Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful
How Gratitude, Grief, and Grace Reflect the Christian Story
- Christian Living
- Publisher: Zondervan Reflective (Zondervan)
- Published: 2025
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Publisher's Description
Life is both beautiful and disappointing. Winner of the 2025 Outreach Resource of the Year for Spiritual Growth In Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful, Drew Hyun explains how the Christian faith provides a lens through which we can understand the beautiful and disappointing world we live in, while offering the kind of promising hope we long for. Throughout history we have tried to make sense of the world that we inhabit and how we can navigate through the tension of all that is good and broken in this life. Yet most of our attempts to avoid loss simply lead to greater anxiety—an unresolved fear that we will eventually lose what we most love and need. Weaving a rich tapestry of Christian tradition and personal illustrations, Hyun offers Christianity as a true and compelling vision for life that faithfully points the way through loss to true beauty. He presents three deep practices that can build lasting spiritual resilience and help you learn how to grow through life's losses and disappointments. By exploring these contemplative spiritual practices—Gratitude, Grieving, and Grace—as a means of centering your life more fully into a holistic spirituality, you can uncover meaningful responses to the full range of lived experiences that will lead you to a grounded yet transcendent hope.
Endorsements (9)
“Beauty, disappointment, and hope are not words we string together every day, but maybe we should start doing so. These three words capture the essence of life and are core to the Christian story. Drew Hyun has offered a compelling resource for those of us who are longing for a faith big enough to embrace these realities. Drew has brought about beauty and hope for so many people living with deep disappointment. If you read this book, you’ll see why.”
“Drew Hyun guides readers to embrace gratitude, engage with grief, and embody grace. With storytelling and insight, his must-read book offers a path for those seeking to navigate the complexities of the human experience with a fresh understanding of the Christian faith.”
Dr. Michael Keller
“Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful is a winsome, compelling presentation of the good news of Jesus for the world today. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in an accessible introduction to the Christian faith, as well as everyday practices that can enrich anyone’s spiritual life.”
“Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful is a compelling account of how God shows up in our lives, turning even the hardest moments into opportunities for grace to flourish. From the questioning skeptic to the deepest believer, anyone who finds themselves struggling with the highs and lows of life will find truth in this book.”
“If there was ever a man who practices what he preaches, meet him in the pages of this wonderfully accessible book. Drew Hyun is a realist in a grievously broken world, a true pastor whose profound faith holds him fast and points him always to the unstoppable King and his ever-extending kingdom.”
“Drew Hyun develops here a case for Christian belief and practice that feels fresh, yet also deeply grounded in Scripture and personal experience. This book is deeply moving and profoundly encouraging. The good news of the gospel is universal and timeless, yet we need ways to enculturate it in every time and place. If you long for those you love to experience the beauty of following Jesus, give them this book.”
“It has been a long time since I’ve read a book that gives such a beautifully compelling case for Christianity in a world that feels increasingly divided and disillusioned. Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful is an invitation to find God in all the cracks and crevices of life, especially in the places we least expect.”
“Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful takes an honest look at the interplay of three pillars of the Christian life. Full of personal illustrations, it provides an opportunity for readers to reorient their expectations and lean into practices that maximize growth and intimacy with Jesus in each season.”
“A thoughtful reflection on experiencing the beautiful, disappointing, and hopeful realities of being a human being. Drew Hyun shares wonderful stories that get to the heart of why Jesus makes such a difference in navigating this beautiful but broken world. In this book, you will find poignant analogies sprinkled in between playful pop culture references, all of which lead to the hope that comes from a life in Christ. Tammy Swanson-Draheim, president, Evangelical Covenant Church Drew Hyun masterfully reveals how the complex realities of life are infused with God’s story of grace and hope. With so much depth and vulnerability, Drew guides us through the highs and lows of faith, while addressing life’s most pressing questions. I’m excited for readers to experience this book. It extends a compelling invitation to see beauty, navigate disappointment, and embrace the hope we have in Jesus.”
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