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The Gift of Disillusionment: Enduring Hope for Leaders After Idealism Fades
Hope for Leaders Facing Burnout and Discouragement
Around the world, discouragement erodes the vitality of organizations. Visionaries often succumb to cynicism. Zealous advocates give up. Leaders coast as their passion for the cause grows cold.
Grounded in research, this book is an invitation for followers of Jesus to sustain hope in long-term service. It's about moving past the false hope of idealism and the faint hope of disillusionment to discover true Christian hope.
You will gain encouragement through the study of the book of Jeremiah woven throughout as the authors explore how the Lord prophetically met and sustained Jeremiah during his lifetime of faithfulness despite literally nothing going as he'd hoped. Glean further inspiration by reading the stories of Christian leaders from around the Zimbabwe, Haiti, Guatemala, Poland, Palestine, the Philippines, India, Zambia, and Lebanon. For this is a moment when we need the global Church's perspective and influence.
Don't give up and don't check out. These are confounding and perilous days, yet God's sustaining presence can bring joy, hope, and encouragement even amid heartache and disappointment.
Around the world, discouragement erodes the vitality of organizations. Visionaries often succumb to cynicism. Zealous advocates give up. Leaders coast as their passion for the cause grows cold.
Grounded in research, this book is an invitation for followers of Jesus to sustain hope in long-term service. It's about moving past the false hope of idealism and the faint hope of disillusionment to discover true Christian hope.
You will gain encouragement through the study of the book of Jeremiah woven throughout as the authors explore how the Lord prophetically met and sustained Jeremiah during his lifetime of faithfulness despite literally nothing going as he'd hoped. Glean further inspiration by reading the stories of Christian leaders from around the Zimbabwe, Haiti, Guatemala, Poland, Palestine, the Philippines, India, Zambia, and Lebanon. For this is a moment when we need the global Church's perspective and influence.
Don't give up and don't check out. These are confounding and perilous days, yet God's sustaining presence can bring joy, hope, and encouragement even amid heartache and disappointment.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published April 12, 2022
11 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Peter Greer
26 books26 followersPeter Greer is an author, speaker, and president and CEO of HOPE International, a global faith-based economic development organization serving throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Peter received a B.S. in international business from Messiah University and an MPP in political and economic development from Harvard's Kennedy School.
As an advocate for the Church’s role in missions and alleviating extreme poverty, Peter has co-authored over 14 books, including The Gift of Disillusionment, Mission Drift (selected as a 2015 Book Award Winner from Christianity Today), Rooting for Rivals (selected as a 2019 Leadership Resource of the Year in Outreach magazine), The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good (selected as one of the top 40 books on poverty by WORLD magazine) and Created to Flourish. More important than his role at HOPE is his role as husband to Laurel and dad to Keith, Liliana, Myles, and London. While his sports loyalties remain in New England, Peter and his family live in Lancaster, PA.
Blog: peterkgreer.com. Twitter: @peterkgreer. Facebook: @PeterKGreer
As an advocate for the Church’s role in missions and alleviating extreme poverty, Peter has co-authored over 14 books, including The Gift of Disillusionment, Mission Drift (selected as a 2015 Book Award Winner from Christianity Today), Rooting for Rivals (selected as a 2019 Leadership Resource of the Year in Outreach magazine), The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good (selected as one of the top 40 books on poverty by WORLD magazine) and Created to Flourish. More important than his role at HOPE is his role as husband to Laurel and dad to Keith, Liliana, Myles, and London. While his sports loyalties remain in New England, Peter and his family live in Lancaster, PA.
Blog: peterkgreer.com. Twitter: @peterkgreer. Facebook: @PeterKGreer
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 16, 2022
For my friends in ministry feeling burnt out and disillusioned this is an inspiring read.
October 23, 2024
Highly Recommend!
November 23, 2022
This is a review of The Gift of Disillusionment by Peter Greer and Chris Horst. The book, published by Bethany House in 2022, looks at what it means for leaders (and individuals) to find a way to endure their circumstances and callings with hope, especially after disillusionment sets in, and after their idealism fades.
Often in life, we start our vocational journeys with a sense of call or purpose, “full of idealism, brimming with hopes and dreams.” The authors point out that it is idealists that often “feel an inner prompt to respond.” They continue, idealists are those “not content to merely bemoan injustice of just ponder how to respond, they step out with the courage to do something.” In defensive of idealism, the authors point out that “at its core, idealism is built on promise and possibility – a vision of what could be.” Yet, as often the case, our journeys traverse into barren lands with overwhelming and oppressive pains and problems arise. The book fairly points out, that as a result of waning idealism “our expectations collide with our experiences. We realize there is more complexity, nuance, and challenge than we anticipated.” Then, as a result, our once beaming “idealism is also besieged by the pain we experience.” Consequently, “our unmet expectations and painful experiences lead to disillusionment.” Through The Gift of Disillusionment, the authors illustrate that how we sustain ourselves in those moments of disillusionment will make all the difference. The ability to sustain ourselves in disillusionment begins when we allow the paradigm of the moment to be an invitation and not a cynical defeat.
