"Peace in the Midst of Pain" will take some of the mystery from the question of "Where is God when it hurts." These meditations were written as I attempted to discover God's place and purpose in my own pain resulting from fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease, and degenerative joint disease. I have found the most sensible and meaningful answers in the Bible. "Peace in the Midst of Pain" is not my story, but God's.

The reason why I wrote this book is that I am hoping that I can reachout to others who are in pain and hopefully help them persevere and cope through life’s toughest battles. I want to encourage people who are in some type of pain in hopes that I can help them recover from it. Now, the first four chapters of this book is about my life as a child growing up in a vicious atmosphere and how this same vicious cycle always seems to repeat itself. This vicious cycle grew with me into my adulthood. This book also contains what reality is like for me and how it is for others. Reality is very different for each individual, and each individual deals with it differently. I will also tell you about how I dealt with the pain and how others can learn to deal with it too. Now, if there is someone out there who is in despair and thinks that death is the only answer to all their pain, well, please, I hope that you will continue to read this book. I do pray that it will help you or help you deal with someone you know who thinks that death is the only answer. Believe me when I say that death is not the answer, because it’s not. So my purpose of my book is to help you change your perspective on life in THE MIDST OF PAIN. But it is only now that I have come to realize that after enduring some serious traumas in my life, life is good after all, and it is such a blessing to live for God. Just think how life can bring you understanding on how to use your pain as an opportunity to help others in need, who are right in the middle of a crisis. Just when you think you can’t handle no more and that you feel like you are at the end of your rope, that is when God shows up, and God will show off his blessings in your life. Please believe me when I say that this is the most beautiful and wonderful feeling to ever have. No one can make you feel as good as God does. Now, not only will God make you feel good, but he will also change your life to the good. All you have to do is just reach out and take his hand, because he is waiting for you. This book is based on the facts and the truth about my life. Now, through the pain that I have endured, I have gained some insight for the purpose of my book. I am blessed to say that this book has changed my life, and I am in hopes that it will help change other people’s lives too. The more I read my own book, the more I learn from it. I do hope that it will do the same for you too, for it is my desire to help all those who are in need of an answer. May God bless you as you read this book!

Hardships and pain are inevitable and will be encountered in everyone's life. At some point in our life, we will experience hardships, pain, and suffering, for no one can escape them. Prepared people aren't as badly affected by the inevitability of hardships as those who aren't prepared. How you deal with hardships defines your future. Hardships and suffering define your character and make you better. Pain and hardship give one an opportunity to grow as a person. They are impermanent and won't last. Nothing in our universe escapes impermanence. Keep the truth "it won't last" in your mind. Strength comes from realizing that other people are going through what you're going through. Pain and suffering can't be avoided and sometimes come acutely. Fierce experiences are a part of life. Negative self-talk increases their effect, while positive self-talk keeps you calm. Use your words to turn negative thoughts into positive ones. Deal with stress through your self-talk. We all talk to ourselves, either out loud or in our heads. Your positive self-talk will reduce stress and help you deal with situations that cause you stress. Control your thoughts and words. Stress and anxiety can help us make the necessary changes in our lives and help us to act in our best interest. Everyone has feelings of nervousness, tension, and stress at times. Practice relaxation techniques to control your mind. Deep breathing helps the entire body let go and loosen up. Your mind and body must feel peaceful and strong in order to handle life's ups and downs. Keep your mind off of worry by focusing your thoughts on beautiful, happy, and positive things.

Can there be peace in the midst of the storm? This book shares with us how a heart and life can be shaped. Through the struggles of life, we can find peace in the storm if we can look beyond the storm, and look beyond the hills, and find our strength. I lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1 Learn how to rebound and move forward with your life in a positive way. One of the hardest choices in life is choosing whether to walk away or try harder. I’ve learned to not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. You cannot add a single hour to your life by worrying.

As people, we all struggle with stress, moments of panic, times of confusion, and other times that we feel overwhelmed and we can't sleep. And if it was up to the devil, he would be more than happy to medicate all of us with his fake remedies of alcohol and drugs. He is an opportunist, experienced in using our problems, our vulnerability, our wounding, our pain, our traumatic past experiences to get us where he wants. He is good at offering temporary relief for deeper crises of the soul. This is my true story of God stepping into my messy, shattered, and broken family life and rescuing me. You see, freedom, according to Satan, is being away from God. I don't think my son had any idea of who the devil was or how cunning he could be. He befriends to destroy, he gives to take away. As a mother of an adult struggling with addiction, my life was paralyzed. Every breath increased my pain of hopelessness and despair. I felt afraid, alone, and abandoned by God. God seemed distant, absent, silent, and unconcerned. I felt like running, but there was no place to hide. Was God punishing me? Where and how did I go wrong? Sharing my painful journey was not an easy step. I tried at all costs to hide this painful part of my life. It took years in my classroom of pain for my mind to be unshackled by the Teacher, the Holy Spirit. I no longer need to hide nor be ashamed of my challenges with my prodigal son. Nevertheless, breaking free from shame, stigma, and judgment is a process that took years. When we only let others see the beautiful parts of our stories, avoiding our broken painful chapters, we mislead people, and perhaps they envy us for what they falsely think are perfect lives. Worse, we misrepresent the power of the good news that reaches down into our broken souls, hearts, and lives to provide peace from our broken pieces. Dear waiting, praying, and expecting parents of struggling children, I believe God wants to usher you to your own breakthrough, healing, and freedom. You can learn to relinquish your child(ren) to God. Do not lose hope. Have faith. In his time, he will make all things beautiful for us! God wastes nothing, even our pain.

