This was a very honest book. The author shares his true feeling in the midst of suffering. The verses in this book are reminiscent of the psalms and can help us remember that though we will all have times of suffering and pain and questions in our lives we can still trust in God and His power and support. I also really appreciate the vulnerability of the author in not hiding his true feelings behind platitudes about God knowing what's best for us, but is honest and questions and asks the hard things. As someone who struggles with chronic health concerns I get easily frustrated when people act as if the feelings of pain, anger and frustration don't matter and we should just be happy all the time, so seeing someone share these feelings was really helpful and I something that I think would be a nice addition to my bookshelf for when I am feeling this way myself.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

In Our Suffering, Lord Be Near is a collection of poetry intended to invite readers to share life's most challenging, difficult, and miserable experiences together. A very painful chapter of the author's life led to the writing of this book. Aside from reflecting who he is today, the book is also a reflection of his heart, mind, body, and soul. It is the author's hope that through his book readers will find encouragement as they navigate through their own hardships. Readers are challenged to bring their trials and emotions that threaten to consume them before the Lord. The Lord's mercy, grace, and peace will bring hope and strength to those who are hurting. It is inevitable that we will face difficulties living in a fallen, sinful world. However, the Lord desires that we cast our burdens on Him. We will find spiritual healing by doing so.

The book is divided into sections as follows.

From Crisis to Safety

From Despair to Lament

From Defiance to Submission

From Grief to Rescue

From Wandering to Obedience

From Crossroads to Justice

From Relilience to Strength

From Redemption to Deliverance

From Praise to Adoption

During my reading of the book, I selected a few poems to share.

I would recommend this book.

"In Our Suffering, Lord Be Near: Prayers of Hope for the Hurting" by Ben Locke is a deeply moving and compassionate collection that speaks directly to those enduring pain and hardship. Locke's heartfelt prayers provide solace and encouragement, making this book a comforting companion for anyone grappling with life's challenges.

The strength of Locke's writing lies in its simplicity and sincerity. Each prayer is crafted with a gentle touch, offering hope and reassurance without overwhelming the reader. The language is accessible, making it easy for readersfrom all walks of life to connect with the messages of faith and comfort.

Locke's prayers are grounded in real-life experiences, making them incredibly relatable. He addresses a wide range of struggles—grief, illness, loss, and despair—bringing a sense of understanding and empathy to each page. This realism helps readers feel seen and understood in their suffering, which is a powerful testament to Locke's ability to connect with his audience.

Based on the book description, I fully expected loving this title, highlighting beautiful prayers and feeling seen through the words. Unfortunately, this really didn't work for me. It didn't connect, didn't really make sense, and I stopped reading at page 55. Maybe it proves later? Meanwhile, I have been reading through another book of prayers and gave it 4 stars... it's not the genre, but something about this didn't work (though the interior design is a nice touch).

With echoes of the Psalms, Ben Locke offers a raw and honest look at a man praying through great suffering. The book is structured as poetry, prayer, and the story of the author, and it beautifully lays out a faith in God without full understanding of the trials we go through while in a world tainted by sin. Communal prayer is rich in power and vulnerability, Ben Locke exemplifies this in the most powerful way, aiding Christians in places of grace and mercy we wouldn't normally expect. Any of these prayers would be amazing examples of empathy of suffering with theologically sound processing of giref, sorrow, mourning, and despair. While I do think some are better than others, what a blessing it is for this author to share his journey through prayer and offer so much vulnearbility in the hope that he would help others on their journey of suffering to walk closer to God and feel His prescence.

This was a very uplifting and motivational read. It was just what I needed during a time of adversity in my life. Highly recommend!

A very honest read. Thank you Ben, for your honesty in the midst of your suffering. We all will go through things in life that make us question why and feel angry and sad. But the key is to keep your eyes on God in the midst of it and that's just what Ben does with this book. Thank you.

Thank you Ben, NetGalley, and Zondervan for allowing me to be an ARC reader in return for an honest review.

Real and raw — just what the soul needs sometimes. You can definitely feel the emotion coming off the pages from each prayer. I loved that the author said several times that you’re not alone in your problems and sufferings. Sometimes it’s just what you need to hear!