BOOK REVIEW

Thursday, February 18, 2010

DESPERATE HOPE --When Faith in God Overcame My Despair
By Candi Pearson-Shelton

FROM THE BACK OF THE BOOK: A fiercely honest yet faithful meditation on one family's journey through sorrow. As her younger brother battled for life in the ICU, Candi Pearson-Shelton and her family sat waiting and praying clinging to hope. Rick Pearson died anyway, at age twenty-three. But in those tense ICU days and the painful months that followed, the family discovered a kind of mission: to see God's glory shining through the sorrow of their own broken desires.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Candi Pearson-Shelton is a worship leader, songwriter, and independent artist. Known for her involvement with the Passion worship movement, she also wrote and performed the title track on the Dove-award-winning album Glory Revealed. She and her husband, Jonathan, live in Southern California with their son, Elias.

MY REVIEW: Andy Stanley, pastor of North Point Community Church said, "I personally saw this family triumph despite death's realities and believe anyone who reads this story will find fresh inspiration to stay close to God--even when it's tempting to turn away." I agree with him that anyone who reads this story will find fresh inspiration to stay close to God--even when it's tempting to turn away. That's reason enough for reading this book. I strongly agree with Louie Giglio's words from the Foreword: "It's staggering to grasp, but God's awareness of our lives, and His concern for everything we do, would absolutely blow our minds if we could really comprehend the sum of His thoughts toward us every day."

This book is a Christ-centered testimony that will touch your heart and help you to know how to live in a world of grief, doubt and despair. It will lift you up, turn your eyes upon Christ and give you hope. But hope alone is not enough. Candi writes that "Hope, with faith in our faithful God, can support the questions we have about living with our wounds.

(The book was given to me by The B&B Media Group. Inc.)