Publisher's Synopsis
"In the world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33a). Grief, suffering, and loss are real, and they hurt. For those who parent a medically fragile child with special needs, these feelings can be daily occurrences. Why would God allow this to happen? Does He have a plan? Is there any hope? These are questions asked frequently during suffering and grief.
Speaking from first-hand experience as both a pastor and father of a medically fragile child with severe special needs named Chase, the author addresses these issues with the empathy of a father and the heart of a pastor, weaving 6 biblical principles through a transparent account of the pain, sorrows, and joys of his family's story. This book provides encouragement and hope in Christ to both the special needs community and those experiencing any form of grief or loss. Do you ever see a family out in public with a special-needs child and pity them because of their situation? When you read Pastor Colwell's book, "I Know It Hurts," your perspective will be forever changed. As a parent of a medically fragile child, Pastor Colwell writes a book that is both inspiring and heartrending. He doesn't sugarcoat the struggles that having a special-needs child brings, but he marvelously explains how God uses special-needs children to make a positive difference in families, churches, and communities. This is definitely a book that should be read by both immediate and extended families of special needs children, but this book should also be read by anyone who wants to understand how God works through pain to create beauty. Dr. Terry W. DorsettExecutive Director, Baptist Churches of New England, Inc. Like the heart of Jesus, our Great Shepherd, a pastor's heart seeks to heal. Sometimes, we cannot heal those we love in our churches and families. Pastor Shane Colwell knows this like few others because the Lord blessed him and his wife Amy with a precious, medically fragile son. The Colwells invite you into their painful yet joyful journey of caring for their son while caring for each other and their church. It is a helpful and hopeful story that opens aspects of our gospel (grief, lament, trust) that are rarely addressed. You will find God's special grace in these pages. Dr. Dwayne Milioni
Pastor, Professor, and Co-founder of the Pillar Network I had the privilege of knowing Shane, Amy, and Nathan before Chase entered their lives; and even then, their faith and Christlikeness were extraordinary. But through this journey chronicled in, "I Know It Hurts," I have witnessed their faith and character deepen in ways that leave me in constant awe. With tears streaming as I read, I found myself challenged and encouraged by the call of Shane and his family to trust God when life is hard and hurts deeply. This book is a profound reminder that faith isn't having all the answers-it's trusting the One who does. Dr. Larry Robertson
Senior Pastor, Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville, TN