This book is not about releasing more superheroes “to respond to those in need,” but rather encouraging individuals and church communities to be willing to “respond to those in need [with] sustained strength.” The stories in this book remind us that we won’t find that sustained strength, or enduring hope, in our own “idealism, disillusionment, or cynicism,” but rather an enduring hope realizes we need to being “acknowledging our own insufficiency.” In their conversations and studies, these authors find that it is pain and problem that our “difficult circumstances and limitations point us toward real and sustaining hopefulness – because they invite us to Jesus.” It is this reason, that the authors - through stories and studies – maintain that being “wrapped in the pain of disillusionment is a gift: It’s an invitation to turn not inward but upward.” Though, if we aren’t careful, disillusionment has the ability to turn us inward and at that point “we follow the well-trod path to cynicism.” This book is about learning how to make the upward turn, towards enduring hope. In this way, the stories in this book continue to show the way those who journeyed into disillusionment chose to see it as a gift or “an invitation to turn not inward but upward.”
The reader should be aware that the stories shared in this book are disportionality shared from missionary and global mission examples. Though, that is expected from two gentleman who have compassionately invested their lives into global justice, relief and mission work. The stories emerged as the authors “served alongside, partnered with, and admired global leaders who routinely face corrupt governments, religious persecution, natural disasters, and extreme poverty.” They admit that while they have had “countless conversations with men and women leading and serving in difficult circumstances, [but] until researching this book, [they] had never overtly asked, “What keeps you there? What sustains your life of service? How have you not given in to discouragement? How do you hold on to hope?” This book emerges from a place of asking leaders those questions about what it means to be sustained and energized, hopeful and encouraged, when facing the worst of situations. The leaders the authors chose to interview for this book were those with a minimum of twenty years of service in their fields and those who modeled the ability of “staying power, sticking around long enough to experience the thorniest and knottiest difficulties.” The authors also mention that they sought out leaders “who had wounds and setbacks that could have forced them to give up – but who pressed on anyway.” The stories are different, but the way that each person emerged from their moments of disillusionment, turning upward, begins to set familiar patterns for the reader.
Author Peter Greer is the president and CEO of HOPE International, a global Christ-centered economic development organization, based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. HOPE International services throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Previously, he has authored several notable books, including Mission Drift, Rooting for Rivals and Created to Flourish. Co-Author Chris Horst is the chief advancement officer at HOPE international, and he also serves on the board of Mile High Workshop, and has also published other books – including co-authoring Rooting for Rivals with Peter Greer.
I would recommend this book, The Gift of Disillusionment by Peter Greer and Chris Horst, to those learning to see disillusionment as an invitation and paradigm shifting moment. In many ways, this book is a commentary through case studies on Paul’s words on suffering to the Roman and Corinthian church, and emphasizes earlier work done by Eugene Peterson. I believe this book could have been shorter, and carried the same impact, but many will enjoy the detail in the stories.
Often in life, we start our vocational journeys with a sense of call or purpose, “full of idealism, brimming with hopes and dreams.” The authors point out that it is idealists that often “feel an inner prompt to respond.” They continue, idealists are those “not content to merely bemoan injustice of just ponder how to respond, they step out with the courage to do something.” In defensive of idealism, the authors point out that “at its core, idealism is built on promise and possibility – a vision of what could be.” Yet, as often the case, our journeys traverse into barren lands with overwhelming and oppressive pains and problems arise. The book fairly points out, that as a result of waning idealism “our expectations collide with our experiences. We realize there is more complexity, nuance, and challenge than we anticipated.” Then, as a result, our once beaming “idealism is also besieged by the pain we experience.” Consequently, “our unmet expectations and painful experiences lead to disillusionment.” Through The Gift of Disillusionment, the authors illustrate that how we sustain ourselves in those moments of disillusionment will make all the difference. The ability to sustain ourselves in disillusionment begins when we allow the paradigm of the moment to be an invitation and not a cynical defeat.
