The Book of Comforts: Genuine Encouragement for Hard Times

by Kaitlin Wernet, Kaitlin Wernet, Rebecca Faires

When someone is grieving, what should you say? How can you help? How do you comfort without offering shallow platitudes? The Book of Comforts stands in the gap between suffering and hope, offering readers the abiding comfort found in Scripture and personal experience. The Book of Comforts is unlike other books on grief--with beautiful four-color interiors, an inviting format with brief devotions, and a ribbon marker. Readers will gain : Scripture deals plainly and honestly with suffering and simultaneously points people to the rich hope we find in God. The Book of Comforts is a beautiful and comforting gift for those in hard places--because even though we don't always know what to say, the gift of divine consolation is always helpful.

Genres: Faith, Devotional

224 pages, Hardcover

Published March 26, 2019

About the author

Caleb, Rebecca, Kaitlin, and Cymone are a team of writers and artists bound together by unlikely friendship and a love for making beautiful things.Through their separate seasons of grief, they joined together to create a book that acknowledges the weight suffering carries in our stories. Using thoughtful design and honest storytelling, they aim to point to a Creator who recognizes our human pain and offers His hope. They believe that the Gospel story meets us in all seasons and at every sorrow, and Christ is our only true and lasting source of comfort. All four creatives are based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Reviews

[hannah ☆ ୨ৎ˚࿔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, lovely read with beautiful calligraphy sprinkled throughout. 🥰 Each “entry”, if you will, is written almost in a devotional format with stories relating to a Bible verse. We read perspectives from 3 different authors as they share personal stories and how their faith has grown. Sometimes books like these can tend to focus on the self, but I appreciated that this book always pointed back to Scripture. Definitely a sweet book and a quick read!

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful hardcover book with 89 chapters of encouragement and consolation firmly founded in Scripture. Written by four authors and artists who came together in this project to share hope and encouragement in the face of suffering, disappointment and grief.



Loss, sorrow, heartache, and pain are all parts of being human and living in the world. Death is a continual reminder of sin and its effect on the earth, but there is hope in Jesus Christ.



I didn't know what to expect when reading this book, but I always have struggled to know what to say in difficult times. I was really impressed by this book, and how while I was thinking of this book and its message more in the context of death and loss. But as I read, I was impressed with how it is full of comfort and words of hope and encouragement applicable to various situations like heartbreak, disappointments, loss of jobs, death, etc.



Overall, a beautiful book with 89 devotion style chapters, with slick sturdy pages, and full color graphics, bound in a hard cover embossed gift book style. Rooted in Scripture, each chapter is focused around God's word and His comfort. Highly recommend, would make a great gift for someone in your life going through a hard time.



I received a complimentary copy of this book.

Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Zondervan for gifting me a copy in exchange for my honest review. This book could not have come at a better time. Even if you feel like you aren't struggling through heartache, this is a great book to have on hand. This book is aesthetically pleasing in-itself as it has cool colors and simple, beautiful font that really match the tone of the book. The pictures make it all the better! As for the content itself, it's perfect. Scriptures with words straight from God providing the comfort you are looking for in your time of need. I love how each author has taken the scripture and really put it into perspective in their own words. Needless to say, I will be sharing this book with my family members and friends alike. Everyone needs to be reminded of these truths every single day.

[Shana Stoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book filled with encouragement for when life is hard.

[Rachel | All the RAD Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this one from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my review! // This book is so needed. So heartfelt, so beautiful, so grounded in truth, so solid. It is purposeful, not full of platitudes. It’s stunning and not at all cliche or shallow. I’m so grateful this book exists, for all who are grieving or mourning or walking through a hard season, for all who need comfort no matter the circumstance, for those in dark days where doubt reigns and the Lord and peace feel far away. It was such a balm to my soul as I read it, and I’m so glad to have this at hand for whenever the next storm comes. 

[Connywithay · Rating 3 out of 5]

“… while all of our stories differ in circumstance, they don’t differ in the common goal: to find comfort in the God of the universe through the love letter He wrote for all of us,” Angie Smith writes in the foreword of the book, The Book of Comforts: Genuine Encouragement for Hard Times.

~ What ~
At two-hundred-and-twenty-four pages, this hardbound targets those who are seeking comfort and support after dealing with tragedy. After a foreword by Angie Smith and authors’ note, eighty-nine chapters cover various discussions of dealing with pain and sorrow by finding comfort in Christ. Using mainly the New International Version of the Holy Bible, the CEB, CSB, GW, KJV, and NKJV are also referenced. The ending includes a conclusion and the authors’ biography; a satin marker ribbon is attached.

