Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful - by Drew Hyun (Paperback)

About the Book

In Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful, Drew Hyun shows us why our avoiding loss is not the biblical pathway to experiencing beauty. He encourages us to engage with three simple practices---gratitude, grieving, and grace---that can build lasting spiritual resilience as we learn to grow through our loss and disappointment.

Book Synopsis

Life is both beautiful and disappointing.

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.

Review Quotes

I've enthusiastically and expectantly waited on Drew's first book, Beautiful, Disappointing, Hopeful. I wasn't disappointed. Practical, relevant, transparent, and actionable. A must read for anyone seeking to improve their emotional health.--Todd Wilson, author of More: Find Your Personal Calling and Live Life to the Fullest Measure

In this book, Drew presents a compelling case for how the Christian faith explains life's greatest mysteries--to which there are many. Blending personal stories with philosophical insights, he masterfully explains how life is beautiful, disappointing, and hopeful all at once. But he doesn't stop there. Drew offers practical guidance on responding to these realities, leading to a life of deeper meaning and fulfillment. Whether you're just starting your spiritual journey or well along the path, this is a must-read that will transform the way you look at life itself.--Matthew Thompson, Founder, Mighty Pursuit

It is no easy task to write a book, to say nothing of a book for the larger reading public. Good books have a deep root system, which includes, of course, the Bible. They show evidence of being familiar with the long and great tradition of thinkers who have gone before us. They are sensitive to the needs and longings of ordinary people. They are a pleasure to read. They are accessible but never superficial. They are vulnerable but never maudlin. Drew Hyun has written such a book. It drew me in, touched my soul, and called forth faith in me. I kept thinking of people who would benefit from reading it. I trust you will, too.--Gerald L. Sittser, professor emeritus of theology, Whitworth University, and author of A Grace Disguised

There is a native candor and honesty that marks both how Drew lives and how he writes. Wherever Drew is, the conversation there becomes more real. And that's the invitation in reading his book--to open up an authentic pathway through life's dilemmas into the strong and life-giving hope we have in Jesus. I needed this book. It's hard to think of someone who doesn't.--David Thomas, New Room Advisor, Asbury Theological Seminary

This book is a profound invitation to the difficult task of embracing the beauty and brokenness of life with gratitude, grace, and hope. It's a must-read for anyone longing to find meaning and grace in every season of life.--Jordan Rice, Pastor of Renaissance Church NYC

This heartfelt take on faith has scholarly roots yet stirs deep emotions. This is the book to read on your next plane ride or trip to the beach, then give it to the person next to you who needs Jesus.--Ray Johnston, Author of The Hope Quotient

This is an amazing, life-changing book, with a gravitas that reminds me of Tim Keller or C.S. Lewis. It faces the paradoxes of life head-on, providing inspiration and transformative understanding through the hope Jesus provides. I plan to take my church through it and share it widely. It is simply a must read!--Bobby Harrington, pastor, author, and point-leader of discipleship.org and renew.org

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

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.--Dave Ferguson, author of Hero Maker and B.L.E.S.S.

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.--Greg Brenneman, chairman, CCMP Capital, and author of Right Away and All at Once

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.--Jay Pathak, national director, Vineyard USA, and coauthor of The Art of Neighboring

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.--Rich Villodas, lead pastor, New Life Fellowship, and author of The Narrow Path

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.--Kevin Palau, president, Palau Association

Drew Hyun is a trusted and effective church leader in the missional, multiethnic, and multiplication space. In this book, he acts as a practical guide for you and me--whether in sea- sons of thriving or disorientation--to discover how Jesus intends beauty and hope amid life's disappointments.--Daniel Yang, national director, Churches of Welcome at World Relief

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.--Craig Okpala, lead pastor, Hope Jersey City, and cofounder of the Center for Hope and Renewal

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.--Eleanor Mumford, coordinator of the Vineyard International Executive

In this exploration of life's beauty, hurt, and hope, 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, senior pastor, Redeemer Lincoln Square; fellow for The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics

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.--Jason Min, lead pastor, Citizens Church LA