What We Find in the Dark: Loss, Hope, and God’s Presence in Grief

by Aubrey Sampson

None of us is exempt from loss. We lose what we expected, what we thought we believed, our sense of security or identity. We lose friendships. We lose people we love.

What do we do with the disruption, disorientation, and devastation of loss? How do we survive unpredictable grief, ongoing suffering, and the questions about God that happen in the dark nights of our lives? In What We Find in the Dark, author and pastor Aubrey Sampson writes through the illness and death of her best friend, offering raw, real, and fought-for spiritual wisdom and practical insights for loss, grief, and doubt. What We Find in the Dark not only helps us locate ourselves on the journey of loss but gives honesty, hope, and direction for what’s ahead.

What We Find in the Dark and resonant stories and insights,Compelling and powerful “sticky statements” that encapsulate transformative concepts,Reflective practices and exercises.None of us want to be in seasons of sorrow. But sometimes the dark nights of life and faith have strange gifts. On the other side, we find ourselves free from the superficial in our lives. We discover peace and the assurance that we are loved. And we experience a deeper, more honest relationship with the God we found in the dark. But until that time comes, you do not need to journey alone. Learn to walk through the darkness while holding onto hope.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Grief

191 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 8, 2025

Reviews

[Kristina Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way the beginning of this book had me weeeeeeping. WOW. This is not a feel good book by any means…this was a tough but great read that I devoured via audiobook. Probably a book I’ll re-read at certain points. In Aubrey’s raw vulnerability she put words to what I have been feeling in my own grief journey. She beautifully captures (in the most heart-wrenching, honest way) that the dark, and my pain, is not something to run from but to lean in to in all its entirety. “If you pay attention, if you wrestle with God, grief can become a garden.” Excuse me while I resume weeping.

[Michele Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the death of her best friend, Aubrey Sampson was plunged into darkness by overwhelming grief, and yet she learned that even in this, there was a painful purpose to be discovered and lived.

Her journey of loss comprised three distinct phases: nightfall (its onset), midnight (its darkest hour), and night-lights (the moments of luminous adjustment). As a vibrant Christian in professional ministry, Sampson needed time to find her way through the strangeness of God’s perceived absence before she could finally conclude, “Though the darkness hide thee, O God, we trust that your presence is in the dark as it is in the light.”

What We Find in the Dark is an eyewitness account of God’s faithfulness, a beautifully written memoir with exquisite attention to word choice. Fresh grief is an “uncharitable, unchartable path,” and its whispered goodbyes are a “time of forlorn formlessness.”

Anyone who has suffered the loss of a dear person will recognize the dissonance of wanting and needing that person to process the loss. Readers walking through grief will appreciate the genuineness of Sampson’s conclusion that grief takes time, and sometimes the darkness sticks around for longer than we’d like. However, making her list of Things Found in the Dark, like a detective on a case, she found surprising gifts there, mile markers on the path leading toward hope.

[Sami · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. A raw, vulnerable look at the grieving process that inspires rather than offers platitudes.

[Casey | Essentially Novel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦.”

Thank you Navpress for the advanced readers copy!

This one is highly timely for me and I found even from the intro a comfort, a strength, a hope, for this grief-filled and challenging season I have been in for a while now. It’s this season of not knowing and being unable to know, to comprehend, to see, what God is doing and how He is still present in the midst of this “dark night of the soul.” In all honesty, I sobbed through most of this, tears a steady stream down my face.

While Sampson writes this during a time of grief when her best friend is dying from cancer and often refers to this, this book is for anyone experiencing a dark season of grief. I found a lot of comfort and insight in this one, a lot of thoughts and feelings I could identify with: things like knowing deep loss, profound sorrow, confusion, frustration, disillusionment, having a faith that wrestles, the inability to look ahead with hope, a desire to skip this time, to no longer be in pain, the weariness of being strong and pushing through, the suffocating weight of it all, the loneliness, the uncertainty, the fear.

