It Is Not Well With My Soul: A Two-Volume Series
Grief is an uncomfortable, unfamiliar experience—especially if you’ve never encountered it before. Our instinct is to rush past the pain, get through it, and get back to normal. But, of course, that’s not how grief works.
It Is Not Well With My Soul is a gentle yet honest guide for the journey of grief. Instead of avoiding or trying to fix the pain, it invites you to sit with it. It gives you permission to feel, to grieve, and to say, “It is not well with my soul.”
This journey unfolds in two volumes.
Volume I: Recovering the Art of Grieving is for the beginning of that journey. It is written for the early days of grief, when your world has been turned upside down and simply facing reality feels impossible. Rather than rushing to heal or move on, this book invites you to slow down, make room for your grief, and learn to live with what has happened.
Volume II: Practicing the Art of Grieving continues the journey. Once the initial shock has settled, grief begins asking deeper questions. Through guided reflections, creative exercises, and thoughtful practices, this volume helps you intentionally work through the many layers of loss and gradually integrate grief into the story of your life.
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Before the declaration of faith, there must be the confession of pain. Before “It is well,” there is a sacred pause—a moment to admit that we are not okay. It is time to say: “It is not well with my soul.”
what others are saying
“It Is Not Well with My Soul is a beautifully written, deeply insightful, analysis of grief and a wonderfully wise guide to the art of grieving. Grief, the author argues, is not a psychological aberration to be cured but, in this world, a natural companion of love: to be accepted and lived with, not suppressed. As the title suggests, the discussion is unflinchingly honest; no pious cant. Psychologically informed, but never burdened. An outstanding contribution to the literature on grief and grieving.”
—Nicholas Wolterstorff, Professor Emeritus of Philosophical Theology,
Yale University, author of Lament for a Son
“It Is Not Well with My Soul is a powerful and deeply refreshing work that gives people permission to be honest about pain, loss, and grief in a world that constantly tells us to “move on” too quickly. With warmth, wisdom, and incredible vulnerability, the author reminds us that grief is not weakness; it is often the price we pay for loving deeply. The author writes, “Like art, grief doesn’t come with instructions. There’s no single way to piece together the shattered fragments of your life. No correct sequence. No universally “right” way. But there is your way. The only way that makes sense.” What makes this book so impactful is that it doesn’t try to fix people with clichés or easy answers. Instead, it gently points readers toward healing, hope, and the comforting presence of God in the middle of life’s hardest moments. It is honest, pastoral, and deeply needed for anyone walking through loss or helping others carry it.”
—Rev. Mark A. Lewis, District Superintendent, British Columbia
and Yukon District, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
“It Is Not Well With My Soul is a remarkable and deeply moving book that beautifully blends personal story, thoughtful theology, and practical wisdom. Writing as both a pastor and a bereaved father, the author offers an honest, compassionate, and hope-filled guide through the landscape of grief. In a culture that often avoids sorrow or urges us to move on too quickly, this book gently reclaims the lost art of grieving—giving readers permission to lament, to heal, and to discover hope without minimizing their pain. I found it both captivating and immensely valuable, and I will confidently recommend it to many of my clients. The author's ability to weave truth, tenderness, and insight together is truly a gift.”
—B. Tammy Bartel, thanatologist, trauma and grief therapist,
member of the International Work Group on Death, Dying and Bereavement