In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart: Hope for the Hurting

by Ruth Graham, Billy Graham (Foreword), Stacy Mattingly (Primary Contributor)

Ruth Graham - daughter of beloved evangelist Billy Graham - offers a guide for those who are hurting or those who love them. She illustrates through personal stories and Scripture how nothing can keep you from experiencing the fullness of God's grace. Run with Ruth to the arms of the God you can trust, the Father God who embraces, sustains, and redeems your brokenness. Ruth Graham has discovered through bitter personal experience that God does his great work in the ruins of our lives. As Ruth's life descended through divorce, depression, and shame; as she bore heartrending parental struggles; and as she faltered trying to make wise choices in the wake of bad ones, she discovered the unending embrace of a faithful, forgiving, and grace-filled God. This book surpasses the testimony of her fascinating story as she brings sharp new insight from the Word of God for all who fear their actions may be beyond forgiveness or their broken circumstances may keep them from being used by God ever again. Through the words of Jeremiah - the weeping prophet - Ruth reveals the God who makes wasted places come to life. You'll explore the parable of the Prodigal Son as never before as Ruth discloses her own likeness to each Ruth includes practical steps in every chapter anyone can take to offer care, support, and hope to the broken people they encounter in their lives and in the pews beside them every Sunday.

Genres: Christian, Faith, Biography, Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction, Christian Living

240 pages, Paperback

First published July 9, 2004

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Graham is the child of Billy Graham & Ruth Bell Graham

Reviews

[raccoon reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oooookay. Where to begin. First let me say- Ruth did a good job of reading her account of these sections of her life. Second, the book was well written. Third, I was at a disadvantage because I did not know this was the abridged version of the book. I think this caused a lot of odd gaps as all abridged versions do. I NEVER listen to abridged audios for this reason. They usually end up missing key points or sections and the reader is left disliking the book that they might have otherwise liked. I cannot testify that if I'd had the unabridged that the book would have fared any better but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt that it might have improved it's star rating.

I feel that Ruth made incredibly bad choices over and over even up until the end of the book (where she admitted she had failed in her 3rd! marriage.) She never seemed to really learn from her mistakes. She might admit she made them but she never seemed to actually learn from them. She is not qualified to offer advice to people in the same situation if she cannot take her own advice and improve her life. Up until the last cd, till the last minutes she is confessing failure after failure and offering you advice in the same breath. I would not listen to this cd or recommend it to anyone for anything other than watching a train wreck happen and for the satisfaction of hearing another persons sob story. While there may be good advice in there, how come she can't take it herself and fix her life? She also thoroughly wrecked her children's lives, sending one (who had two!!! teenage pregnancies) to live in an unwed mothers home and forcing her tearfully to give up the baby only to let her keep the second one and saying "oh wow she's a really great mom and she does so good and I can't imagine ever having given up THIS baby.." (paraphrased quote of course). So you do think it was right to give up the other one, but not this one because "he's so special" and "a blessing" to your family? What the hell did you think the other one was? A demon child? I feel very sad for the adopted child when it reads that passage years down the road. And couldn't you have given her that opportunity to keep the other child? Maybe she wouldn't have felt the need to repeat the behavior if she had actually lived with the results. And the poor girl wanted to keep the baby so badly. The scene is heartbreaking to read.

I'm so glad I never had this woman as a mother. Not only did she have one child with two teenage pregnancies. She had one who suffered from Bulimia which was never explained when or how that was resolved. Then a son very badly addicted to drugs and who seems to have just barely gotten his life together by the end of the book. I feel very sorry for this woman's children. And very sorry that either the advice she gives is not applicable to her own life, or that she is incapable of the will to obey her own advice, or that the advice is bogus and worthless.

I was very disappointed in this book and this woman's life. It was all just very sad and frustrating to read.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the book had many good points on surviving crises, both personal and family, there were times I felt as if I was reading a written pity party.

[JJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read many beautiful personal testimonies of redemption and forgiveness. Ones that show how God’s mercy transforms our sins into triumphs. This is not one of them. I have never wanted to throw a book quite like this one. Ruth never truly writes with a feeling of true humility. Her decisions greatly effected the lives of her three children but somehow she never takes responsibility. I thought this book might be a good one to recommend for those struggling in their marriage or with their children. I can’t recommend a book that speaks of scriptures but truly doesn’t understand that humility is the strongest testimony in changing our lives in Christ.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was encouraged and comforted by this memoir/self-help book, in which Ruth Graham talks about the unexpected trials she's experienced and what she learned from them. Each chapter focuses on a specific tough time in her life, and is supplemented with advice, discussion questions, and pertinent Bible verses. I appreciate such a prominent Christian being so honest about her struggles - and I know it wasn't easy for her, since she addresses that in the book.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the few things tougher than being a Pastor is being a Pastor's wife or Pastor's kid. But imagine if your Dad was America's Pastor. Poor Ruth has had a tough time of it with two divorces and struggles with both her kids. She has worked her way through a lot of this but sometimes comes off a little 'whiney.'

(Note: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book. 3 = Very good; 4 = Outstanding {only about 5% of the books I read merit this}; 5 = All time favorites {one of these may come along every 400-500 books})

[Robert Conder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was unsure of what to expect from the book. Ruth opens up her life and tells you how through her faith in God she made it through but acknowledges that she is still growing in and seeking Christ in her life as we all should. This is an acknowledgement that no matter who we are, how rich we are or how poor we are, there are people sitting in our pews with broken hearts. I would recommend this book to anyone who seeks to love their neighbor.

[Susie Kinsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an amazing book. Ruth is extremely transparent and vulnerable in sharing her life, her strengths, weaknesses, pitfalls, disasters, and ultimately the redemptive grace and mercy of God. It is a precious book and I encourage everyone to read it. It’s a beautiful reminder of how much God loves us in our mess.

[Kenzie O'Hara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a daughter of an evangelist does not guarantee a faultless, unencumbered life. Her struggles sent her into despair, but her faith kept her afloat. A good testament, even if you aren't religious. Trust yourself to be strong, and know that change is inevitable.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many other reviewers I saw the author describing mistakes but not seeming to learn from them and repeating many of them. She also seemed to lack self confidence that may have aggravated her situations. The book itself was well written.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit slow at times, but I gained some good insights from this book.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a healing book for those who are hurting.

[Deb Stucky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Authentic , everyone makes mistakes even Billy grahams daughter.

[Byron Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

Como novela no es malo pero tampoco deja grandes aprendizajes

[Onyx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest, heartfelt, balanced

[Melinda Waldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved so much I ordered my own copy! I rarely, if ever, do that.

[Karen Sword · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I needed to read at this point in my life! A wonderful balm for my soul!

[Tabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth Graham writes with refreshing honesty about the peaks and valleys of her own life, and intersperses her life story with teaching sections relating what she learned from her experiences and how it affected her walk with the Lord. I really appreciated her focus on the importance of praising God, especially when things are hard. I have found this important to practice in my own life, helping to turn around situations where I was stuck asking God "Why?" and struggling to trust Him in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Reading her life story gives helpful perspective on how God is in the process of working out all things for our good, including the parts of lives over which we may feel the most pain and shame.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever sat in church feeling like God has failed you and fellow Christians don't understand your troubles, read this book! I read it as an assignment, but it blessed me beyond measure. Ruth Graham, daughter of Billy Graham, has suffered though three divorces, and the troubled lives of her children, all while the expectations of others hung over her head, seemingly condemning her every step of the way. As the title indicates, she never abandoned the pew, but many times, she sat there broken, confused, and strongly desiring the faith of her parents. If you've ever been embarrassed by your trials, read this book! You will be encouraged, uplifted, and convinced that you aren't alone in your struggles and that God is working through those trials to show Himself faithful.

