Comfort in the Ashes, Michelle K. Keener
Comfort in the Ashes, Michelle K. Keener
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
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Comfort in the Ashes
Explorations in the Book of Job to Support Trauma Survivors

Author: Michelle K. Keener, Scot McKnight

Narrator: Nan McNamara

Unabridged: 7 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/25/2025


Synopsis

Navigating Trauma in the Church

The church should serve as a refuge for people in pain. And yet, we often end up unintentionally causing more hurt to trauma survivors. Theological platitudes and positive thinking aren't simply dismissive to those who suffer, but they inevitably retraumatize the wounded. Does the Bible have anything practical to offer for church leaders as they engage the pain in their congregations?

Biblical scholar Michelle Keener shows us that the book of Job provides embodied and practical answers for the church today. In this incredible tool for ministry leaders and trauma survivors alike, Keener offers deep wisdom at the intersection of trauma theory and the book of Job for Christian communities; reflection questions for ministry practitioners and those walking alongside those who have experienced trauma; and engagement with the idea of a shattered worldview and how to overcome the effects of that experience.

Comfort in the Ashes helps leaders navigate their own trauma and gives practical guidance for supporting others whose worlds are falling apart. God meets us in our ashes and our pain. It's time for the church to do the same.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Carmen on April 29, 2024

This book ministered to me personally--teaching me how trauma works and how survivors put the pieces back together, while helping me to encounter God on the pages of the book of Job. Keener offers her reading of Job through the lens of trauma recovery, which uncovers pastorally rich insights into th......more

Goodreads review by Jenna on June 17, 2025

In the book of Job we observe a traumatized man and some well-intended but absolutely unhelpful friends trying to make sense of suffering. Through dialogue we get to see Job doing the hard work of rebuilding his schema while his friends insist on clinging to their retributive worldview. The use of p......more

Goodreads review by Literary on July 28, 2024

A wonderful resource for the church in using the Book of Job to help trauma survivors to heal. Should be in every church library in the land!......more

Goodreads review by Matthijs on September 06, 2025

Het bijbelboek Job stond eerst ver van Michelle K. Keener af. Ze wilde promoveren op een thema uit het Oude Testament, maar Job lag voor haar niet voor de hand. Totdat ze een traumatische ervaring had en door die traumatische ervaring kwam het bijbelboek Job dichtbij. Door deze ervaring werd het Bij......more

Goodreads review by S.J. on September 27, 2024

Coming from a person who struggles with PTSD this was a freshing perspective on trauma and how to have a biblical perspective of trauma. The book of Job is one of my favorites in the bible. Although I have read the Job before I have not read it with this point of view of the context. Seeing now that......more