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Alongside: A Practical Guide for Loving Your Neighbor in their Time of Trial
Whether it’s Cancer, death of a loved one, long-term illness or another significant challenge, we all know someone facing trial.
We wonder, “What can I do to help?”
Filled with practical tools, personal experience and insights from those who’ve faced hardship, Sarah Beckman delicately weaves together action and inspiration to create this comprehensive resource. Alongside will become your trusted guidebook so you’ll know exactly how to bring life-giving help, hope and encouragement to people you care about in their greatest time of need.
We wonder, “What can I do to help?”
Filled with practical tools, personal experience and insights from those who’ve faced hardship, Sarah Beckman delicately weaves together action and inspiration to create this comprehensive resource. Alongside will become your trusted guidebook so you’ll know exactly how to bring life-giving help, hope and encouragement to people you care about in their greatest time of need.
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Paperback
Published February 14, 2017
8 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 5, 2017
It’s the Perfect Book to Help Our Hurting World
If we are honest, we don’t have to look far to find hurting people. If once a day, I scan through my Facebook home page, I learn about illness, parents and loved ones passing, sick children, broken marriages and much more. Sarah Beckman in ALONGSIDE has given us a new tool so our actions with the hurting world can have new meaning. We can take practical steps to love our neighbors when they are in a time of trial. As Beckman writes in the opening chapter, “Although we are called to love all our neighbors all the time, there’s a unique opportunity to love our neighbor when they experience a time of trial in their life. Vulnerability brings with it an open door—one that often remains closed in the normal busyness of our lives. God intends for us to push open that door and step boldly into a person’s life when they need it most.” (Page 7)
I loved the three big sections in this book: first things first (focus), taking action (practical ideas) and finally special circumstances. Pastors, ministry leaders and any Christian can find encouragement and valuable ideas in the pages of ALONGSIDE. I highly recommend it.
If we are honest, we don’t have to look far to find hurting people. If once a day, I scan through my Facebook home page, I learn about illness, parents and loved ones passing, sick children, broken marriages and much more. Sarah Beckman in ALONGSIDE has given us a new tool so our actions with the hurting world can have new meaning. We can take practical steps to love our neighbors when they are in a time of trial. As Beckman writes in the opening chapter, “Although we are called to love all our neighbors all the time, there’s a unique opportunity to love our neighbor when they experience a time of trial in their life. Vulnerability brings with it an open door—one that often remains closed in the normal busyness of our lives. God intends for us to push open that door and step boldly into a person’s life when they need it most.” (Page 7)
I loved the three big sections in this book: first things first (focus), taking action (practical ideas) and finally special circumstances. Pastors, ministry leaders and any Christian can find encouragement and valuable ideas in the pages of ALONGSIDE. I highly recommend it.
February 22, 2019
The title says it all. This gives practical tools for loving others. There's so much anyone can easily do to show we care. Plus I loved the insights on what not to do. I love how Sarah makes it simple, easy to read, and attainable.
July 14, 2022
This book is lovely in every way! A must read so you know how to be alongside those you love.
February 20, 2017
As a youth worker, one of my roles is to come alongside families during times of struggle and provide pastoral care. As part of this, others often ask me, “What can I do for Person X?”
During times of crises, people want to be helpful but they don't always know how to be.
Sarah Beckman's book, Alongside, offers a practical guide for “loving your neighbor in their time of trial.” In her words, “Jesus said loving your neighbor was second in importance only to loving God. Second, He didn't say exactly how we were to love our neighbor.”
It's that dilemma that Sarah addresses head-on in Alongside. Born out of her experience with how people served her while recovering from repeated back surgeries as well as the times she walked with friends facing cancer diagnoses, Alongside is filled with personal stories about what actually is and isn't helpful during times of trial.
Sarah's personal experience with this topic enable her to offer her readers lots of wisdom about how to love others well. She's also well-aware of the unique opportunity crises bring to help people who wouldn't otherwise accept it. According to her, “Vulnerability brings with it an open door – one that often remains closed in the normal busyness of lives.”
Alongside is a highly practical resource in which Sarah reminds readers to offer specific help and challenges them to help without asking, saying “some of the best help comes from people who didn't ask permission first.” Throughout Alongside, Sarah also includes several helpful lists including how to serve others when someone dies or is facing a long-term illness.
My biggest critique of Alongside is Sarah's “research”. Throughout the book, Sarah refers often to the research she conducted before writing it, when she talked to others who have journeyed through crises to find out what was and wasn't helpful for them. While Sarah's research certainly wouldn't stand up to academic standards, I appreciate the fact that Sarah's advice comes from more than just her own experience.
All in all, Alongside is a highly readable manual for caring for people during times of crises, informed by Sarah's Christian faith. Anyone who's ever wondered what they can do to help someone weather a time of crisis will find this book helpful, as will pastoral care teams looking for a resource to read and discuss together.