This isn’t a “how to fix your grief” kind of book; rather it is a “how to sit in and have perspective in your grief”. A companion through the darkest of seasons. By perspective I don’t mean “every cloud has a silver lining” and other toxic positivity remarks, it’s more of how to view your hard time through other lenses that can give insight, to learn and even heal in the midst of it. It’s feeling seen in your heartache and hardship, being validated while softly guided to remain in truth because that is one thing that grief does too well: it distorts. It blinds. And that can cause us to spiral in the wrong and unhealthy paths.

I highly recommend this for any and everyone, especially those currently experiencing and those witnessing loved ones experiencing a heavy, dark season.


Just a few noteworthy quotes:

“𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘺, 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩, 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦—𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘮. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺: 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.”

“𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦. 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴’ 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘥’𝘴 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰.”

“𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘺.”

“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵: 𝘐𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.”

“𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨; 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘭.”

“𝘐𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘴. 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.”

“𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺, 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸: 𝘐𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 (𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨) 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵.”

[Emily Shanahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aubrey Sampson is a Christian motivational speaker, podcaster, life coach, and pastor at a multiethnic church called Renewal Church in Chicago Illinois. Please consider following Aubrey Sampson on Facebook and Instagram.

I heard about Aubrey Sampson’s desire for launch team members to help her promote her newest book via an Instagram ad. Even though I do not yet have the privilege of knowing Aubrey personally, I can tell by reading her newest book that Aubrey is truly passionate about helping hurting people encounter the One, True God, Jesus Christ.

Aubrey first became interested in the concept of biblical lament when a Christian counselor recommended that she engage in the process of biblical lamentation. Aubrey was going through counseling because she lost her best friend to cancer rather unexpectedly.

Honestly, I enjoyed reading What We Find in The Dark immensely. Aubrey Sampson’s latest book was taken from journal entries of Aubrey’s while her best childhood friend was passing away from metastasized breast cancer. Aubrey’s writings were so real and relatable that I found myself laughing and crying with the author as the story called for. Aubrey used her personal experiences with grieving the loss of her best friend to talk about what the Bible says about grief and lamentation. The biblical authors were very real and honest with God about their emotions and Aubrey encourages her readers to approach the Lord with the same authenticity and emotional vulnerability. Aubrey put forth the following analogy;

Grief is like being lost in a dark room. Discovering God’s presence in the midst of your grief is a little bit like finding bread crumbs of joy sent to you as a gift from your loving father, God.

Aubrey creates space in the back of her book to journal about your own personal laments. There is even an area in the back of the book to exegete or dissect a psalm of lament in order to see what God might say to you through that particular part of God’s word. The only aspect of improvement that I would suggest for further additions of What We Find in The Dark would be to add an appendix of photos of Aubrey and Jen together through the years.

One thought I want to leave you with is all of Aubrey Sampson’s main points are undergirded by Scripture, as her book promoted healthy, biblical grieving. If you want to gain more tools in your grieving process, I recommend you order this book by clicking on this link.

I was provided with an advance copy of What We Find in The Dark- Loss Hope and God’s Presence in Grief to review as part of a launch team. My opinions are my own and I was not financially compensated in any way.

**Cover photo taken from Amazon

***This review was lovingly typed by Ally Link and Sarah Minor.

[Christine Hudak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be honest. I didn’t want to read this book. I feel like I have just come from clawing my way out of the pit of my own dark night of the soul. Did I really want to read about it and be reminded of it when it was so fresh?
The author, Aubrey was my coach through Propel Women so honestly that is the only reason I read this book. And oh, I am so glad I did! I knew she would have so many wisdom nuggets because she had mentored me and any more of those nuggets I could get I wanted them! And she did not disappoint. She writes when she is in the midst of her dark night. Is honest about what she finds and the guides you to breadcrumbs of hope.
I love the reflections and practices at the end of the book. I wish I would have been more aware they were there while reading and I would have taken time to journal each question after each chapter. I mostly took notes in the margins and did a lot of underlining. I think this book would be great to work though with a group or just by yourself. During the dark night, or on the other side. Because we all will “wrestle through the night as part of our faith journeys.”.
Let Aubrey’s words help walk alongside you in acknowledgement of your own personal heartache and understanding that “the wrestling itself will reveal our true nature and will birth something new in us.” As I, most certainly have also found to be true. Thank you Aubrey for your words. Once again I have been blessed by them.