This book is not about releasing more superheroes “to respond to those in need,” but rather encouraging individuals and church communities to be willing to “respond to those in need [with] sustained strength.” The stories in this book remind us that we won’t find that sustained strength, or enduring hope, in our own “idealism, disillusionment, or cynicism,” but rather an enduring hope realizes we need to being “acknowledging our own insufficiency.” In their conversations and studies, these authors find that it is pain and problem that our “difficult circumstances and limitations point us toward real and sustaining hopefulness – because they invite us to Jesus.” It is this reason, that the authors - through stories and studies – maintain that being “wrapped in the pain of disillusionment is a gift: It’s an invitation to turn not inward but upward.” Though, if we aren’t careful, disillusionment has the ability to turn us inward and at that point “we follow the well-trod path to cynicism.” This book is about learning how to make the upward turn, towards enduring hope. In this way, the stories in this book continue to show the way those who journeyed into disillusionment chose to see it as a gift or “an invitation to turn not inward but upward.”
The reader should be aware that the stories shared in this book are disportionality shared from missionary and global mission examples. Though, that is expected from two gentleman who have compassionately invested their lives into global justice, relief and mission work. The stories emerged as the authors “served alongside, partnered with, and admired global leaders who routinely face corrupt governments, religious persecution, natural disasters, and extreme poverty.” They admit that while they have had “countless conversations with men and women leading and serving in difficult circumstances, [but] until researching this book, [they] had never overtly asked, “What keeps you there? What sustains your life of service? How have you not given in to discouragement? How do you hold on to hope?” This book emerges from a place of asking leaders those questions about what it means to be sustained and energized, hopeful and encouraged, when facing the worst of situations. The leaders the authors chose to interview for this book were those with a minimum of twenty years of service in their fields and those who modeled the ability of “staying power, sticking around long enough to experience the thorniest and knottiest difficulties.” The authors also mention that they sought out leaders “who had wounds and setbacks that could have forced them to give up – but who pressed on anyway.” The stories are different, but the way that each person emerged from their moments of disillusionment, turning upward, begins to set familiar patterns for the reader.
Author Peter Greer is the president and CEO of HOPE International, a global Christ-centered economic development organization, based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. HOPE International services throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Previously, he has authored several notable books, including Mission Drift, Rooting for Rivals and Created to Flourish. Co-Author Chris Horst is the chief advancement officer at HOPE international, and he also serves on the board of Mile High Workshop, and has also published other books – including co-authoring Rooting for Rivals with Peter Greer.
I would recommend this book, The Gift of Disillusionment by Peter Greer and Chris Horst, to those learning to see disillusionment as an invitation and paradigm shifting moment. In many ways, this book is a commentary through case studies on Paul’s words on suffering to the Roman and Corinthian church, and emphasizes earlier work done by Eugene Peterson. I believe this book could have been shorter, and carried the same impact, but many will enjoy the detail in the stories.
May 6, 2022
In The Gift of Disillusionment, Peter Greet and Chris Horst is a book meant to inspire and encourage pastors and leaders running low on hope. We have all witnessed lately leaders falling out and losing their credibility and we are being reminded more and more of how human they truly are just like us. The book shared a shocking fact on how in 2020 self-care has reached a total of $450 billion industry. We are all desperate to discover hope and many of us are struggling with living with anxiety. The book explored the term idealism and how they see a needs and seek to try and fix it. They looked at what disillusionment means and how this leads us to false hope and how we can instead turn inward to obtain hope. In the book, Peter compared his fostering kids’ personal story about how it led to eventually hope but he had to go through the idealism, disillusionment, cynicism, and hope. They looked at the life of Jeremiah and how he spoke out against false prophets. He was beaten and was also the voice for the suffering of hope. The book also looked at other Christian leaders from around the world and they shared some of their stories.
I would recommend this awesome book to anyone who is seeking a good book on leadership and they need a new found hope in their lives. I immensely loved how they shared different personal stories from leaders around the world. One of my favorite stories was Lisa Johanon and how she blessed her community in Detroit and the outreach she was able to complete so far. This was a wonderful example of obedience. I also liked how the book touched on the story of Jeremiah and how he still served God and His ways especially when he was beaten. If you’re looking for a leadership book to help you get back your passion, then read this one!
"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/ Chosen for my honest review.”
April 26, 2022
An inspiring read that gets us through the interim phase of disillusionment to enduring hope rather than cynicism. There is a constant theme that “seeking first the kingdom “ (I.e. focusing on love, service, surrender) is more beneficial to our souls than “worrying about what we’ll eat, drink, wear” (Mt. 6). I’m appreciative that Greer and Horst put Jer. 29.11–“…plans to prosper you…”—in its proper context hopefully banishing its “get out of jail free” card status in that our horrible circumstances will magically be resolved. It’s important to read this book and its foundation text, the book of Jeremiah, with the following questions as we have a persistent call to put our trust in the Lord and not in our own plans and efforts:
In a scale of 1-10, how much do I believe…
God is competent?