The life of Rachael Webster is suddenly turned upside down, when her mother breaks the news to her that she will be leaving her home in Chicago and going to live with her maternal grandparents in Tennessee. Her grandparents are two devout Christians, but Rachael feels out of place around them.Filled with rage and resentment over the decision her parents have made, Rachael sets out to destroy all her chances for happiness by rebelling against authority. Rachael admires her grandparent’s faith and has grown to respect their prayer life. She listens to Grandmother as she talks to Jesus about her in the wee hours of the night. She wonders if Jesus really cares about her the way grandma says. God’s conviction weighs heavily upon her mind as she ponders what to do next. Finally in desperation, she goes to the bathroom at the school and calls out to Jesus for her souls Salvation. She laid down her load of guilt and shame and Jesus washed her as white as the snow. Shortly thereafter, Principal prater sends a note home to her grandparents telling of a school board meeting that has been scheduled to review Rachael’s absentees at the school. The note said that they also wanted to address the subject of Rachael’s negative attitude with the other students. At the meeting, Rachael is told that she must finish the school year at The Bentley School for Wayward Girls. Rachael’s stay at the school is very unpleasant at the start. However God opens so many doors at Bentley as he demonstrates his power and love for all. Upon graduation, Rachael goes to Africa to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a missionary. Her long awaited dream of helping the unfortunates was finally going to be realized, or so she thought. Upon entering the village, however, she had serious doubts. The streets were lined with sick and dying people. It was a death camp, not a mission field, especially for the children and elderly. Burying the dead was a daily matter and weighed heavily upon Rachael. Finally in desperation she decides to go back to America and ask for help for the Kenyan people. After many failed efforts she decides to go visit her parents before going back to Africa.. Who do you suppose she runs into there. You're right, it was her old boyfriend George Fulton..After hearing about the people of Africa and their state, he quits his Chief of Staff position at the local hospital and goes back to Africa with Rachael. Many years later after a world of success, they come back home to America and settle in the little town of Townsend, Tennessee. They opened a medical clinic on their property and minister to the needs of the people who live in that area.

Is life not turning out how you expected? In the summer of 2007, Jillian Heerlyn and her husband found themselves counted among the 1 in 8 couples who have trouble getting pregnant. The first half of their 9-year battle with infertility included a considerable amount of depression and questioning God. A wrestle with infertility is ultimately a wrestle with God. Hope Deferred is the guidebook that enabled Jillian to rise above her circumstances with joy, peace, hope and a deeper relationship with God. What if turning to God is painful? What if fear and doubt are making it difficult to hope? Is God causing infertility in order to teach a lesson? Is God able to intervene, but choosing not to for some reason? Why is everyone else able to get pregnant so easily? Hope Deferred dives into these tough questions and more, and addresses the difficulties surrounding infertility, while offering the tools needed to have hope and peace even when circumstances are not resolved. The truths carefully presented will help heal the heart and mind of the one who is affected by infertility. Even those who are past child-bearing age will find salve to cover old wounds. With honesty and authenticity, Jillian shares the pain and trials that plagued her through infertility. She opens the door into her journey and invites you to join her in finding greater freedom, joy and peace while enduring difficult circumstances. You will quickly realize that, although your story is unique, you have a sister who understands. This book is a must read for anyone personally dealing with infertility and for loved ones to gain insight into the infertility journey. This book speaks to anyone who has ever lived with an unmet desire.

We live in a society filled with broken people. Over the years the church has had to make a fundamental decision regarding those of us who have faced such trying times. This book, although speaks about divorce, death, financial difficulties, is a book about how someone like me faced one of the most difficult times in my life. This book is not about how unfaithful we are, but rather, how faithful God is. Through some of our darkest times-those caused by our own choices and those allowed by God, we see just how faithful God is. If you are struggling to find answers, if you are struggling to find solutions, this book is written for you. It demonstrates through the Word of God that we could find peace in some of life's most dangerous storms. The storm of death, the storm of divorce, the storm of financial ruin are nothing compared to God's ability to take our broken world and heal it. All too often the church has failed to minister to those of us who are broken, to those of us who have baggage, and to those of us who need deep spiritual, emotional, and psychological healing. This book chronicles my marriage that fell a part when my then wife lost a pregnancy. Watching my marriage fall a part and incapable of fixing it, I journeyed on a 40 day fast. This book is the result of the insight God gave me concerning my hardship. I invite you to take this journey with me and hopefully along the way you discover what I did so many years ago. The very fact that God is faithful and that no matter what you are facing God is on your side.

Through personal testimonies and stories from God's word, Cruze demonstrates how a few simple principles can make a difference in people's lives. She provides practical tools for discovering peace as one grows in his or her relationship with Christ. (Practical Life)

Are you depressed, living in doubt, unbelieving, fearful, anxious, confused, and grieving? Do you believe God has abandoned you? God Almighty is always there for you. Have you been going through a bad marriage? Have you been divorced? Do you want to end your life from all the misery from within and without? Oh, my little ones, God is not even a breath away. He is there for you. Are you the one God is calling out to? God is the god of peace and love. He is waiting for you to call out the name of Jesus for his gentle touch of salvation. He wants to free you from death, hell, and the grave. Are you the one who has run away from Jesus and his loving hands of forgiveness? Come back to him. He did not leave you. You are mad at him, but he is not mad at you. Are you the one who has lost your little child, wife, husband, brother, or sister? God Almighty, the creator of your very being, is there for you—always loving, always caring, always blessing. I have your answer, my friend. His name is Jesus Christ, the son of the living God. He is alpha and omega, our beginning, and with his presence, there will never be an end. Let me share with you my personal collection of psalms, poems, and thoughts, which God has given to me throughout the years. It is my heartfelt prayer that if you can relate to any of these life issues, you are the one this book was written for to give you peace in the midst of the storms of life. —J. Michael Vessels