In a poetic, powerful, passionate, and challenging book, Diane Langberg, with her many years of counseling experience, takes us on a disturbing (and healing) journey into the hearts of the survivors of many different types of terrible trauma all over the worldinto our own bent and broken hearts, and then into the heart of an amazing, loving God who was humiliated, crucified, and abandoned so that we (and the whole creation) might be healed and delivered from the power of evil. This is a superb master-class in counseling and pastoral care with a gifted, experienced, and wise therapist.
Richard Winter, MD, Therapist and Professor of Practical Theology and Counseling, Covenant Theological Seminary
Through this book, Dr. Langberg names one of the most insidious threats to spiritual health in our generation: trauma and the wounded heart. While disturbing, her unrelenting campaign identifies the next mission field of the church, those who are suffering silently. This book is for all who hunger to help a loved one, congregant, or client apply the truth of Gods Word as a healing ointment to the hidden anguish that trauma leaves in its wake.
Roy Peterson, President, American Bible Society
This book reflects the glory and love of God throughout forty years of counseling experience. Diane is a masterful teacher and counselor for victims of abuse and violence. Reflecting Christ, she inspires new and experienced counselors and encourages them to bring the love of God to suffering hearts. This book is a masterpiece.
Luciene Schalm, President of REVER (Restoring Lives, Equipping Restorers) Ministry, Brazil; missionary of Comunidade Crist Silo
We live in a broken world and evil is real. Where the true light of the gospel of Christ goes, the darkness of evil in this world retreats. William Wilberforce reflected the character of Christ into the eighteenth century British Empire and faithfully led the fight against slavery for forty years until it was outlawed. Diane Langberg has for forty years looked into the eyes of those wounded by evil and been a powerful voice for healing, justice, and truth. This book is a place of insight, wisdom, encouragement, and challenge for the body of Christ to love our precious Lord and to reflect his heart and love to the brokenhearted.
Greg Pritchard, PhD, Director, European Leadership Forum President, Forum of Christian Leaders
Diane Langberg has seen the effects of trauma all over the globe from Rwandan survivors of genocide, to inner city kids plagued with PTSD, to suburban moms trapped in violent marriages, to middle schoolers who cut themselves just to feel something, to big steeple pastors in American churches. Suffering is real and it really hurts body and soul. In Suffering and the Heart of God , Diane Langberg never diminishes the pain of suffering, but neither does she despair. By looking to the suffering of the cross of Christ, Diane Langberg leads us to hope and healing.
Frank A. James, PhD, DPhil, President, Biblical Theological Seminary
This book is a powerful invitation into the fellowship of the suffering, a reparative work of the vulnerable, afflicted, and abused. Dr. Langberg is gentle and caring to the victims, confrontational to the abusers, and challenging to the church, which often fails to be a refuge. As a therapist and trainer, this is the best manual Ive seen on what a therapists heart should look like. A good portion of the book is dedicated to teaching how not to be consumed by the evil in this world, pointing to Christ who can offer restoration to all.
Stefana-Ioana Racorean, Family psychotherapist and trainer, Dianoia Institute of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice; The Association of Christian Psychologists in Romania
As someone who has prosecuted, investigated, and confronted child sexual abuse for over twenty years, I have encountered dark suffering up close. As a Christian, I have spent many hours agonizing how to reconcile such suffering with a God who calls himself love. Suffering and the Heart of God is an amazing book that does a masterful job in helping to see suffering through the heart of a loving God who knows and understands suffering and the pain it creates. This book brings hope to the sufferer who wonders where God is in the midst of it all. Its a must-read!
Boz Tchividjian, JD, Executive Director, GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment)
I challenge you to name a more influential Christian psychologist today than Dr. Langberg. This is not hyperbole! While an impressive communicator, brilliant thinker, and an astute therapist, the real reason for her influence is her willingness to be a student firstof broken people, of herself, and of God. Too often influential leaders spend much time touting themselves. This book will show you something different, in that you will see more of God and his heart for suffering people than you will of Dr. Langbergjust as she would want it.
Philip G. Monroe, PsyD, Professor of Counseling & Psychology, Biblical Seminary Graduate School of Counseling and Global Trauma Recovery Institute
God never wastes a wound. He is in the midst of our darkest moment revealing himselffull of love, truth, hope, and healing. This book is an absolute treasurea gift of grace to us all.
Tim Clinton, President, American Association of Christian Counseling
Diane Langberg brings to these moving essays decades of experience working with trauma survivors in the United States and abroad. This is no arms-length reflection on the nature of human suffering. Throughout, she repeatedly points her readers to Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant, who is the only hope for victim and perpetrator alikeand for the counselor who desires to be used by God to make a difference amidst terrible brokenness and sin.
Michael R. Emlet, MDiv, MD, Faculty and Counselor, the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF); author of CrossTalk: Where Life and Scripture Meet
Do not read this book unless you are genuinely open to being led by the Holy Spirit to become more involved in ministering to the least of these in Christs name. Dr. Langberg has written a powerful and thorough summary of the complex reality of trauma in our world today. She has described Christs Gethsemane weeping and his Calvary caring for those who are wounded and needy, and she calls us to weep and to watch and to care with him. She challenges usWill we weep and watch and care, or will we sleep?
Dr. Samuel Logan , Associate International Director, The World Reformed Fellowship, www.wrfnet.org
As a Rwandan who lived through genocide, experienced my own trauma, and witnessed trauma for my people and my clients, I know firsthand the truth of what Diane teaches in this book. Until you understand the psychology of evil, sin, and suffering, many things will remain hidden and unanswered, but Christ can transform lives affected by emotional trauma into instruments to restore life and turn victim into victor. Thank you, Diane, for addressing this difficult and often hidden topic.
Baraka Paulette Uwingeneye, President, Rwandan Association of Christian Counselors; Director of Aftercare, International Justice Mission, Rwanda
Diane drops insightful one-liners like others drop names. I remember the first time I heard her describe trauma as the mission field of the twenty-first century. Suddenly, everything we were grappling with in the field made sense. A thousand lightbulbs went off. Synapses clicked. That one sentence opened up a new direction in my personal life and vocation. Read at your own risk because theres no going back to the way life was before.
