Wounded by God's People by Anne Graham Lotz

When I saw this book title pop up in the queue for review, I sat and stared at it for a while. This is a pain I know. This is the reason that we opened the doors of Gomer's House. Our heart is to help those we come into contact with heal from the pain inflicted by others in ministry and church. It is a beautiful thing to walk out of pain into forgiveness. This book gives a true picture of what that looks like.

I cried through some of these pages. Reading someone else's story about rejection and pain at the hands of God's people gives the quiet hurt inside of me some validity. What I feel is real. What happened is real. Anne felt it too. I think we all need to know that it is valid. Then we need to deal with it as graciously as possible. This is a guidebook to dealing with your hurt. I think every Christian should read this book.

Anne's handling of the story of Hagar, the servant of Sarah and Abraham, was nothing short of brilliant. Inside this story we see a clear picture of God's chosen people treating someone badly. It is done both passively and aggressively. It happens over and over. She shows that there is a time to submit to that authority to exhibit submission to God and show His grace. Then we see the time later when they are told to walk away. Buy this book.

I cans ay I have had my fair share of dealing with this sort of thing. I have seen some outlandish behavior in church staffs. I have been taken completely aback by the words and actions of Christian family and extended family. This helped me to have a vision for what to do with these situations. How can I be the fragrance of Christ to those who wound me? Buy this book.