[Kristen Lester · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really bummed in this book. I felt like Ruth thought she should be exempt from life problems because of who her dad (Billy Graham) is and when she was going through a hard time and decided to tell her parents she was terrified to even share for fear of what they might say or do. That to me was not a picture of them being loving or practicing what they preach. There was a lot of shockers in this book for me and I walk away from this book going wow.......
Ruth did have some very valid points but at the same time there was several things I didn't agree with her on. Definitely a read to form an opinion for yourself I was just sadly disappointed.

[UmLayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not fully comfortable with her intended audience of church-going american christians but I understand that is her world. The incredible thing about this book is how she was able to articulate her pain, confusion, anger and bewilderment about how her life was unfolding. She gives a clear and precise example of how to stay in touch with your heart and with God in the midst of it. I was really blown away by how she was able to express these complicated and difficult ideas. She must have had a really good editor. Totally worth a read.

[Daphney Mashamaite · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a treasure and a must-read for those who have had disappointments in their lives. In this book Ruth shares from her heart what she went through in an open way that will make anyone who has been through similar disappointments and family or relationship pain begin to shed tears reading the book, and you can actually picture what she is sharing as if you are watching a movie. Reading the book can also help those in counselling but haven't experienced divorce understand what it is like from someone who is healed and restored, and doesn't hide anything now.

[April Corlew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book showing us how to walk through the valley without losing our faith and also how to come alongside others in the valley in word, deed and heart. I was very impressed at the transparency of Ruth's story and the credibility her journey gave her to speak the truths she did. I am thankful for her courage to not let being Billy Graham 's daughter hinder her from bearing her heart and allow us to learn from her journey!

[AJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a brutally honest portrayal of her own life struggles, Ruth Graham reaches out to any and all who are hurting from their own sins or the sins of others. Here the reader will find no condemnation. She also reveals the challenge for all modern Christians to be real and transparent instead of working so hard to keep the outside all looking soooo good. This is a sad story but perhaps it can help others understand they are not alone in the mess.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A TREMENDOUS BOOK!!! I am only 34 pages in and I've already given it 5 stars! I was afraid that this book would be filled with pious platitudes. Ms. Graham shares her pain and her struggles. She also tells you that it takes TIME and patience with yourself when you are
hurting. I do feel that this book was written for ME.
Useful for any hurting person and any kind of hurt!!

[Ti-Leigh Telford]

Hmm. I found her story frustrating. It seemed like when things were starting to get straightened out something else would happen. A lot of the things were outside her control and she did seem to handle them responsibly. It just seems like she couldn't get a break. I liked how she tied her own story to biblical stories and how to handle it if it's happening to someone you know.

[Ann Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Searches the scriptures for help, hope and guidance to deal with life's blows and our own failures. Also teaches how we can offer practical, loving support to broken hearts who sit beside us in church pews. She tells the story of her husband's adultery and her own struggles and mistakes. Enormously helpful.

[Ingrid Shanklin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book because the author takes you into the very heart and soul of her broken life. I was drawn into her story because it was so unexpected...the daugher of the most famous evangelist in history had a history that read just like everyone else's. that was the beauty of the book,her pain and suffering and subsequent triumph as displayed for all to read.

[Clara Dearmore Strom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth Graham, daughter of evangelist Billy Graham, shares her struggles honestly. Do Christian's have it all togehter? Not always, even when you think that they have followed the recipe for happiness. God's grace is good enough for all of us.

[Kesi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is on hold in my Kindle. This was my go-to book when pastors and others in the church I was attending were against me seeking a divorce. It's a great book I want to get back to. Billy Graham's daughter shows readers that tough things really do happen to EVERYONE.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

A scripture-based, brutally honest & open sharing of walking with God through challenging life struggles; heart wrenching @ times... but ultimately encouraging in the truth that GOD IS IN CONTROL.