This journey is not easy. Never will be. Everyone of us will suffer heartaches and sadness. King David wrote these words while traveling a difficult valley.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;       
he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.  Psalm 34:18

There are so many brokenhearted people who simply need a caring heart. But the most important thing they need to understand is that Jesus understands your pain and He never leaves you alone.

My pastor and friend Jeff Denton has been going through a difficult season after receiving a devastating cancer diagnosis. I have observed first hand as Jeff has shown me what it looks like to live out faith through the darkest valley. Jeff began writing about his journey and now has released those powerful insights in a must read book titled God is Bigger that the Valley.

I love the subtitle of Jeff’s book.

A 30 Day Encouragement Guide Through Cancer

Sounds like an oxymoron doesn’t it? Encouragement? Are you kidding me? But that is Jeff’s gift as a pastor and writer. He can find a way to be a light in the darkest moment of his life. His vulnerability, honesty, humor, and deep biblical insight combine to make this one of the most valuable resources for facing cancer or any terrible life storm. Here is a brief excerpt from the book.

God doesn’t change in those moments, but it can feel like He does. Does He care? Is He really in control? He may not change, but He can change for you.

Whether or not God was relevant to you before your diagnosis, you may suddenly be struck by bigger questions. Eternal issues. I’ve been there. I’ve received the diagnosis. I’ve had to process the information with my wife. I’ve had to call the kids to tell them. I’ve had to face a church family as a pastor and decide if God was still as good the day after the diagnosis as He was the day before.

God hasn’t changed, but you have, and so have those closest to you. You have to soak it in, adapt, and wrestle through the news. You have to face a different future than what you likely expected or planned. God is still there and ready to help you on your journey.

This will be the book I will give to anyone going through a critical health diagnosis. This will be the book I will turn to whenever I face a darkening life storm. Pastor Ed Underwood also faced a diagnosis that threatened to end his life. He understands everything that Pastor Jeff is going through. This quote from the forward written by Ed Underwood may be the most compelling endorsement I can offer.

“I wish we—me, my bride, my children, and the dear saints I served during my darkest days—would have had this book to help us through the first thirty days. Knowing God is bigger than the valley and living in light ofthat precious truth are not the same. Jeff is not only living it; he’s bringing it to life for you—a daily
reminder that Jesus loves and cares for you.”

I hope you invest in this powerful new book if you, a loved one, or a friend is facing a difficult valley. I will always have copies available on my bookshelf.