Healing is a Choice: Book Review

When I look around, I always see sick, hurting people who crave love and attention.  That's why we share our deepest thoughts on Facebook for the whole world.  That's why we talk to our friends for hours on end, and that's why our culture is obsessed with dating and connection, yet we are the loneliest generation that's ever hit the planet.

Stephen Arterburn has it right when he explains that these deep hurts and unfulfilled desires within us are placed there for a reason.  This suffering and pain shows us that we need something higher than ourselves or our neighbors.  We need a God that knows every part of us, every painful situation we've been through, and every wound we possess.  When we submit our needs to this great God, he will in fact heal us and make us life-riskers and adventure-seekers once again.

In Arterburn's book, Healing is a Choice, he lays out 10 simple decisions that will help heal and transform your broken life.  Along with every decision, is a big lie that Satan tries to throw at us and stop the healing process.  Arterburn combats each lie with the truth of scripture and God's love.  These choices and applications are what lead individuals to deep healing through God's grace.

Stephen Arterburn is the founder and chairman of New Life Ministries.  He also leads an XM radio show, New Life Live.  Some of his closest friends and colleagues are Dr. Henry Cloud, and Dr. John Townsend, authors of a book I recently reviewed, Boundaries.  Arterburn is also the founder of Women of Faith conferences and has written over 60 books.

What sets Arterburn apart from other Christian authors, is his extreme transparency.  Throughout the book he strongly relates to healing and suffering by speaking out about his painful but biblical divorce with his first wife.  This is why I would highly recommend this book for someone who has been divorced.  I would also recommend this book for anyone who has been sexually or physically abused, or who has experienced deep rejection from a parent or family member.

While the book contains all of the answers to hope and future, the real-life results vary depending on the reader.  As the title suggests, healing does not come instantly or because we want it to.  It is a choice we must chose to take on our own.  It's a journey we must venture into on our own will.

I'm not sure if all versions of the book include the workbook too, but my revised and updated edition did.  I really enjoyed having both books in one place, and highly encourage readers to take advantage of both.  This book can be useful for a wide audience.  I would say the age level is more appropriate for late teens and up however.  Check out Newlife.com for more information on Stephen Arterburn and Healing is a Choice.  

Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it.  I am not required to give a positive review.  All my opinions are my own.


(This review first published on BlogCritics.com)