Echoing Hope - by Kurt Willems (Paperback)

About the Book

"Where is Jesus when we need him most? An influential pastor shares how despair can lead us to discover true hope and a deeper relationship with God, helping us emerge stronger and more joyful from times of crisis"--

Book Synopsis

Where is Jesus when we need him most? An influential pastor shares how despair can lead us to discover true hope and a deeper relationship with God, helping us emerge stronger and more joyful from times of crisis.

"May this careful look at pain in the context of Jesus's life open up avenues of discovery and healing."--Mindy Caliguire, cofounder and president of Soul Care

We all experience difficulties and hardships. But how can we learn to live richly in the midst of them? And even grow spiritually because of them? The answer is found in the hopeful humanity of Jesus.

As the Son of God, Jesus wasn't exempt from suffering, disappointment, or injustice. He lived in the real world as a real person. He wept for those he loved. He felt hunger and thirst. He endured temptation, betrayal, and ridicule. He died after being unjustly tortured. And somehow through it all, he embodied hope--by defeating death and opening a new world of life for us.

In Echoing Hope, influential pastor and blogger Kurt Willems reveals how understanding the humanity of Jesus can radically transform our identity and empower us to step into our pain-filled world in a new way. Combining rich theological insight with personal stories and practices for response, he shows how we can overcome despair and encounter the beautiful potential of our lives.

Review Quotes

"With the mind of a theologian and the heart of a pastor, Kurt Willems walks us through the problem of pain without resorting to worn-out clichés."--Brian Zahnd, pastor and author

"Kurt takes us on an authentic, vulnerable journey into faith, hope, and love. We'll all be better by not just reading but also meditating on this terrifically genuine, relatable book."--Ben Higgins, star of ABC's The Bachelor (season 20), founder of Generous Coffee, and author

"An approachable framework for understanding and carrying pain in light of Jesus Christ. Echoing Hope gives us something to hold on to in the midst of suffering."--Sarah Bessey, author of Jesus Feminist and Miracles and Other Reasonable Things

"Every page of this book asks us to ponder, What if Jesus actually gets it? What if Jesus really empathizes with us because he experienced life just like us? You can see Kurt's pastoral heart as he invites us into the humanity of Jesus to learn from him and love him anew."--Osheta Moore, pastor and author of Dear White Peacemakers and Shalom Sistas

"Echoing Hope captures the paradox of the life of Jesus--the God who suffers so that suffering doesn't get the final word. This is a book about the enduring hope that God is with us . . . no matter how bad it gets."--Shane Claiborne, author, activist, and cofounder of Red Letter Christians

"Kurt has written a hands-on pastoral guide to engaging gospel faith. Readers who hope for more from the gospel will be informed and empowered by this generative rendering of the truth of Jesus."--Walter Brueggemann, professor emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary

"I'm so thankful for Kurt's ability to help leaders grasp the importance of Jesus's humanity and the role it plays in our day-to-day faith! Echoing Hope is such a crucial work for the season we are living in today!"--Tyler Reagin, author of Leading Things You Didn't Start and The Life-Giving Leader, founder of the Life-Giving Company, and cofounder of 10Ten Project

"Shockingly few books truly illuminate the humanity of Jesus. But Kurt Willems has given us a rare gift--a beautifully written account of Christ's humanity and also a tender, vulnerable account of Kurt's own. To read Echoing Hope is not only to go deeper into Christ's story but also to go deeper into yours."--Jonathan Martin, author of How to Survive a Shipwreck and Prototype

About the Author

Kurt Willems is a pastor, church planter, and writer. He is also the host of the Theology Curator podcast. He has a master of divinity degree from Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and a master of arts in comparative religion from the University of Washington. He and his wife, Lauren, have two daughters and reside in Seattle, Washington.