Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy Devotional Journal

This journal is helpful because it makes it easy to process weighty topic.

I read the book and am working through the journal. There are 15 Psalms covered in the journal.With each Psalm there is a short description of the Psalm by the author and then an opportunity to outline/study the Psalm, write a similar lament prayer based on your own circumstances and then to answer some questions for deeper reflection.I’ve learned a lot about trusting God during the most difficult times in our lives rather than questioning our faith. We all have times when our feelings are raw. This book teaches you to turn to God, share your complaint, ask for what you need and declare your trust in God.I’m not normally one to journal, but this has been an awesome experience to learn to pray in lament.

This journal is a great thing to go through. Is it hard? YES! But, anybody going through a tough time will benefit from this. It really makes you dig deep and think. It is challenging to write laments. If you know someone going through a difficult time in their life and they are a believer, get them this journal. You do not need the book to go with it. However, I found the book extremely helpful in my journey.

This is a book that I have been reading as a result of several things that have happened in my life. Everyone has difficult and trying times that they encounter. My family has found this instructive and worshipful as we process and turn to God in the midst of pain and hardship. The point of the excersize is to focus on God and develop trust in God. This shows us a road map. It is very well written on an approachable level. The author has been in situations that require lament, and shows how important that is in the spiritual discipline of the Christian.

This book was perfect to help begin the healing process after our granddaughter went to be with Our Lord in Heaven after only 12 weeks gestation.

But hard to read through the tears.

Beautifully laid out and has a helpful message. I have given this book to several friends and people I counsel. All have found it very helpful.

I selected this devotional/journal after having had several losses in quick succession. Losing a loved one is a sobering and sad experience, but losing several in a short period of time is downright tough. I was hoping this little book would be of some help.I was previously unaware that the author had written another book on lament, "Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament", and that this journal was a spin-off of sorts. Usually, when a book is a derivative of another, the derivative work relies heavily on the original and only makes sense when the original is available. The author did a good job of keeping this journal fairly self-contained, providing the references back to the original sufficiently without requiring a full read.This is a 15-day devotional/journal that is meant to guide the reader through the lamentation process. Mourning, grieving and lament are all part of a healing process and they're inter-related. Each day starts with a Scripture selection, followed by a reference back to the originating book. What follows is a brief (2-3 pages in most cases) discussion. Then, the author provides a worksheet relating to the Psalm from which the discussion is based, and finally questions for reflection and journal space to write. It's basically a guided walk through Scripture meant to help with dealing with some of life's curves in the road.The writing is clear and isn't too simplistic or too heady for most readers. I do not feel like I am being talked down to nor do I feel like I am reading a doctoral dissertation. More importantly, the author makes his points and seems to be on the mark.I like this little journal/devotional. It came at an opportune time for my family, when we have had a season of loss and heavy burdens. It does help with working through grief, it explains the process of lament, and it is sufficiently well written to stand on its own.