Our good friends at the Mockingbird blog ran a great, thorough review of Justin and Lindsey Holcomb’s book, Rid of My Disgrace, that we just had to share.

Rid of My Disgrace is a tremendously helpful resource that takes a sober look at the hope of the gospel in the face of the ravages of sexual assault.

L.R.E. Larkin writes an intriguing review as well as an incredibly moving personal testimony. Thank you Mrs. Larkin for your honesty and for pointing to Christ, the only true hope amidst the tragedy of assault. We’re confident that stories like these can encourage others to find hope and healing in the gospel.

Here's a quote from Part I, the review:

"Rid of My Disgrace is theologically sound, biblically grounded, and lovingly and tenderly written. To be clear, this is not a self help book. This is a book that proclaims freedom. But it’s not a freedom cloaked in terms of erasure (that one can just forget what has happened to them—retreating back to denial), but boldly stated in terms that call a spade a spade... The victim is free to say and admit (and maybe for the first time in a long time): I am a victim, I have suffered, I am broken to the core, I have great shame, and I need help. The book sets the victim up on solid ground to look for and seek help—without those feelings of shame or guilt typically associated with being a victim."

From Part II, the testimony:

“Over the past four years my heart has been successively, as if by chambers, turned from stone to flesh by the message of the gospel, by the presence of the Holy Spirit, by Jesus Christ. And it culminates in this moment and with Rid of My Disgrace. Not that I’m perfected or don’t still need to hear the gospel message every day, just that I can turn and not run from a past that causes me shame. I no longer have to pretend that it didn’t happen or refuse to feel the emotions I need to feel about it. I am finally able to admit that I am a victim, that I have shame and guilt because of what happened to me, and I can face these very strong emotions/feelings without retreating into self-destruction and self-hatred. The book, along with my academic work, has placed me on a secure gospel platform from which to reach out for help, and for the first time ever (that I can remember), I have no shame about that." 

Find out more about Justin and Lindsey's book, Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault.