Scott Sauls - Beautiful People Dont Just Happen: How God Redeems Regret, Hurt, and Fear in the Making of Better Humans

This deeply pastoral book shows how suffering creates beauty in us just as long pressure turns ordinary material into diamonds. Christians are called neither to stoicism nor despair before adversity but to face it as Christ did, going through death to resurrection. A highly accessible Christian theology of suffering.

Tim Keller, pastor emeritus, Redeemer Presbyterian Church

This is an extremely tender yet powerfully thoughtful volume that will help you embrace God through every affliction. For what Scott has written here is a definitive guide that will help every sufferer find their way back to hope, wholeness, and spiritual health. I give this remarkable book a double thumbs-up!

Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center

This wonderful, hope-infused book reminds us how God takes hard and ugly experiences and uses them to craft tenderhearted beautiful people. You shouldnt read this book just once; pull it out every couple of years to remind yourself that because of Gods grace, hurt and fear dont winbeauty does.

Paul David Tripp, author, New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional and Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesnt Make Sense

Scott gently lifts our weary heads to behold our Fathers grace and the glorious hope that we have in Christ to show us that our suffering is not in vain. This is a book that provides gospel-saturated meaning to our suffering, and it is a book that every Christian should read and read again.

Bryan Loritts, teaching pastor, The Summit Church

Scott Sauls gives us a most needed word of healing and regeneration at a time when so many of our words are utterly wounding. For those whose trauma and pain seems large or small: read this book and be prepared for God to draw forth your beauty, emerging as it will beyond your imagination and from the places you would least expect.

Curt Thompson, MD, author, The Soul of Desire and The Soul of Shame

What Scott shares in this book provides meaningful help in addressing the depression, anxiety, and mental-health crises that have enveloped our culture. God makes beauty out of our regret, hurt, and fear. We are grateful for a seasoned, graceful, and humble guide like Scott Sauls to show us how.

Sissy Goff, therapist and author of Raising Worry-Free Girls, and David Thomas, therapist and author of Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys

I read everything I can find by Scott Sauls, and I cant help but think this might be his best book yet. Too many of us feel we have to hide behind an image of confidence and stability and put-togetherness. This honest, vulnerable, hopeful book shows us another way and does so with clarity, candor, and kindness. You will be glad you read it, and youll want to read it again.

Russell Moore, Christianity Today

Jesus path to beauty and glory through suffering belongs to all his people in some measure. My brother and friend Scott Sauls has given us a gift. With pastoral sensitivity and care, he takes us to the heart of a beautiful God who wastes none of our tears.

Irwyn L. Ince Jr., author, The Beautiful Community: Unity, Diversity, and the Church at Its Best

As were coming out of a season of communal and personal loss, this book reads like a rope ladder of mercy, lifting us out of the pit of suffering and into the sunlight of Gods wisdom. Scott makes space for our brokenness and gives testimony to the grace that delivers us out of the low places of our shame and sorrow, up onto the high ground of Gods strength.

Sandra McCracken, singer-songwriter and recording artist

Each time I turned a page in this book, I felt less and less alone. Scott understands my woundedness because he has been there. And as we walked together, chapter by chapter, he exposed the lies Ive told myself, replacing them with the truths of God. This is a trustworthy guidebook toward healing and hope, written by a man who cares.

Al Andrews, founder, Porters Call

In Isaiah 61:3, God promises to turn ashes to beauty, mourning to joy, and a spirit of despair to praise. But how? In this life-giving book, Scott Sauls pulls back the curtain on Gods redeeming lovea love that restores and heals beyond our wildest imaginations. Read it and take heart. Our God will restore all that is broken, even us.

Hannah Anderson, author, Turning Days: Lessons from Nature, Season, and Spirit

This is the book we need to understand that our weariness is not a burden to Jesus, the church, or our own growth as believers. Sauls invites us to embrace struggle as part of the human experience and to take heart in the fact that when we are weak, he is strong.

Rachel Joy Welcher, author, Talking Back to Purity Culture; editor, Lexham Press and Fathom magazine

If youre in search of a book selling a gimmicky God who seeks fickle followers, leave this one on the shelf. But if youre open to a God who is far better than what we can conceive or control, and an author-pastor who has lived some harsh realities and dared to plot out a faithful way to sustain the Jesus journey, I urge you to read the wisdom in this book.

A. J. Sherrill, author, Being with God; lead pastor, Saint Peters Church

You hold in your hands perhaps one of the greatest treasures for sinners and suffererslike me, like all of us. Stories shared, hope offered, and biblical insights revealed in these pages speak directly to our crippling fears. Scott reminds us that our darkest stains and deepest wounds will never be wasted if we take small, faithful steps to entrust our worsts to Christ.

Mattie Jackson Selecman, author, Lemons on Friday: Trusting God through My Greatest Heartbreak

Scott Sauls pens hallowed words. Though we are pelleted by adversity, loss, and pain, he helps us become more pliable to Christ and the Spirit that we may walk in cadence with our creator. This book overflows with wisdom, everyday tactics, and aha! moments to help you live the beautiful life youre meant for. Dont miss this stunning gift to all of us.

Margaret Feinberg, author, More Power to You

Scott Sauls shows us how Gods grace is at work in our sorrows and how Gods ways are learned in the crucible of our afflictions. I found this bookequal parts personally vulnerable and pastorally wiseto be my favorite of Scotts books to date, and one I cant wait to share with others.

David P. Cassidy, pastor, Spanish River Church; author, Indispensable

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ZONDERVAN BOOKS

Beautiful People Dont Just Happen

Copyright 2022 by Scott Sauls

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Zondervan titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email SpecialMarkets@Zondervan.com.

ISBN 978-0-310-36346-0 (audio)

Epub Edition April 2022 9780310363453

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Sauls, Scott, author.

Title: Beautiful people dont just happen : how God redeems regret, hurt, and fear in the making of better humans / Scott Sauls.