Divided into five sections that concentrate on God alone, praise, dark places, restoration, and truth, the concept of comfort is reviewed through the writings of three individuals (the fourth author is the illustrator) who have suffered loss and have found encouragement through God and His amazing attribute. From one to three pages each, the chapters begin with a written out Bible verse, followed by several paragraphs about the topic. Full page large-letter poster-like inserts are spread throughout that are to bring encouragement to the reader.

~ Why ~
Most of us have had to deal with the sorrow, loss, and heartbreak of life, whether it is the death of a child, parent, or loved one. I like that this book mainly focuses on the positive while learning to deal with the pain, loneliness, and uncertainty by looking toward the Almighty as the answer.

~ Why Not ~
Those who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ may not want to have a book such as this, but it may help give them peace as they deal with their issues. The book contains what I call “me” content, often being only about the writer’s experience while offering little relating to the reader or God and Scriptures. I found this particularly true of one of the writers.

~ Wish ~
Since this book is about God and how He is the best Comforter, I wish it contained more Scripture and how God answered the prayers of comfort and peace. Including personal information about likes, dislikes, childhood memories, and travels were hard to correlate to feeling God’s comfort. The pictures lacked vivid colors and seemed dull and flat.

~ Want ~
If you like a book that focuses on how three individuals sought God for comfort during trying times, this is a viable option that could be given as a gift to a loved one, but it may not be exactly what you are expecting.

Thanks to Baker Publishing for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.

[Vera Godley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea of a book of comforts, or rather readings of several author's thoughts, dealing with comforting one in various stages of life is quite appealing. So I was looking forward to this book as a treasure for myself, family, or perhaps to share with a friend.

I am sure the publishers and editors felt that the staid color - deep grey - of the cover with its elegant design would add to a calming, comforting ambiance. After all, for centuries our Bibles have mostly been bound in black covers. The Bible is the chief source of printed comfort.

And then the interior with its very staid coloration and sparse pictures done in muted shades, while surely has a calming effect, it is somewhat lacking in an uplifting visual experience.

Now the actual text is done by four authors and the scope of The Book of Comforts is "Genuine Encouragement for Hard Times." I found that the authors are drawing from their own personal experience and the comfort they have from Scripture for their experiences.

I chose to review this book because I and my family are going through a very dark place emotionally in these past weeks, months, and yes few years. We are already drawing on God's strength and support and have found Him to be the comfort we seek in the dark hours of the night of this life experience.

The section "Comfort in Dark Places" begins......

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. —Psalm 63:6-8

It continues.....

For those of us who rest in Christ, the darkest hours and the stillest silence are but the shadow of His wings over us. There, think on Him, sing to Him, cling to Him. He does not leave us but brings us help. He upholds the restless the weary, and the downtrodden. Keep watch, wait, and remember Christ, your "very present help in time of trouble."

So while I might have designed the cover a mite differently and colored the pages somewhat more colorful, the softness and gentle colors don't really detract and perhaps they actually let the weight of the words of comfort speak more forcefully to our souls.

A good book to have around, to share, to read from time to time.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given.

[Create With Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are in a season of grief due to any type of loss in your life and are trying to find your way back into a new season of speaking, laughing, dancing, and loving again, then I highly recommend The Book Of Comforts: Genuine Encouragement For Hard Times as a devotional companion on your journey.

This beautifully and sensitively written book is filled with Scriptures, word art, essays and color photography from four writers from She Reads Truth.

The goal of The Book Of Comforts is to offer you:

Comfort In God Alone
Comfort In Praise
Comfort In Dark Places
Comfort In Restoration
Comfort In Truth

The book is divided into these five sections and does a beautiful job of helping to usher you into the next season of your life.

This excerpt is taken from the original review that is published on my blog. To read my review in its entirety, please visit Create With Joy.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. As someone who just came out of an extremely difficult season, I am not interested in fluff. This is full of genuine encouragement brought out by people who have gone through some serious pains. It’s beautifully written and a salve for the soul. It didn’t need to be visually appealing as well, but it is! Filled with gorgeous lettering and art. I anticipate picking it up many more times.

[Deb Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for a condolence gift. It is now my go-to for bereaved friends. Peace....

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect book to slowly go through as you grieve, suffer, or experience difficulty and hardship. The brief musings throughout are refreshing, sustaining, and point to Christ as our comfort and hope.

[Johnnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book of stories that comfort the broken hearted. I ordered for someone else but opened it and read a few pages and ordered one for two more people, plus myself! It is deep and heart healing. When I mentioned to another friend that I didn't know I needed comfort he remarked, "We live in a fallen world. We all need comfort!"

[Malissa Chapin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was given to me by friends after my mom died April 2020. It was comforting and encouraging. I appreciated the reminders to trust and hope in the Lord. I've given it to a couple others after a loss. It's also beautifully illustrated.