Courage to Live
Author Julie Fillinger says, “As long as there’s pain and suffering in the world, there’s a need for us to tell our stories, and this is mine.” In Courage to Live: Learning to Live Again After Loss Julie shares the raw, honest story of her survival after the death of her oldest son. She describes her grief journey during which she discovered joy and sorrow can coexist and God’s grace is sufficient. She shares practical ways she managed her grief, and discusses what others did and did not do to help during her journey. God’s plan for living eternally is her “not so secret” secret for survival. Julie’s wisdom and faith inspire courage and endurance through suffering, so you emerge stronger than you imagined, with lasting, sustaining Hope.
Book Released July 2024
What people are saying…
Courage in the face of trauma
In his classic work The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis said that ‘courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.’ In the pages of this beautifully written book saturated in a faith refined by fire, Julie Fillinger models what courage in the face of trauma looks like. You will discover where the roots of courage are planted, and you will see how one can maintain hope for the long haul of life, whatever twists and turns you may face. As you read her story, as you listen in on her process of grief and recovery, you will be accompanied by a wise, vulnerable and trustworthy guide. I was deeply impacted by this book, and believe you will be, as well.
Embracing life amidst pain
It takes courage to be a participant rather than an observer of life. In this riveting account, Julie details her lowest valley through the shadows and the step-by-step process of embracing life while experiencing incredible pain and loss.
The comforting nearness of God
Though God tells us clearly in His Word that we, as believers, do not grieve as the world grieves, like people without hope, the reality is that we do still grieve. In the pages of Courage to Live: Learning to Live Again After Loss, Julie Fillinger testifies in the heart-wrenching pages of her story, to the comforting nearness of God as well as the hope He provides in the midst of our deepest valleys.
In 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 we read that when the Lord compassionately ministers to us in our most profound troubles, He equips us to one day comfort others with that same comfort that we ourselves received from Him. Needless to say, there is no one better equipped to comfort and encourage you as you journey through the valley of grief and confusion than Julie.
A trusted guide when wrestling with faith
As a pastor, when I try to comfort those who have experienced the pain of loss, I wonder if my words ring hollow since I cannot say to them that “I have been there.” But Julie Fillinger has. With unflinching honesty and a clear love for scripture, Julie explores the profound pain of grief and wrestles with faith. If you or someone you love has experienced loss, wondering if God’s grace is really sufficient, let Julie be a trusted guide to give you the courage to live.