Mark Vroegop

Exploring 6 Characteristics of Waiting to Prompt Wisdom from God and Gain Invaluable Peace Throughout our lives, we experience countless periods of waiting. Some moments are mere nuisances—others are daunting seasons filled with intense worry and doubt. We grow impatient by immovable traffic or crave an impending answer to a medical condition. Whatever our current circumstances, our innate response is to take action rather than stay still. In Waiting Isn’t a Waste, author Mark Vroegop calls believers to resist the human urge for control and lean on Christ for comfort while we wait for the uncertainties of life to unfold. Vroegop explores what it means to wait on God through 6 important characteristics—waiting is hard, common, biblical, slow, commanded, and relational. This book not only teaches readers how to wait on God but inspires them to embrace waiting—for it prompts wisdom from God and brings invaluable peace to the present. Written for Christians in Seasons of Waiting: Those struggling with anxiety, discouragement, or weariness as they wait Explores 6 Characteristics of Waiting: Waiting is hard, common, biblical, slow, commanded, and relational Written by Mark Vroegop: Author of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, which was named the ECPA 2020 Christian Book of the Year

A Companion Devotional Journal to the Award-Winning Book Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy In his book Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, pastor Mark Vroegop seeks to restore the lost art of lament by helping readers discover the power of honest wrestling with the questions that come with grief and suffering. He explores how the Bible—through the psalms of lament and the book of Lamentations—invites believers to grieve, struggle, and tap into the rich reservoir of grace and mercy God offers in the darkest moments of their lives. The Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy Devotional Journal is an ideal companion for anyone wanting to apply the knowledge they gained about lament from the book and practice it in their own life. The journal features 15 devotions, with each one focused on one psalm of lament. Each devotion includes a quote from Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, guidance for how to outline the passage, space to write a personal lament, and a summary that includes five reflection questions and a brief prayer. Includes Practical Helps: The appendixes include an index with suggested psalms for various struggles (including grief, betrayal, loss, injustice, and loneliness), advice on how to use the journal in groups, and examples of the Turn-Complain-Ask-Trust framework found in the book Personal and Biblical: A guided devotional that points to a biblical model for personally processing pain and grief, organized into four categories of lament: personal, collective, repentant, and justice-seeking A Wide Variety of Uses: Perfect for Bible study groups, counselors, pastors, family devotions, and grief-counseling groups

Here is a timely reminder that in the Bible, lament is a prayer that leads to trust, which can be a starting point for the church to “weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). As Vroegop writes: “Reconciliation in the church starts with tears and ends in trust.”

Named the ECPA 2020 Christian Book of the Year Lament is how you live between the poles of a hard life and trusting God’s goodness. Lament is how we bring our sorrow to God—but it is a neglected dimension of the Christian life for many Christians today. We need to recover the practice of honest spiritual struggle that gives us permission to vocalize our pain and wrestle with our sorrow. Lament avoids trite answers and quick solutions, progressively moving us toward deeper worship and trust. Exploring how the Bible—through the psalms of lament and the book of Lamentations—gives voice to our pain, this book invites us to grieve, struggle, and tap into the rich reservoir of grace and mercy God offers in the darkest moments of our lives.

Named the ECPA 2020 Christian Book of the Year Lament is how you live between the poles of a hard life and trusting God's goodness. Lament is how we bring our sorrow to Godbut it is a neglected dimension of the Christian life