It Is Not Well With My Soul: Volume I (E-book)

"Before the declaration of faith, there must be the confession of pain. Before 'It is well,' there is a sacred pause—a moment we admit that we are not okay. The time when we say: 'It is not well with my soul.'"

Grief is a frightening and unfamiliar experience—especially if you’ve never encountered it before. We live in a culture that teaches us to suppress our pain and get back to normal as quickly as possible. But grief doesn’t work that way. There is no going back to the life you once knew—only the slow work of embracing your grief and learning to carry it.

This book is a gentle companion for the early days of loss. It doesn’t promise quick answers or a way out of your pain. Instead, it invites you to slow down, make room for your grief, and honestly face what has happened. It gives you permission to feel the pain that love leaves behind.

This is Volume I of a two-volume series. Volume II, Practicing the Art of Grieving, builds on this foundation with guided exercises and activities that help you process what has been lost and take your first steps toward reimagining the future.

“It Is Not Well with My Soul is a beautifully written, deeply insightful ... and a wonderfully wise guide to the art of grieving... 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

"Grief comes to us all. The list of things we grieve is endless and occurs throughout our life. Losing someone we love is perhaps the deepest and hardest grief experience. Vadim does a remarkable job conveying the deep need to grieve, as well as presenting the simplicity of how. Befriend it; don't run from it; learn to walk with it. Recognizing and processing emotion is the starting point in our grieving journey. I highly recommend this book!"

—Dr. Glenn Hill, PhD, CST, MFT, Founder of Connection Codes

“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

“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.”

—B. Tammy Bartel, thanatologist, trauma and grief therapist