Grieving: Your Path Back to Peace

by James R. White

Written at a much-appreciated length, this brief book gently guides readers through the healing process of grief. Showing how grief doesn't happen in neat orderly stages, it explains how to work through painful emotions and questions and find God's peace and healing. Here is an updated look for a steady seller.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Christian, Counselling, Christian Living, Grief, Christianity

96 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a professor, having taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of apologetics. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty four books, including The King James Only Controversy, The Forgotten Trinity, The Potter’s Freedom, and The God Who Justifies. He is an accomplished debater, having engaged in more than one-hundred forty moderated, public debates around the world with leading proponents of Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mormonism, as well as critics such as Bart Ehrman, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, and John Shelby Spong. In recent years James has debated in such locations as Sydney, Australia, as well as mosques in Toronto, London, and South Africa. He is an elder of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, has been married to Kelli for more than thirty two years, and has two children, and one grandchild, Clementine.

Reviews

[Becky Pliego · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for those grieving, and for those who want to learn how to help those grieving. It is biblical and full of encouragement that points to Christ.

[Chris Whisonant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, practical, and short book about grief and how a Christian should handle it. If you deal with people who grieve, this would be a great little volume to have and use some of the things discussed.

[Samantha Gannaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

This book has an many truths in it that we all could stand to hear again and again. What a comfort to know that my Savior has a purpose for everything in my life - both the good and the bad.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! I recommend everyone read it, but especially those who have experienced grief or want to help the grieving. It’s both encouraging and practical. I will be purchasing a few copies to give to friends and family who have recently gone through loss.

[Emma Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short book on how a Christian grieves and I found it encouraging and helpful for my current season.

[Caitlin Wittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

grieve with hope ❤️

[Paul Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very practical steps on how to view and walk through the grieving process, though some parts seemed a little too systematic and cold. Some good "tough questions" about the nature of God are brought up and answered biblically, though I was surprised how few of them there were for that chapter. Would have enjoyed that section being longer, and toward the front of the book vs. the end of the book so as to set the tone of how beautifully vast God's sufficient grace truly is in our weakness, and then maybe reiterate again at the end. Still, it's a good, short book (easily read in one day) that gives some great new perspectives. And it's kind of fun reading a semi-self-helpish kind of book from the great Dr. White.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short volume is an excellent read as Christians start on the path to healing after dealing with a death. It's honest and frank but gentle in its tone, telling the reader things will eventually get better but it's going to be hard until then.

For those concerned that Dr. White has strong opinions as an apologist, this book is written in a way that it's appropriate for anyone professing to be a Christian.

[Matthew Beech · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book for any grieving Christian to read. It is counter to how so many in the modern, Western Church see the grieving experience. It makes it clear that grieving is not only God's intention, but that the process isn't as straight forward as we like to think (e.g. the five steps of grief don't necessarily go in order, it is often a back and forth along a circuit).

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gem! One doesn’t have to wait for the death of a loved one before reading this little book. It contains good guidance for those anticipating a loss and helpful guidance for those walking alongside someone who has experienced a loss. If you think about it, there are various types of death in one’s life so, really, everyone could benefit from reading this book.

[Joelle Rios · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be extremely helpful as we are grieving the passing of our baby at 17 weeks pregnant. Though this isn’t our first time dealing with grief, just 3 years ago we lost another baby at around the same time and the way I handled my grief was much different than my desire to handle grief this time around and the way Christians ought to approach grief. James White shows the 2 different paths of grieving, either the upward or downward spiral, and he makes some excellent points on how Christian’s should handle grief and lean into Christ and how it can be so easy to turn inward instead of upward. And though I’m very familiar with grief and the stages of it, he helps it make sense as to where I went wrong last time and how those downward spiral paths can make the grieving time last so much longer, so my hope is to lean into Christ this time around and remember the helpful points he said where you can go wrong with grieving. An excellent and helpful read for those desiring to know how to grieve well when it comes to any type of loss or life change.

[Bryan Kuranaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book. And it is a short book too. White has provided an invaluable resource for those who are looking to process their own grief or for those who desire to learn how to better come alongside others who are processing their grief. He speaks from his experience and training as a chaplain and theologian and highlights the importance of not downplaying God's goodness and sovereignty, even in the grief and the circumstance(s) that led to it.

