In this updated edition of What Works When Life Doesn’t, Stuart Briscoe shares solid answers from a most unexpected place—the book of Psalms. Popular author Stuart Briscoe understands that for many Christians the wonderful promises and benefits of Christianity do not seem to work. Happiness is elusive, doing right does not always pay, stress is not eased, and suffering continues. Far from more bedtime devotionals, the psalms speak plainly to today's postmodern uncertainty with directness and relevance. Briscoe selects twelve psalms that show how happiness, joy, and meaning are more than good feelings resulting from pleasant circumstances. Rather, these blessings result from knowing that God is in control of every situation and that he walks with us through our pain and fears. Far from delivering a head-in-the-clouds, "be more holy" sermon, this book deals head-on with the stuff of being human—failure, sin, self-doubt, unbelief, depression, and stress; showing how God's ancient wisdom can make life work in today's tough times.

Sometimes life just hurts. Out of nowhere, death, illness, unemployment, or a difficult relationship can change our lives and challenge everything we thought we knew—leaving us feeling unable to cope. But, in the midst if all this pain and confusion, we are not alone. Weaving together his personal story, pastoral ministry experience, and biblical insights, best-selling author Paul David Tripp helps us trust God in the midst of suffering. He identifies traps to avoid in our suffering and points us instead to comforts to embrace. This raw yet hope-filled book will help you cling to God's promises when trials come and move forward with the hope of the gospel.

"This is a book I'll be recommending for years to come." -- Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling author Do you believe God is just not fair? If you're like Jennifer Rothschild, you wrestle with questions when you experience painful circumstances. Does God care? Does he hear my prayers? Is he even there? Blinded as a teenager, Jennifer overcame daunting obstacles, found strength in God, and launched a successful speaking and writing ministry. Then in her 40s, everything changed. Jennifer hit a wall of depression and discontent that shook her to her core, undermining many of her past assumptions about her faith. She wondered who God was and why he continued to allow her to struggle and doubt. Where, she pleaded, is his hand of healing and hope in my life now? This is a book about finding more than just answers. It's for anyone who needs hope when life doesn't make sense--for all who reach for a God who feels distant. As Jennifer tackles the six big questions of faith, she will help you: Trust God more than your feelings. Strengthen your faith when you feel beat up by life. Embrace your obstacles and start experiencing their purpose. Face your disappointment and grow stronger from your loss.

For many Christian women, life seems out of control. The conflicting demands and various pulls on their time seem irreconcilable. Prepare healthy meals, exercise, rest, study and pray, serve, keep the household running, and even manage a career.... How can a woman possibly balance all the demands of a twenty-first-century Christian lifestyle? Hearts at Home speaker Susie Larson offers women this encouraging and inspiring invitation to effectively respond and adjust to the opportunities and assignments God gives them. By examining their core beliefs, their unique personalities, and God's will for their lives, readers will learn how to make choices that create a natural flow and rhythm that they can live with as they develop physical and spiritual health.

DIV Pastor Karen Jensen knows firsthand what it is like to experience personal tragedy. In this book she shares with readers that it’s OK to ask why, but it’s not OK to “camp out” there./div

The best-laid plans do go awry. Perhaps it's a rebellious child that intentionally does everything you tell her not to do. Or a business loss that puts your family's financial future in jeopardy. Or a personal struggle with substance abuse or serious illness. Or the unexpected death of a loved one. In When Life Doesn't Turn Out Like You Planned, you'll find uplifting, hope-filled principles for putting life's disappointments in perspective--from the importance of tears to steering clear of self-pity and watching for God at work in the midst of the turmoil of your life.

How do you worship God even if life isn’t going the way you had hoped? “Even If is not some bumper sticker to display, but a daring commitment to live.”—Kyle Idleman, senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church “I believe we will see more resilient people in the face of suffering because of this great book.”—Bryan Loritts, teaching pastor at The Summit Church What happens when the test comes back positive? The relationship ends? The dream goes unfulfilled? The plans don’t move forward? Amid confusion, hurt, and anger, we wonder where we went wrong. What is God doing? In Even If, Mitchel Lee reminds us that while God does not promise a pain-free life, he offers something better: his presence in the pain. No matter our circumstances, God is worthy of our worship, and he can meet us even in our greatest difficulties. Drawing on his own journey, Mitchel explores the compelling story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3. These three men chose to worship God even if God didn’t rescue them from the fire. From their example and countless others, we can do the same. Maybe you are stuck in regret, grieving a loss, or unsure of how to take your next step because there is no promise of success. Even If offers the courage you need to move forward, declaring devotion—not in spite of life’s fires but because of them—to a God whose goodness never changes.

An Experienced and Trustworthy Voice Offers Hope for Tough Times Readers trying to figure out how the world and God "work" can't help but learn from Leslie Haskin's indomitable spirit and compassionate heart. Since surviving the 9/11 attacks, she's faced post-traumatic stress disorder, the loss of her home, tough times between jobs, a broken engagement, a cancer scare, and perhaps most challenging, raising a teenaged son by herself. In this book, Leslie interweaves personal stories, biblical insights, and uplifting wisdom to address common questions such as Why do things seem so out of control? Is praying even worth it? and What do you want from me, Lord? She provides down-to-earth encouragement to all who want a better life.

The very existence of HGTV, the DIY movement, and Pinterest proves we love great design. We adore plans and perfectly staged rooms. But what happens when we discover we are living a life we did not design? When our dreams lie in tatters or when we experience loss of any kind? What happens when life feels like one big Pinterest fail? Where is God in the midst of what doesn't make sense? Does he care? Drawing from time-honored design principles such as movement, contrast, and pattern, former interior designer and Bible teacher Tracy Steel offers frustrated and discontented women the assurance that God is their ever-present, caring Designer. With a mix of wit and wisdom, Tracy proves through biblical examples and personal testimony that God remains true to his plans and purposes, accomplishing them in and through us in every season of life. She helps us recognize God's design principles, enabling us to embrace our sometimes messy lives, especially when they're ones we never would have designed for ourselves.

As Christian women, we desire to put Jesus first. We want to prioritize him above all, knowing instinctively that when we do, everything else in our lives will fall into alignment. Yet life feels complicated, and the demands of our daily lives leave our priorities out of order and our hearts longing for more. Author, speaker, and Bible teacher Lisa Whittle is passionate about helping people pursue Jesus for life, grow deep roots of faith, and walk strong in a world that so often seems to have gone crazy. In Jesus Over Everything, Lisa shares eight statements of choice to help us grow in our understanding of what it means to put Jesus first amid the craziness our days bring, including choices such as commitment over mood, steady over hype, holiness over freedom, service over spotlight, and more. Jesus Over Everything is a practical, compelling picture of what we crave yet struggle to define as we seek to give God his rightful place in our everyday lives.