Have Joy! Despite Hurts and Grief.

By Emma Pimpong

Today's world, even before the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic, appears to be confronted with a different type of pandemic; that is a pandemic of stress, grief, disappointments, hurts, uncertainties, insecurities, frustration among others. 

This book titled "Have Joy! Despite Hurts and Grief", is aimed at addressing the current prevalence of extreme stress and distress. It is a guide to navigating various difficult situations of life. I trust that this new book would support numerous people to find much needed relief. 

The resultant or trickle down good effects of the book cannot be overstated. It is expected to boost the morale of individuals, leading to desirable motivation and increased output and productivity. The information in this book would undoubtedly contribute significantly in creating healthy individuals, families and communities. 
Ultimately, it would help improve economies as the lives of individuals who form the workforce are transformed. I highly recommend this book and therefore request your support in championing its good cause. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Emma Pimpong
• Release date: Oct 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215341124

Book preview

Have JOY!

Despite Hurts and Grief.

EMMA PIMPONG

This book is a manual that is designed to help you navigate through the difficult challenges and unplanned for circumstances of life. May it be a blessing to you and your loved ones?

EMMA PIMPONG

HAVE JOY! DESPITE HURTS AND GRIEF

Copyright © Emma Pimpong, 2023

ISBN: 978 –9988 –3 –6621–6

For any further information, contact the author on the following;

Contact: 00233 (0) 277200615 & 00233 (0) 558181796 Email: [e-mail]

Cover Designer: Setor Ntepe Kortuwor

Typesetter: Mark Aryeetey

Printed in Ghana by: Appointed Time Printing Limited

All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured from the publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book, except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored by any information storage and in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the author or from the publishers.

Published by LiteMedya

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Email: [e-mail]

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my heavenly Father, the almighty

God who has equipped us with various gifts to help those in need.

It is also dedicated to my husband and children who have given me amazing support in my ministry of helping others.

Acknowledgement

My greatest gratitude goes to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who has enabled me to come this far in life. It is only by His grace that I am able to do the things He enables me to do.

I am thankful to my family, friends and loved ones for their support. Of particular special mention, is the unflinching support of my dear husband, Dr. Samuel Pimpong, the sacrifices of my parents, Mr. Nathaniel Ebenezer Obeng Manteaw and Mrs. Victoria Dora Obeng Manteaw. I am also indebted to my pastors at the Legon Baptist Church for their godly counsel.

I wish to acknowledge the following persons who have contributed in diverse ways to make my intention of writing this book a reality.

Rev. Dr. Samuel Otu-Pimpong, Rev. Dr. John Egyir Croffet, His Lordship Justice Alexander Osei Tutu,  Prof. Kofi Biney, Prof. Edmund Kwaw, Kwame Gyan Esq., Dr. Samuel Opoku Pimpong, Dr. Samuel Manteaw.

Other individuals are Dr. Rowland Atta-Kesson, Mrs. Vera Akumiah, Mr. Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafo, Mrs. Susana Phillips, Mrs. Clarinda Ofosu-Appeah, Mr. Albert Quashigah, Mr. Eugene Oninku, Mr. Setor Kortuwor, Mr. Mark Aryeetey, Mr. Christian Yeboah-Nuakoh, among many other distinguished persons who helped in various capacities.

Foreword

Someone once asked, Why is there so much pain in the world? Why do bad things happen to good people? It may seem that this is a difficult question, but the answer is found in the Bible - The Fall. God created a perfect world and put human beings in charge to enjoy and take care of His creation. But the first humans disobeyed Him and fell into sin. Everything changed after that, and all kinds of terrible things are now in the world because of the fall. We now experience death, sickness, hardships, tragedies, poverty and all other kinds of unpleasant situations.

In this book, ‘Have Joy! Despite Hurts and Grief,’ Emma Pimpong addresses the difficult situations in life and how to approach them. She establishes the fact that losses, hurt, pain and distress are everyday occurrences which we all go through from time to time. But she goes on to share various interventions and coping strategies from a Christian perspective. It is my conviction that this book will meet the needs of many who are going through all kinds of adversities in life.

This book is indeed a manual designed to help you navigate through the difficult challenges and unplanned-for circumstances of life. The chapter on good music in managing grief will be a blessing to countless number of people who are grieving every day.

It will surely be a blessing to you and your loved ones.

