The Gift of Hard Things

Finding Grace in Unexpected Places

by Mark Yaconelli

Using extraordinary stories from his own life and the lives of others, Mark Yaconelli offers a narrative journey through ways in which disappointments have turned into gifts. In these pages is a wealth of spiritual practices that will carry us deeper into the grace we find in unexpected places. In many ways society teaches us to try to have everything under our control. If we are honest, we tend to think that this can be true even of our spiritual lives. But Mark Yaconelli eloquently expresses the reality of our situation: "We are small, sensitive creatures with short lifespans, in a world that is often chaotic, capricious, mysterious, terrible and wonderful all at the same time. Failure, disappointment, loss and other difficult experiences call us to accept our humanity, feel grateful for what has been given, receive the care of others and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit." Using extraordinary stories from his own life and the lives of others, Yaconelli offers a narrative journey through ways in which disappointments have turned into gifts. In these pages are a wealth of spiritual practices that will carry us deeper into the grace we find in unexpected places. | read more»

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About the Book and Author

Using extraordinary stories from his own life and the lives of others, Yaconelli offers a narrative journey through ways in which disappointments have turned into gifts. In these pages are a wealth of spiritual practices that will carry us deeper into the grace we find in unexpected places. | read more »

Read an Excerpt From "The Gift of Hard Things"

"Looking back on nearly five decades of life, it is still sometimes difficult for me to admit that my struggles, disappointments, doubts and failures in life and ministry have opened me to the very love, acceptance and peace that all my controlling behaviors sought to attain." --from the book | read more »

Praise for "The Gift of Hard Things"

"Exactly the kind of earthy, unpretentious and practical spiritual guidance we need." —Mark Scandrette, founding director, ReImagine, author of "Free" | read more »

Mark Yaconelli's Website

Mark Yaconelli is a writer, speaker, retreat leader, spiritual director, community activist, youth worker, storyteller, disco dancer, husband, and father. Learn more about Mark here! | read more »

The Power of Stories: An Interview with Mark Yaconelli

Mark tells the BBC's Roy Jenkins about his belief in the transformational potential of the spiritual tradition of sharing the stories of our lives; why he is not afraid of disappointment and doubt; and how imagination is key to the life of the church. | read more »
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