The Cry of the Soul: How Our Emotions Reveal Our Deepest Questions About God

by Dan B. Allender; Tremper Longman III

Publisher:

NavPress

, 1994

Overview

So often we find ourselves caught between extremes. We feel either too much or not enough. We tend to ignore our feelings or fight them off as if they were an enemy. But all emotion—whether positive or negative—can give us a glimpse of the true nature of God. We want to control our negative emotions and dark desires. God wants us to recognize them as the cry of our soul to be made right with him.

Beginning with the Psalms, Drs. Dan Allender and Tremper Longman III explore what Scripture says about our darker emotions. In this ground-breaking work, they reveal that, often our attempts to control our emotions—far from an attempt to be Christlike—are really a form of rebellion against God or an attempt to flee from him.

Key Features

• Practical tools and a biblical focus to heal and restore
• Numerous real-life stories

Top Highlights

“(4) All emotions, including the darker ones, give us a glimpse of the character of God.” (Page 18)

“Righteous anger warns, invites, and wounds for the greater work of redemption. It is full of a strength that is neither defensive nor vindictive, and it is permeated by a sadness that is rich in desire and hope. Most importantly, righteous anger allows the offense to be seen as an issue between the offender and God.” (Page 66)

“Emotions seem to be one of the least reliable yet most influential forces that guide our lives.” (Page 21)

“Every emotion, though horizontally provoked, nevertheless reflects something about the vertical dimension: our relationship with God. This book explores what our difficult emotional struggles say about our relationship with God. And every emotion, including those we often view as negative, reveals something about the heart of God.” (Pages 13–14)

“All our emotions find their final object of focus in Him. I say this because at the root of all joy is the wonder of redemption; at the core of all difficult emotion is the question: ‘God, are You good?’” (Page 43)

Endorsements

This book shows that emotions are neither an embarrassment nor an impediment to spirituality, but the very stuff God uses as he shapes his salvation in us.

—Eugene H. Peterson, author of The Message

If we are to be rescued from the incessant tendency to psychologize the gospel, this book will be a good start. Dan and Tremper give us not more psychological information, but biblical encouragement to be faithful.

—Michael Card, singer and songwriter

Product Details

• Title: The Cry of the Soul: How Our Emotions Reveal Our Deepest Questions About God
• Authors: Dan B. Allender, Tremper Longman III
• Publisher: NavPress
• Print Publication Date: 1994
• Logos Release Date: 2011
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Emotions › Religious aspects--Christianity; God (Christianity)
• ISBNs: 9780891098270, 0891098275
• Resource ID: LLS:CRYOFTHESOUL
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-12-13T23:11:50Z

About the Authors

Dan B. Allender received his MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary and his PhD in counseling psychology from Michigan State University. Dan taught biblical counseling at Grace Theological Seminary for seven years (1983–1989). From 1989 to 1997, Dan worked as a professor in the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling program at Colorado Christian University in Denver, Colorado. Currently, Dan serves as a professor of counseling psychology at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology in Seattle, Washington.

Tremper Longman III (PhD, Yale University) is the Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies at Westmont College. Tremper has authored or coauthored 20 books and numerous articles.