Hope for Heavy Hearts was born out of seven years of intense spiritual trial in my personal life. The principles in the book are those which carried me through and gave me hope. I have no doubt that they will offer you hope as well. The work is a collection of 12 short, inspiring essays rooted in biblical truth as well as the real world. The chapters can be read in order or in order of preference and are not meant to be exhaustive expositions of theological truth, but short, readable essays intended to offer immediate hope and encouragement to the reader.

Join author Ellen Richardson, a trained individual, marriage and family therapist, in Hope for the Heavy Heart: For the War-Weary and the Heaven-bent as she teaches that just as we did not create ourselves or will ourselves into being, the way of and time of our death needs to be left in the hands of the Creator. She learned this when unbelievable circumstances led her to try to take her own life, an attempt that landed her in a wheelchair. If your suffering has ever led you to think of ending your life, you need to read Hope for the Heavy Heart: For the War-Weary and the Heaven-bent. Raised in a highly dysfunctional family, Ellen Richardson was diagnosed with major depression in her early 20s. Despite these challenges, she completed two degrees, including a Master of Divinity in Counseling. In her life, she had three near-fatal suicide attempts, one of which left her a paraplegic in May, 2001. Since then, she has worked as a therapist, has led group therapy, was leader/coordinator of an adult Bible class, has preached, and is currently a co-facilitator and speaker for the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario.

She's seen slave dungeons in Ghana. Genocide in Rwanda. Systemic sexual abuse in Brazil. Child abuse and domestic violence in the US. After forty years of counseling abuse survivors around the world, Dr. Diane Langberg, a world renowned trauma expert, remains certain that what trauma destroys, Christ can and does restore. This book will convince you, too, of the healing heart of God. But it's not a fast process, instead much patience is required from family, friends, and counselors as they wisely and respectfully help victims unpack their traumatic suffering through talking, tears, and time. And it's not a process that can be separated from the work of God in both a counselor and counselee. Dr. Langberg calls all of those who wish to help sufferers to model Jesus's sacrificial love and care in how they listen, love, and guide. The heart of God is revealed to sufferers as they grow to understand the cross of Christ and how their God came to this earth and experienced such severe suffering that he too is "well-acquainted with grief." The cross of Christ is the lens that transforms and redeems traumatic suffering and its aftermath, not only for the sufferer, but it also transforms those who walk with the suffering. This book will be a great help to anyone who loves, listens to, and seeks to help someone impacted by trauma and abuse. There is no quick fix, but there is the hope for healing through the love of God in Christ.

Celebrate feelings in all their shapes and sizes in this New York Times bestselling picture book from the Growing Hearts series! Happiness, sadness, bravery, anger, shyness . . . our hearts can feel so many feelings! Some make us feel as light as a balloon, others as heavy as an elephant. In My Heart explores a full range of emotions, describing how they feel physically, inside, with language that is lyrical but also direct to empower readers to practice articulating and identifying their own emotions. With whimsical illustrations and an irresistible die-cut heart that extends through each spread, this gorgeously packaged and unique feelings book is sure to become a storytime favorite.