The Promise: God's Purpose and Plan for When Life Hurts

by Jonathan Morris

Book Overview

In his work as a priest and commentator for FOX News, Father Jonathan Morris has traveled to the troubled spots of the world, meeting with Muslim youth during the rioting in Paris, sitting down with populists at odds with the Church in Venezuela, and investigating human trafficking in Germany. Now Father Jonathan peels back the layers of questions that arise when someone asks, "Why me?" in response to human suffering. With an accessible voice and calming pastoral guidance, Father Jonathan leads readers through each step of suffering--from doubt and anger to healing and acceptance. The Promise comprises three parts, each addressing a step in the process of healing. Part 1, "God on Trial," speaks to doubts and anger that arise when we suffer and poses tough questions such as "Does God even care?" and "Why should we trust a God who allows innocent suffering?" Part 2 takes the reader on a journey of finding emotional and spiritual healing from suffering. In part 3 Father Jonathan introduces the five "Principles for Freedom-Living." From living your personal vocation to a step-by-step guide for sketching a plan for your spiritual life, the freedom principles are practical and easily applied to everyday life. Together these five principles have the power to transform what would otherwise be useless suffering into a means of great sanctification and personal fulfillment. While pulling back the layers of philosophy and theology that surround human suffering, Father Jonathan offers not only a deeply spiritual answer but also a practical one to this most fundamental of human questions: Why do we suffer? The Promise not only addresses how to understand and live with suffering, but also poses the toughest question regarding our relationship to God: Why do we suffer under a benevolent God? Father Jonathan delves into how we can heal from the spiritual, emotional, and even physical scars left behind by suffering. The Promise offers five principles for living a free life, or a life free of the fear that God is not there for us, and offers comfort and hope to those experiencing hard times.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061353418
• ISBN13: 9780061353413
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

"The Promise" will change YOUR life

There are very few books written in the Christian genre that speak the Truth. And the Truth is that suffering is allowed by a Sovereign and Loving God who has greater purposes than the human mind can conceive. In truly understanding God, we find that our suffering is an avenue to an intimate relationship with Him. Father Jonathan brings our suffering into perspective as he shares emails from his "InBox." The Promise reveals that through our sufferings there is a Promise of greater good and it is our choice to believe in the Promise or look God in the eyes and walk away. This book was written for the believer and the nonbeliever. It was written in a way where you can feel Father Jonathan's heart and the heart of God pouring out to you. "The Promise" will bring you to a crossroads in your life; you will make the decision to walk by faith or walk by sight. Personally for me, I will share this....I have read this book more times than I have ever read any other book. (I have read ALOT of books in the Christian genre) I will tell you that never before has a book brought such amazing peace to my soul. Each time I pick it up and read, I feel as though I am entering into the presence of God and through "The Promise" He is speaking loud and clear.

Very moving and an eye opener

One of the best books I had read, well aside from Pope John Paul's encyclical letter "Salvifici Doloris" The Christian Meaning of Suffering", both were awesome and classic in their explanation about the subject. Quoting the letter that looks at the passage of "Good Samaritan" pierced me, "...suffering is present in the world in order to release love, in order to GIVE birth to works of love towards neighbor, in order to transform the whole human civilization into a "civilization of love". "The first and second parts of Christ's words about the Final Judgment unambiguously show how essential it is, for the eternal life of every individual, to "STOP" as the Good Samaritan did".

Life Affirming and Life Changing!

`Why does God allow suffering?' - a painful question that is addressed in a compassionate, and even refreshing, way in this special book. I like to describe it as sitting down with a friend over a cup of coffee - `The Promise' is uplifting, encouraging and resonating with hope. Although this book may be directed at those going through a crisis or a difficult life experience, I think this would be an excellent read for anyone, at any stage of life, for those who consider faith important and those who do not. I feel this book succeeds on three levels - Father Morris does an effective job in discussing both faith and reason as it relates to loss, suffering and why there is evil in the world. He also draws upon his experiences in counseling people and visiting various global `hot spots' as a journalist, which makes this book contemporary and intriguing from that perspective. I especially liked 'Letters from My In-Box' which are sprinkled throughout the book -- actual e-mails from readers of his column. Finally, Father Morris offers practical ideas and suggestions meant to enable you to better handle whatever life throws your way; he does this both in answering the heart-felt e-mails which he shares, but also in a special chapter at the end of the book. I highly recommend this energetic and intelligent book; those who read it will definitely be blessed and will probably find that their faith has grown as well. It is clear through this book that this young priest has a heart for God and for others; I hope there will be more books from him.

Magnificent

Father Jonathan Morris has written a superb book much along the lines of my great hero, Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR. I highly recommend this to ALL my spiritual directees, parishioners, and fans from EWTN television and radio. It is inspiring, encouraging and filled with hope while never losing focus on reality, no matter how uncomfortable or painful it may be from time to time. A classic, I am sure, years from now, when both Father Morris and I and Father Ken Brighenti are in the old priests retirement home (at least 30 years to come)