Review of When the Hurt Runs Deep

Kay Arthur's book, When the Hurt Runs Deep is for people who are suffering through past and/or present circumstances. Arthur attempts to point people to God through His word in the midst of their hurt. It is an honest evaluation of how and why we suffer and what we can do about it.


In the first section Arthur deals with suffering and hurt that a person is not responsible for. Maybe you were abused as a child or a loved one is terminably ill. Arthur provides a side by side analysis with real life scenarios and the Biblical accounts of Joseph and Job. She draws on what God has to say about these godly men's sufferings and what He has to say to us about our own struggles with trauma or hard circumstances in our own lives.

The second section explores the different ways a person can bring suffering on themselves, perhaps through drug or alcohol addiction or having an abortion. Arthur discusses the stories of Judah's disobedience to God and particularly King Manessah. Through scripture she shows that no matter what anyone has done, help and healing can come through confession and prayer. I appreciate that she doesn't gloss over the need to admit our wrongdoing and confess it as sin. She clearly and accurately asserts that no forgiveness and recovery can take place until this initial step is taken.

In the final section Arthur discusses why we, as Christians, must suffer at all. She tackles many of the fallacies that some Christians believe -such as feeling entitled to a trouble-free or prosperous life now that they have come to salvation. She shows scripture to reveal the cost of discipleship and the hardship that can be expected to come for Christians.

The end of the book has an individual or small group study guide. Kay Arthur's personal narrative style suffuses with compassion. God has used her own trials to allow her to be a comfort to others. Indeed, through this book Arthur demonstrates 2 Corinthians 1:4 (the God of all comfort) “who comforts us in all our troubles so we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort that we ourselves have received from God.” (NIV)
I received this book as a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review by Blogging for Books.











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