose.

Angela J. /A.J.Nealy, M.S.
The Fisk University Class of 1983

[Marcella R. Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very helpful. I had to put it down and wipe my tears away &breathe. I am the author's sister & knew she was writing a book about her life experience concerning the death of her husband. I actually walked this road beside her, which made the book so real, like being in that period all over. This book showed me how important it is for family & friends to move forward also in this journey, not hinder it & inject their own emotions. Let the survivor lead, moving forward at their pace. Extremely helpful scriptures and examples made it a book that can be applied to any circumstance or unexpected life event we find ourselves in.

[Cheryl Durham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful. Grief impacts everyone differently. The "way to" is to "go through." The reading resonated with me in a number of ways. Praise God that "His" word accomplishes "His" purpose.

[C K P · Rating 2 out of 5]

A a person who continues to have pain despite the fact that some of the best doctors in the country say they can't find a cause, I'm inclined against the idea that this pain has any purpose other that to impede my life. Perhaps it was my preconceived prejudice based on personal experience contributed to my not being able to read more than 50% of this volume..