[Lynn M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. WWFITD is stunning in its exposure of grief and its ways. Reading it has been very cathartic, helping me face the deep reality of my grief without drowning. It didn't try to cheer me out of my grief, or push me into some wacky form of denial. Grief is so HARD. And yet somehow, in the midst of reality, it comforted me. Partly because we don't talk about grief well in our culture - everyone expects us to be significantly better (or at least not crying in public) by the first anniversary.

Some losses (all?) are just so .... indescribable.

At the same time, reading this book was like meeting someone who really gets where I have been and where I am in my grief. I felt seen, heard. This book also makes me comfortable with my questions, my anger, my doubts, and yet reminds me that somehow, somewhere, some way there is hope and the only way it gets better is to tiptoe into relationships, still allowing for what I need to grieve.
So well written, so expressive, so "just right". I feel as though I have a new best friend in this author as I read this book.

This book is good for anyone who is already grieving and those who know their grief is coming. It is a Jesus oriented book and does not preach. At all.

[Gabrielle Spurlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to anyone who's walked life feeling void of hope for any period of time- no matter the reason. If you have numbly walked day after day feeling unattached and without direction, this book is for you. I'm not saying it's going to snap you back into place, but it's wise company while you endure the season that has left you numb and unattached.

I finished reading through this book 2 days ago. And I've pulled so much wisdom from Aubrey's story that I will likely read it again as soon as I am able.
While this book is a discussion of grief in death and illness, the wisdom Aubrey's shared isn't limited to death and illness. Her lessons learned spoke into my own pains of lost dreams and deeply broken trust through traumatic life events.
I've already sent 2 copies to dear friends who've embarked on their own dark nights. I suspect I will send more in the future.
Thank you, Aubrey, for so bravely stewarding your story and sharing with us what God taught you in this book.

[Cheryl Bostrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You are healing even as you are hurting,” writes Aubrey Sampson—and then she leads readers both into, and out of, the abyss to which loss took her. By her own example, Aubrey gives us all the liberty to grieve uniquely, profoundly, and for however long it takes. I believe this book is so powerful because it’s not a formulaic “how-to.” Instead, it’s an experiential guide through blinding darkness. Sampson’s intimate chronology of her bone-aching sorrow roused pockets of my own unfinished griefs. And in her voice-giving of raw pain, her tender acceptance of it, and the grace she offers for the process of healing, my own heartaches mended a bit more. This book brought me to the very best of tears.

[Diane Loesel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The transparent descriptions of the author’s deep, heart wrenching grief, the wrestling with God in the middle of the sadness and confusion and the insistent reach for understanding, allows the reader to enter into an area that many attempt to avoid but unfortunately, many also experience. This is a real look at a real life wrestling with real loss, no candy coating. It is also a picture of a real person beating on Heaven’s doors as David did so many times in the Psalms, begging for God’s intervention. So many truths and lessons. Many to be referenced time and again.

[One Anjana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I’m aware I’ve been growing ice inside me after the double loss of my closest family: my father and my uncle. I am conscious of my pent-up anger and grief. I’m aware, but I also have no idea how to melt that ice.

Reading this book feels like a warm hug. It’s nice to acknowledge my pretending. It's comforting to know that others who are grieving are going through the same journey as me. It’s nice to be reminded to be gentle with myself. And to know that even in the darkest night, God is always with me.

[April Yamasaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

What We Find in the Dark begins with these words of confession from author Aubrey Sampson: "These pages are filled with a sometimes unrelenting heartache and a painfully honest brawl with God. But they are also filled with my reach for hope and God's presence in absence." If you're looking for a painfully honest and personal journey with grief, Aubrey's story may help you feel less alone. If you're dealing with fresh grief, you may need to skip parts to come back to later. Either way, her book is a beautiful testimony of hope: "If you wrestle with God, grief can become a garden."