God is punctual, dependable, reliable?
God has integrity (I.e. “walks the talk”, fulfills His promises)?
God is accepting of weaknesses and is approachable?
God reveals His heart, what is important to Him and is consistent so I can rely on knowing His character?
Too often we say, “We trust the Lord” but won’t confess that we need help to see God satisfy these dimensions of trust. In moments of disillusionment, it might be easy to recite “trust the Lord” but not acknowledge the pain of God’s seeming tardiness.
Look upward though and find the Source of enduring hope.
In a scale of 1-10, how much do I believe…
God is competent?
God is punctual, dependable, reliable?
God has integrity (I.e. “walks the talk”, fulfills His promises)?
God is accepting of weaknesses and is approachable?
God reveals His heart, what is important to Him and is consistent so I can rely on knowing His character?
Too often we say, “We trust the Lord” but won’t confess that we need help to see God satisfy these dimensions of trust. In moments of disillusionment, it might be easy to recite “trust the Lord” but not acknowledge the pain of God’s seeming tardiness.
Look upward though and find the Source of enduring hope.
October 31, 2023
The Gift of Disillusionment
Enduring Hope for Leaders After Idealism Fades
by Peter Greer; Chris Horst
Pub Date 12 Apr 2022
Bethany House,Bethany House Publishers
Christian
I'm reviewing The Gift of Disillusionment for Bethany House and Netgalley:
Organizations around the world suffer from discouragement. Often visionaries become cynical. The zealous give up. Leaders coast as their passion wanes.
Based on research, this book invites followers of Jesus to sustain hope in long-term service. The book is about finding true Christian hope beyond idealism and disillusionment.
Throughout the book, the authors explore how the Lord met and sustained Jeremiah during his lifetime of faithfulness despite literally nothing going as he'd hoped. Further inspiration can be found in the stories of Christian leaders from Zimbabwe, Haiti, Guatemala, Poland, Palestine, the Philippines, India, Zambia, and Lebanon. This is a moment when the global Church is needed.
Stay positive and don't give up. Despite heartache and disappointment, God's sustaining presence can bring joy, hope, and encouragement.
I give The Gift of Disillusionment five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
Enduring Hope for Leaders After Idealism Fades
by Peter Greer; Chris Horst
Pub Date 12 Apr 2022
Bethany House,Bethany House Publishers
Christian
I'm reviewing The Gift of Disillusionment for Bethany House and Netgalley:
Organizations around the world suffer from discouragement. Often visionaries become cynical. The zealous give up. Leaders coast as their passion wanes.
Based on research, this book invites followers of Jesus to sustain hope in long-term service. The book is about finding true Christian hope beyond idealism and disillusionment.
Throughout the book, the authors explore how the Lord met and sustained Jeremiah during his lifetime of faithfulness despite literally nothing going as he'd hoped. Further inspiration can be found in the stories of Christian leaders from Zimbabwe, Haiti, Guatemala, Poland, Palestine, the Philippines, India, Zambia, and Lebanon. This is a moment when the global Church is needed.
Stay positive and don't give up. Despite heartache and disappointment, God's sustaining presence can bring joy, hope, and encouragement.
I give The Gift of Disillusionment five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
June 6, 2022
It started well. I was so excited to read this after one of my favorites—-Rooting for Rivals. But I lost interest. The idea of laying out their hypothesis first was good and I looked forward to their idea of interviewing many different leaders who had gone through disillusionment. Near the end it just hit me that it wasn’t working. Part of my excitement was that the book topic seemed like perfect timing for where I’m at. I realized that their short punchy stories just couldn’t get to the very real depths of disillusionment that people actually experience. Part of the dark season is the waiting, uncertainty, suffering, pain, loss, etc….all of which can’t possibly be covered in a few paragraphs for each leader they interviewed. Unfortunately it just didn’t work.
January 29, 2023
It feels like this book was written for me. I have a tendency to jump in with high excitement and dreams and then lose momentum when the hard times come. Though I don’t like to admit it, I think I have carried in the back of my mind that God would make my path easy when I do what He asks. This book sets that idea on its head and I am glad to confront that within myself and look upward and outward to keep going through the pain and suffering.
October 24, 2022
Encouraging, hopeful, practical and sometimes mind blowing. Appreciate the many different people featured who are willing to be used by God at great cost and sacrifice. It reminds us we're not alone and gently helps us walk the next steps on this rocky road.
Read
November 15, 2022Книгата е хубава, основната й теза е солидна, но доста повтаряща се. Това има смисъл доколкото затвърждава основната идея, но след като сметнах, че съм я разбрал на около средата на кигата я приключих.
May 6, 2023
Puts trials in life in perspective.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews