Beyond the Darkness - by Clarissa Moll (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"Those going through dark times will find this generous, strongly Christian work a welcome beacon of light." --Publisher's Weekly

Sorrow is a dark and painful road. You don't need to walk it alone.
The Bible says that "God is near to the brokenhearted," but what does that look like when you're lost in the darkness of agonizing grief? How do you engage with your sorrow when the world tells you to shoulder through or move on?

Award-winning writer and podcaster Clarissa Moll knows this landscape of loss all too well. Her life changed forever in 2019 when her husband, Rob, died unexpectedly while hiking--leaving her with four children to raise alone. In her debut book, Beyond the Darkness, Clarissa offers her powerful personal narrative as well as honest, practical wisdom that will gently guide you toward flourishing amidst your own loss.

In the pages of Beyond the Darkness, you'll learn how to

• meet and engage with loss in your everyday life,
• uncover the lies the world has told you about your grief, and
• point your feet toward hope and find a way to navigate your new life with loss and God beside you.

Whether you've lost someone dear to you or you're supporting a loved one as they mourn, you can learn to walk with grief. And as you do, you might be surprised to discover the path is wide enough for another companion, the Good Shepherd of your soul. Grief may walk with us for the rest of our lives, but Jesus will too.

Review Quotes

Starred review. Moll (host of Christianity Today's Surprised by Grief podcast), whose husband died unexpectedly in a hiking accident, has written a tender and beautiful book about the process of grieving and the blessings it can bring. Her writing is compelling and personal, yet never sentimental or oppressive. To read this book is to spend time with a soul lit by the spark of experience. Moll's quietly profound message boils down to the idea that grief is something to be engaged, not avoided. Like the Way of the Cross, it is a fearful path, and yet it is the path that leads to grace. Grief cannot be overcome; it is not the enemy, but a companion; it is a fact that must be integrated into our lives if we are to live truly and authentically, Moll argues. Divided into three sections (preparation for the journey; tools for survival; the path ahead), Moll's book truly is a guidebook to a life and place most readers hope to avoid, even as they know with certainty that they must one day make a home there. Like Virgil for Dante, Moll is a wise and loving guide. VERDICT: A book every adult should read. Highly recommended for all libraries.--Library Journal

Moll's sagacious advice is well worth the price of admission, and her gentle tone will soothe bereaved readers. Those going through dark times will find this generous, strongly Christian work a welcome beacon of light.--Publisher's Weekly