[Katie Knipe · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve experienced a significant loss, this book is a MUST READ. It is poetic. You can feel the raw emotion in Aubrey’s writing, & that raw emotion created a safety, understanding, & comfort in my own dark night. Aubrey helped me understand that grief is something I can be grateful for, even in the middle of being completely disappointed & disoriented by it, too. She inspired me to use my dark night as a chance to deepen faith, trust, & hope…even if it takes a while (which is completely okay). Thank you for being brave & writing this book!!

[Betsy Bollen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading an Aubrey Sampson book is like sitting down with a friend over a cup of coffee. This book, though - make sure you have some tissues with that coffee. I wanted to reach through the pages to give a big, comforting hug. Wise words for anyone going through any type of grief. along with gems like this that made me laugh out loud “I feel deep outrage at the gnome!” True comfort in knowing “What we find in the dark is that we have never been alone. Who we find in the dark is Jesus” AMEN!

[Sandi Langston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aubrey’s story of loss and grief is gripping and evokes the reader’s own experiences and emotions. Her prose reads like poetry, with vivid metaphors and well-chosen words. She offers comfort and hope for those in grief: you are not alone in your aloneness, and though the journey is long, there are treasures in the dark. Thanks to this book, I feel better prepared to sit with those in grief, and to face the inevitable grief that comes with living in a fallen world.

[Barbara Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an incredible dive into the reality of the pool of grief. Aubrey does not shy away from plunging deep into the the effects of loss, bringing her readers with her through the twilight, into the darkness, and out the other side again. Throughout the whole journey, Aubrey Sampson shows the leader how Jesus comes with in a real way- not filled with platitudes, but a faith formed by deep theology and finding her way through the dark.

[Stephanie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are in the midst of processing any type of loss, this book will feel like a companion. Aubrey is a beautiful writer. As with her other books, she weaves her own vulnerable story, offer up theological questions and holds out hope as you navigate dark days. It released yesterday.
"But even blackest midnight does not last forever. We will make our way, even if a bit wobblingly,to the blue hour-that time just before the gilded light of morning appears. There is hope, however fragile, however weary, in the whispers that dawn is coming."

The book is organized internationally to address the different stages of grief. Her metaphors pierce as they visualizations aptly describe the experiences with loss. In addition she offers liturgies throughout which give words to our prayers to God when we have a hard time forming them ourselves.

I highly recommend this book.

[Jessie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully poignant and real, so honest, hard, and yet hopeful all at the same time. Go slow. Let the words sink in. God is there in the dark. Walking with you. You aren’t alone.

This is definitely a book to have on your shelf and read again. It’s like a friend who stays through the hard.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

[Angelique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darkness, dark night of the soul…midnight. Need a bit of light to help you navigate your way through grief? This book will offer you kindness and comfort through some of your darkest days.

“Grief is its own kind of pilgrimage. Your job, when you are ready, is to start looking. Notice the ways God is coming toward you in the darkness with love.”

[Sarah Freymuth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What We Find in the Dark is another homerun by Aubrey Sampson. It’s well written, well thought out, and full of compassion and strength. Aubrey has lived her message, and takes us as a gentle companion through the dark caverns of grief. But she leads us into the unexpected beauty of God as He comes to us in our grief, the underside of blessing and gives us comfort where we most need it.

[Dorothy Greco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sampson allows us to journey with her as she process the deep grief of losing a best friend to cancer. The book is raw and honest, which I appreciated. She avoids Christian cliches and gives readers permission to cling to hope amidst despair and sadness.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Excellent book!

We do not have to fear the dark of the soul, but to walk through knowing we get to know a God that we never knew or understood before in our lives.

[Sarah Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing look at grief in all of its raw, unfiltered, unvarnished honesty. It meets the reader in the midst of the pain, turmoil, desperation, and helplessness of fresh grief without any attempts to sugar coat, spiritually bypass, or try to add toxic positivity to the reality that it just hurts. And it hurts event more when God seems to silent or absent in the midst, even when one is doing "all the right things" expected of a Christian in grief. Sampson is incredibly honest, practical, and hopeful about God working in times of darkness, even when he's doing so subtly. It was exactly the book I needed in a season of complex and multi-layered grief when God was hard to see.