Rev. Dr. John Gordon Egyir-Croffet

Former Ag. Director, Counselling and Placement Centre, University of Ghana, Legon.

Endorsements

I say Emma Pimpong has written a miracle book! The insights and knowledge imparted in relatable manner, makes it surprisingly liberating! Divine guidance from God Himself to set His people free from the bondage of grief, stress and distress.... You must read this book.

Mrs. Susana Phillips, LMSW

New York, USA

Mrs. Emma Pimpong has conducted very extensive research and applied her vastly rich experience and professional expertise in human relations, public relations, psychology, education, scripture, spiritual insights and her exposure to various other fields, to produce this amazingly definitive and excellent reference work on how to deal with grief. This book is a practical guide. It is beautifully written and comprehensively provides a very broad spectrum encyclopedia-like manual on the subject, with a lot of examples. The author has in this book written on a variety of leading-edge issues and has spiced it with very practical pieces of advice. The book deals with areas of life that are of utmost importance. I urge every person to get a copy of this well-researched book. It is a very useful addition to the excellent guides on dealing with grief and despair. I strongly and highly recommend it.

Senior Lecturer,

University of Ghana School of Law

Senior Minister, The Apostolic Church-Ghana Executive Director, Development Law Clinic

"This is a must-read book. Everybody should have a copy. It is a book that illuminates how the mighty hand of God moves to shape our lives even in adversity or grief. If we pay heed to His teachings and advise as summarized in this book, we will be abundantly successful in life. This book is a guide on how to show and demonstrate unflinching love to one another, especially in moments of disappointments, difficulties, despair and grief.

Isaac Kofi Biney, PhD

Associate Professor of Adult Education and Community Development, University of Ghana, Legon.

Truly, life in this world is a great struggle for both young and old. Life’s many complex and steep contours can be mostly confounding. Unfortunately, there is no clear guide. It is an opportunity to welcome this book Have Joy, Despite Hurts and Grief by Mrs. Emma Pimpong, a colleague and a friend. This book, with lessons carefully drawn from life’s experiences, will hold your hands as you navigate the many complex and steep contours of life. As a companion, you will find this book reliable. It is a project worth supporting.

Mr. Albert Quashigah

Lecturer, UPSA Law School,

Legal Counsel and Senior Partner, Sustineri Attorneys Pruc, firm of Lawyers.

Preface

This book seeks to help people navigate through the various negative situations life brings and to help us know that difficulties, troubles, unexpected hardships and misfortunes are a part and parcel of human existence but there are ways we can deal with these situations and manage them with God’s help.

It is my prayer that as you read this book, you will come to terms with the fact that there are no hopeless situations since God is our present help in all situations.

Emma Pimpong

Introduction

Hurts, unreservedly, are prevalent in our society and it is therefore, imperative to know how to handle difficult encounters in life. 

This book is a bold attempt to talk about and prepare people’s minds about hurts, pains, disappointments, deaths, losses, frustrations, and fears that human beings are being confronted with in the world. It provides some answers, which would go a long way to solve the problem of the phenomenon of unpreparedness which characterizes pain, frustrations, hurts, grieving, and many other difficult encounters in life.

The information in this book concerning how to have peace of mind for wellbeing in difficult times, will go a long way to bring about positive outcomes in people’s lives. This is an orienting and life-changing process to help ease pain, grief, hopelessness, and fear, which are part of human existence. 

This book is poised among other things, to comfort, offer people encouragement, insight, and promote healing and relief about losses, disappointments, pain, sickness, shame, fears, anxiety, and frustrations.

It discusses three main thematic areas namely, the problems in life in different forms, the causes and effects and how to resolve hurts and grief to achieve joy. Thank you for choosing to read this book. Do encourage others to do same and they will smile for sure.

Words of Encouragement

For those who are hurt, disappointed, sick, or bereaved, I can imagine how hard it is for you and your family as you traverse this difficult, period of your life. My prayer is that the Lord of all comfort, strengthens you and upholds you. May His grace be a continual source of blessings for you. Shalom! Peace be unto you!

Prayer

God Almighty, we thank you for your promise to bless us, and to make your glorious countenance shine upon us in joy and in pain, to transform us for your glory. Indeed, in you, we live and move and have our being.  Father, please help us not to be overwhelmed by the losses around us and drown in hopelessness. Sustain us with Your mighty hand, for we are weak, but You are mighty. We pray for protection, comfort, strength, peace,