Embracing Brokenness: How God Refines Us Through Life's Disappointments

by Alan E. Nelson

He loves me, He loves me not. When you encounter a painful event in your life-divorce, death of a family member, financial setback-you might wonder if God really loves "If He cares so much about me, why does He put me through times of suffering and brokenness?" Actually, God doesn't use tough times to punish you-He uses them to help you reach a level of spiritual maturity that cannot otherwise be reached. What feels uncomfortable now only makes you stronger and more beautiful down the road. In fact, God uses the breaking process out of love, hoping you'll respond to it in a way that brings you closer to Him. In Embracing Brokenness, Pastor Alan Nelson offers an encouraging look at the hopeful side of brokenness. Understanding the process of brokenness won't necessarily stop the hurting, but it will make the pain much more bearable. And you won't have to play the game of "He loves me, He loves me not," because you'll clearly know the depth of God's love for you.

Genres: Christianity, Christian, Christian Living

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Alan E. Nelson, Ed.D., is a social entrepreneur, professor, and young leader expert, who lives near Los Angeles, California. He has a graduate degree in psychology-communication and doctorate in leadership (University of San Diego). As an adjunct professor at USC Marshall School of Business, the Naval Postgraduate School, and Pepperdine University, he teaches leadership, org behavior and change, and related topics.

At midlife, Alan came to the conclusion that the best leadership development is used on adults, after they're set in their ways. He began his pioneering work on identifying and developing 10-18 year olds, gifted in leadership. "The goal is to get to leaders while they're moldable, not moldy," Nelson quips. He is the founder of LeadYoung Training Systems (www.LeadYoungTraining.com) and KidLead Inc. (a non-profit).

Dr. Nelson is the author of 20 books, over 200 articles, and 150 hours of young leader training curricula. He's a corporate trainer and keynoter, focusing on an array of topics, usually related to his writings. He lives with his wife of 36 years, Nancy, in Thousand Oaks, CA.

Reviews

[Beth Peninger]

Originally I gave this title 5 stars. I am revising my stars to zero.

The reason I am doing so is that since reading this title, several things about my faith journey and expression have changed and I no longer subscribe to evangelical ideologies.

[Danny Vanderbyl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I've already spent two months with this little book, and I'm a fast reader when I'm passionate like this! But alas, this is NOT the kind of book you can swallow whole; it demands to be nibbled and digested slowly as it becomes a part of you. I am surprised and amazed by what I have already learned from this hidden gem of a book.

The key phrase is "God doesn't want to break us like glass, he wants to break us like a horse (that we might become champions)." God is like that "horse whisperer" of movie fame. I really am doing injustice to the book by summing it up in a sentence like that, so all I can say is please do read it; you won't regret it. :)

I'll update my review once I finish the book :)
Cheers.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is some good material here on a much neglected theme.