The Author Reads – Book Review of ‘The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out to God When Pain Overwhelms,’ by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Hope for When the Pain Won’t Quit
Everyone experiences pain at times. It can manifest physically, emotionally, relationally, or spiritually. It can follow tragic accidents, great loss, sudden betrayal, or unexpected and unwanted change.
Often it is temporary. But what do you do when it isn’t? When the pain just won’t go away, when healing does not come, when the grief and hurt settle in?
Drawing on her own experience of chronic pain and her years as a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist, Dr. Michelle Bengtson provides a countercultural perspective on pain.
Offering hope without any false promises or empty platitudes, Dr. Bengtson unwraps the complex emotional aspects of dealing with pain. She gives you permission to question God, helps you identify the lies you’ve believed about your pain, and reorients your perception based on the truth of God’s Word.
Each chapter ends with a recommended playlist, reflection questions, and a prayer. Your pain may not change, but your experience of it can.
My Thoughts
Dr. Michelle Bengtson has a heart to help people, especially those who are hurting, both physically, mentally and emotionally.
This is clearly the message found in her previous books, and she has done it yet again in The Hem of His Garment.
Bengtson has written this book despite her own physical pain. She offers to link arms with those in pain, bringing hope. The choice is to hang on to it and Bengtson offers objective ways to put hope into action so one is not just reading about a solution but taking action upon one.
Chapter topics include how to focus, lamenting, relating to God and dealing with His silence.
Anyone looking for relief from any type of pain can find something to bring them hope through reading this book. Bengtson shares her heart with her readers so not one of them should feel alone in their pain.
About the Author
Dr. Michelle Bengtson entertained several dreams in her life: becoming a doctor, having children and writing a book.
She studied neuroscience, becoming a board-certified neuropsychologist almost 30 years ago. A few years later, the birth of her first son brought her second dream into reality.
God planted the third dream in her heart as a young girl. A few years ago, she published her first book, multi-award winning Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression.
Since then, she authored three more books including the award-winning Hope Prevails Bible Study and award-winning Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises. Today Is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises From God to Start Your Day Off Right, released through Revell in May, 2022.
She expanded her vision and became an international speaker, podcast host, and coach with a mission to restore hope, renew minds and empower others to live in their God-given identity.
Learn more at drmichellebengtson.com
Thank you for you for sharing your reviews of some of Dr. Bengtson’s books. I noticed she also published a Bible study that I’ve recommended at our church.
Thank you for your review of this book. I will recommend this book to a friend who has many painful chronic pain issues who may be helped by it.