Suffering and the Heart of God: How Trauma Destroys and Christ Restores

When someone suffers through trauma, can healing happen? And, if yes, how does it happen? Dr. Diane Langberg tackles these complex and difficult questions with the insights she has gained through more than forty years of counseling those whose lives have been destroyed by trauma and abuse. Her answer carefully explained in Suffering and the Heart of God is Yes, what trauma destroys, Jesus can and does restore.

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 Jesus 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 Jesus 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 Christian 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 Jesus Christ.

Diane Langberg, PhD, is a world-recognized authority on sex-trafficking and violence against women, setting up training programs to assist Rwandans and many others around the world in working with victims of trauma. She also directs her own Christian counseling practice, employing about fifteen other counselors and was cofounder of The Place of Refuge, an inner-city nonprofit in Philadelphia that works with the traumatized. Among Dr. Langberg's books are Suffering and the Heart of God, Counsel for Pastors' Wives, On the Threshold of Hope, and Counseling Survivors of Sexual Abuse. Learn more about Dr. Langberg at DianeLangberg.com.