A Small Book for the Hurting Heart

​How do we know that God is a God of all comfort? The Bible tells us so in 2 Cor. 1:3-4:​

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

He is the "Father of mercies and God of all comfort." No matter the​ loss, God offers us comfort through His Word, His love letter to us, the Bible. He does so not only that we would be comforted, but also, "so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction." 

That's exactly what Paul Tautges does in his new book, A Small Book for the Hurting Heart.

​Have you experienced the death of a loved one, loss of a job, divorce or even the loss of a dream? These losses can cause us so much grief and pain, but there is hope! The circumstances of grief are unique to each of us, but the need to apply God's gracious promises to each one of them is the same.

​I recently read A Small Book for the Hurting Heart by Paul Tautges. This little book applies the healing balm of God’s Word to the wounds of our lives. This is where we find hope in the midst of grief.

​In Tautges's book, you'll find 50 devotionals. Each brief devotional is filled with a message of hope, encouragement, and healing. He addresses the heart and faith struggles in the midst of our grief and dives deep into the issues of the heart as he presents comfort found in the character of God.

The book begins with “God is Near” and ends with “Comfort Others” and isn't that exactly what we need to know and do?

In the midst of our grief and pain, we need to know that God IS near. Then, we should use that grief and pain to comfort others when they too go through deep waters.

Between “God is Near” and “Comfort Others,” you'll find 48 other encouraging meditations. Each will challenge you to reflect on God’s goodness, grace, and mercy. You will be encouraged to keep praying and to know that God has not forgotten you. Through this book and Scripture, you will see God with renewed eyes. You’ll find that God is enough, and you will learn how to grieve with hope.

The book cultivates anchors of hope and redirects us to the trustworthiness of God. Tautges walks with us through our grief to see the One who nourishes our faith and heals our soul.

“The imagery in Psalm 56 of God collecting our tears in a bottle communicates how intimately He cares about our hurts.... It replaces our natural sense of God being distant...with the comforting truth that He draws very near.” —Paul Tautges

Within the pages of Tautges's book, we find Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, well-acquainted with grief. Jesus wept as his friend’s grave. He was misunderstood and betrayed. Yet none of that came close to the indescribable pain He endured while hanging on the cross of Calvary to pay the debt for our sin.

When no one understands what we are going through, Tautges reminds us Jesus knows. Jesus not only says, “I love you,” He says, “I love you, and I know. I know your hurts and losses. And I am here for you.” This is hope!

The pain that accompanies loss is not quick to subside. Therefore, read this small book slowly, one meditation a day. Each meditation ends with a suggested way to apply the Scriptural truth—I love that! You may find it helpful to keep a journal, as I did.

A Small Book for the Hurting Heart is for anyone who is experiencing the grief that accompanies any kind of loss. You're most likely thinking of someone who would benefit from this little book right now. Buy a copy for them, but keep a copy for yourself also for when sorrow and grief come to visit.

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​Grief may threaten to overtake us or destroy our joy. In this powerful devotional book, men and women will see Jesus Christ, the Man of Sorrows, who is well-acquainted with grief and sadness.

Author and Pastor Paul Tautges offers our comforting High Priest, sharing how the Holy Spirit ministers to our hurting heart through the healing balm of God's Word graciously applied to life's wounds.

By biblically and transparently addressing the heart and faith struggles in the midst of grief, A Small Book for the Hurting Heart dives deeply, but gently, into the issues of the heart presenting encouragement and comfort in the character of God revealed in His Word.

This small but transformative Christian book cultivates anchors of hope, redirecting us to the trustworthiness of God who is always for us. Tautges walks with us through our grief to see the One who nourishes our faith and heals our soul.

In fifty brief readings, your hurting heart will find spiritual help, encouragement, and healing as you experience the comfort of God.

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“When we hurt and ask God ‘why?,’ we often are not looking for answers. Rather, our hearts are looking for comfort, encouragement, and Fatherly assurance that our world is not spinning out of control. In his new work, A Small Book for the Hurting Heart, my friend Paul Tautges points the reader to helpful insights from the best Answer of all, the Lord Jesus. Every page is filled with bite-sized wisdom from the Word of God, providing healing hope for every heart that hurts."  —Joni Eareckson Tada

“Though Christians face the same painful hurts and hardship as unbelievers, believers don’t face life’s challenges alone. Paul Tautges points us to the Savior who has suffered for us on the cross and now walks with us in our distresses. These daily meditations will lead you in your sorrows to the God of all comfort and will show you the path to stability and fruitfulness even in your pain.” —Jim Berg

“Loss, grief, and sadness are common human experiences, and no less common in the Christian life. In seeking comfort, it can be extremely hard to find. That’s why I’m thankful for Paul Tautges’s new book, A Small Book for the Hurting Heart. In the course of fifty devotionals, Paul brings the hurting believer by the hand right into the pages of Scripture, and shows them where true comfort is to be found. He skillfully applies carefully selected verses to counsel the reader and ease their burden. I would encourage you to prayerfully give this book to those who are hurting, but keep a copy for yourself for when sorrows come.” —Nate Pickowicz

Read a sample of A Small Book for the Hurting Heart here.

Over the next couple of Tuesdays, we will be highlighting two other small books. So, be sure to check back next Tuesday as we highlight A Small Book for the Anxious Heart and the following Tuesday for A Small Book About a Big Problem.

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If you've read A Small Book for the Hurting Heart by Paul Tautges, I'd love to know what you thought and how it impacted your life.