[John Brackbill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very helpful short book. James White was a hospital chaplain for a while and so it is rich with experience. The combination of his biblical orientation with that experience makes it a very helpful book. I will definitely be giving this out to folks. I could see also finding a book that is thicker on applying biblical truth and theology to this area as well but that is not a negative statement about this book in any way. I'm thinking more of a one-two punch to help someone.

[Jerra Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book for those who are grieving who cling to Christ as their savior. As going through grief currently, it has helped me realize the lies of society/as to what is the truth and what God says about dealing with lost/grieving. I highly recommend this book and putting it on my "re read list".

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, quick read. I took like a month to read it, but that’s cuz I couldn’t read it all at once, or my emotions would consume me entirely. But it’s a good read, with helpful, biblical counseling. I wish it’d been way longer though. 4 stars.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, short read for those dealing with grief, or counseling those with it.

[Shea Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the occasion I would have liked to be reading this book. But a simple and gentle book walking through the process of grief and God's goodness throughout.
Helpful

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scripturally based, quick + easy read
Helpful to deal with personal grief + support someone walking it too

[Lucas Nosal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a helpful little book for those who are grieving. It is probably best for someone who may have lost a spouse or someone really close to them.

[Ginger ~ Pages from Wonderland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend to anyone dealing with grief, and to everyone else to have on their shelf to share with anyone grieving who they may come across

[Josh Quesenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and biblically sound. Helpful for me.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this little book.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a lot of books on grief, but I think this one is wonderful. It gives quick practical Biblical advice for dealing with grief. I will definitely give it away to a friend who may be dealing with grief.

[Wesley and Fernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. That sums up how I feel about this precious book.

James White is a fantastic author and theologian, and this book demonstrates that he is also a loving, caring shepherd of his church flock (which is something that I appreciate more than I can say). Page after page, he talks about the reality of grief and how Christians have hope amidst the darkness of loss and the overwhelming feelings of despair and depression that can overtake anyone when they have lost a loved one. He demonstrates his pastoral heart in each chapter by offering practical and loving advice and comfort to those who mourn, and I have to admit, there are sections of this book that really bring out the tears.

I would recommend this book to anybody, and ESPECIALLY pastors. It is such a gift to have a short, readable book like this to provide to a grieving person, and I think pastors will appreciate a lot of the insights into how to answer the tough questions about death and loss. I would highly, highly recommend that every Christian should read this and be prepared to answer those same questions. You never know when you might be asked to minister to someone battling the grief and depression related to losing a loved one.

[Patrick S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little book on an important topic. Dr. James R. White is known as a top notch theologian and scholar. In this book you see that his time as a hospital chaplain shows that his faith is an active and useful one.

In the book he covers what grief looks like and what oaths it could take such as an upward spiral or a downward spiral. He also covers pitfalls one should look for as well as working through a few tough questions like "Why?" and "I'm mad at God."

This isn't a "heady" book nor does it claim to be or add anything new. What it is is a very honest look at the pain of loss. The one area the book doesn't cover that I would have loved to seen was addressing the subject with non-believers. There are some parts that cover it but this book is mostly for believers. This is a good guide for those going through loss or those who interact with people that are going through. Final Grade - B

[Sean McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. Dr. White does an excellent job bringing us through the grieving process and showing how God is at work in our lives even through this difficult time. While Christians certainly grieve, there is a grieving process that can lead us to acceptance and trust in God rather than the downward process that ultimately leads to bitterness and despair.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book on grieving from a Christian perspective by one who was a hospital chaplain.

I’ve read this book a second time once when my grandfather passed and once when my grandmother passed. This is by far one of the best books I’ve ever read on grieving and would recommend it to any Christian who is going through grief.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great short treatise on the subject of suffering from Biblical Worldview. Truly a helpful work for all Christians especially those in the ministry. I highly recommend if you are a pastor or desire to pursue pastoral ministry as this will be a helpful resource.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book should be read by everyone. It explains good and bad paths of grief ans since we will all experience the death of a loved one at some point, we should all know how to handle our grief in a meaningful way.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

He did a great job in explaining the steps of grieving and the healing process. I wished he had discussed how to minister to others who are grieving as well.