During times of crises, people want to be helpful but they don't always know how to be.
Sarah Beckman's book, Alongside, offers a practical guide for “loving your neighbor in their time of trial.” In her words, “Jesus said loving your neighbor was second in importance only to loving God. Second, He didn't say exactly how we were to love our neighbor.”
It's that dilemma that Sarah addresses head-on in Alongside. Born out of her experience with how people served her while recovering from repeated back surgeries as well as the times she walked with friends facing cancer diagnoses, Alongside is filled with personal stories about what actually is and isn't helpful during times of trial.
Sarah's personal experience with this topic enable her to offer her readers lots of wisdom about how to love others well. She's also well-aware of the unique opportunity crises bring to help people who wouldn't otherwise accept it. According to her, “Vulnerability brings with it an open door – one that often remains closed in the normal busyness of lives.”
Alongside is a highly practical resource in which Sarah reminds readers to offer specific help and challenges them to help without asking, saying “some of the best help comes from people who didn't ask permission first.” Throughout Alongside, Sarah also includes several helpful lists including how to serve others when someone dies or is facing a long-term illness.
My biggest critique of Alongside is Sarah's “research”. Throughout the book, Sarah refers often to the research she conducted before writing it, when she talked to others who have journeyed through crises to find out what was and wasn't helpful for them. While Sarah's research certainly wouldn't stand up to academic standards, I appreciate the fact that Sarah's advice comes from more than just her own experience.
All in all, Alongside is a highly readable manual for caring for people during times of crises, informed by Sarah's Christian faith. Anyone who's ever wondered what they can do to help someone weather a time of crisis will find this book helpful, as will pastoral care teams looking for a resource to read and discuss together.
February 14, 2017
Sarah Beckman speaks my language. She not only has a message I wish to hear but communicates it in a way in which I wish to hear it.
In Alongside, she addresses head-on an important issue: What holds us back from stepping out to help a friend/neighbor/acquaintance in her time of need? It’s probably not lack of concern but rather fear of doing the wrong thing: making a bad thing worse. We’ve heard the horror stories, or been there ourselves.
Thank goodness for Alongside, which is all about reducing that uncertainty, perhaps even eliminating it, so that we can joyfully — with compassion and confidence — step through the doors God opens for us, which enables us to care for those around us when they’re facing a trial. As Sarah writes,
“It is my prayer that you will see your loved one’s times of trial as a new opportunity for you to love and serve — not as a crisis of personal ability.”
My heart felt happy when I sat down to read more of this book (aided an appealing cover, which never hurts). When I opened its pages, I knew I was about to uncover practical tips to guide me in what I already want to do.
Alongside reminded me of Just Show Up: The Dance of Walking Through Suffering Together by Kara Tippetts and Jill Lynn Buteyn {which I reviewed here}. But where Just Show Up provides an insider’s look at this particular dance, Alongside puts hands and feet to it with its offering of tactical advice and practical examples to choose from. {For the record, I highly recommend them as companion books.}
After reading Alongside, I feel far more equipped to stepping out and stepping up in my loved ones’ times of need. In this handbook of practical advice, I am guided both in what not to do and what to do instead.
I doubt you need much encouragement along these lines, but I will end with what Sarah Beckman writes toward the beginning of her book because I found it so powerful and so true:
“Vulnerability brings with it an open door — one that often remains closed in the normal busyness of our lives. God intends for us to push open that door and step boldly into a person’s life when they need it most.
We are meant to be part of the physical, human illustration of God’s power. … in the midst of brokenness, there’s no better time to love our neighbor than the present.”
Alongside provides its readers a detailed roadmap for living that out.
Thanks to BlogAbout Blogger Network and Morgan James for providing me this book free of charge. All opinions are mine.
In Alongside, she addresses head-on an important issue: What holds us back from stepping out to help a friend/neighbor/acquaintance in her time of need? It’s probably not lack of concern but rather fear of doing the wrong thing: making a bad thing worse. We’ve heard the horror stories, or been there ourselves.
Thank goodness for Alongside, which is all about reducing that uncertainty, perhaps even eliminating it, so that we can joyfully — with compassion and confidence — step through the doors God opens for us, which enables us to care for those around us when they’re facing a trial. As Sarah writes,
“It is my prayer that you will see your loved one’s times of trial as a new opportunity for you to love and serve — not as a crisis of personal ability.”
My heart felt happy when I sat down to read more of this book (aided an appealing cover, which never hurts). When I opened its pages, I knew I was about to uncover practical tips to guide me in what I already want to do.
Alongside reminded me of Just Show Up: The Dance of Walking Through Suffering Together by Kara Tippetts and Jill Lynn Buteyn {which I reviewed here}. But where Just Show Up provides an insider’s look at this particular dance, Alongside puts hands and feet to it with its offering of tactical advice and practical examples to choose from. {For the record, I highly recommend them as companion books.}
After reading Alongside, I feel far more equipped to stepping out and stepping up in my loved ones’ times of need. In this handbook of practical advice, I am guided both in what not to do and what to do instead.
I doubt you need much encouragement along these lines, but I will end with what Sarah Beckman writes toward the beginning of her book because I found it so powerful and so true:
“Vulnerability brings with it an open door — one that often remains closed in the normal busyness of our lives. God intends for us to push open that door and step boldly into a person’s life when they need it most.
We are meant to be part of the physical, human illustration of God’s power. … in the midst of brokenness, there’s no better time to love our neighbor than the present.”
Alongside provides its readers a detailed roadmap for living that out.
Thanks to BlogAbout Blogger Network and Morgan James for providing me this book free of charge. All opinions are mine.
March 9, 2017
This book is a must for helping family and friends during a trial! Such valuable insight to make helping not so daunting. Every chapter is a wealth of practical information, touching stories and even some humor to lighten things up.
February 12, 2017
On a scale of cotton candy to Brussels sprouts, Alongside by Sarah Beckham is a cold glass of full fat milk. It's thick, refreshing, and nutrient-filled-bone-strengthening goodness.
[I received a free copy of this book to review, but the opinions are my own.]
Alongside challenges readers from page one to take stock of his or her relationship to the hurting person. It's not about you. And if you want to serve others well, it can never for a moment be about you. More importantly, Alongside emphasizes the gift of listening and not speaking.
Not only do I recommend Alongside, but I think it should be required reading. I know very few people who know how to walk alongside grieving individuals well (and I'm rarely good at it). If you're struggling to know when and how to care for someone in a tight spot, Alongside is for you.
[I received a free copy of this book to review, but the opinions are my own.]
Alongside challenges readers from page one to take stock of his or her relationship to the hurting person. It's not about you. And if you want to serve others well, it can never for a moment be about you. More importantly, Alongside emphasizes the gift of listening and not speaking.
Not only do I recommend Alongside, but I think it should be required reading. I know very few people who know how to walk alongside grieving individuals well (and I'm rarely good at it). If you're struggling to know when and how to care for someone in a tight spot, Alongside is for you.
October 13, 2016
A wonderful book that details the simple, practical and most meaningful ways we can help anyone who needs a helping hand. The how's, when's, and what to do/not to dos that help us be effective and thoughtful. Beckman shares her personal experiences of giving and receiving help along with many others and it's easy and enjoyable to read! I always try to help, but often feel like I'm not sure what exactly to do and this was such a great confidence builder to guide me on what to see in different situations and then how best to deliver what my heart wants to do!
September 26, 2019
I bought this book simply because the author was signing copies in my local faith bookstore. A few weeks ago I found out my Grandmother was being put on hospice care during her fight to beat cancer. I grabbed this book and clung to it. I sobbed and read and absorbed each word. I wish I had read this three years ago when my Grandmother called with her first cancer diagnosis. But this really helped me through the funeral and helping support my family and myself through losing someone so important to me. I wish everyone were required to read this book to truly understand how to help people in times of trial. We all do it wrong and don't even realize it.
September 13, 2025
Excellent resource. I took lots of notes and will keep this book handy. Great read for anyone who is interested in helping provide ANY kind of support to people suffering a loss, tragedy, illness, aging or any other trauma. And this support includes verbal, prayer and action. Loved the tips on “tiers” of relationships. Our Deacons discussed this book and extracted lots of ideas on how we can better support our congregation.
January 29, 2021
Excellent guide for understanding how to walk alongside family, friends and acquaintances going through tragedies & hard times. The author speaks from her own experience and the shared experiences of others. Super helpful & practical.
December 27, 2018
Very practical ways to connect with those going through rough times... very helpful!
April 13, 2020
Very practical advice on how to come along side of others in times of need. I recommend this book!
April 20, 2017
This book is a refreshing guide that tackles some big topics like ageism, death, divorce and other topics that we typically shy away from. The ideas were helpful and useful but also open enough for me to creatively find ways to comfort others in their time of need.
May 1, 2017
This book is a wonderful resource I'll keep on my shelf as a resource! When friends are going through rough times and you're just not sure how to help, or want to be more creative and meaningful with your way of helping, it's packed with ideas. As a wildfire survivor and resilience expert, I'm excited to come across this because the journey of healing is very bumpy and we can't do it alone. Learning to receive help was a huge lesson from our season of loss. From watching our kids to helping with meals and shopping for new furniture, dear friends and even caring acquaintances stepped in to make a real difference. I'll never forget their kindness and have a better scope of options for helping others after reading this!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews