Crushed Hopes: Overcoming Unmet Expectations

Feeling discouraged? Let down by others? It’s hard to live with shattered dreams.

Book Reviews

This book is excellent, excellent, excellent! Crushed Hopes is well researched and well written. It is an easy read, gripping and hard to put down. This 109-page book is packed with workable life-situation, easy-to-relate-to recovery tips and strategies. Its 24 battle-proven suggestions can help a person recover from broken dreams. Thank you, Dr. Jim Stout, for writing such a practical, inspiring book. Your books have helped so many people including me!
—Dr. Robert R. Long
Former Executive Director, and now Chairman Emeritus, of Coalition for Christian Outreach

In this book, Rev. Dr. Jim Stout provides advice for how to bounce back from hope-crushing disillusionments. His 24 insights will guide you through how to make lemonade from lemons or wine from crushed grapes. Especially important, he provides guidelines for how to avoid rage and revenge and how to change unmet expectations into future dreams.
—Karen Mason, Ph.D., L.P.C.
Professor of Counseling and Psychology
Director of the Hamilton Counseling Program
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

The honest openness to the painful results of crushed hopes and the choices presented exude a fountain of encouragement. I find the book such a powerful read that I am sending a copy to our daughter who has just experienced a series of crushed hopes.
—Carol Grieves

I feel like you wrote for me. As a young man, I never understood the appeal of a literary tragedy. Now, in my early sixties, I am successfully married for 35 years, have two wonderful sons and am a respected professional in the community. Yet, I feel some uneasiness, as if my life in some ways is a tragedy. The concept of Crushed Hopes and Unmet Expectations better defines those feeling, indicates they are normal, and gives insight into averting that potential tragedy for a happy, fulfilling life.
—Edward Rohaly

It was easy to read, very practical and helpful. I learned how to take proactive steps in overcoming disappointment. I grasped how to be flexible in order to move on from staying stuck in failed situations. I must say the foundation of these strategies were taught to me by Leah and Jim when I was 14-18 years of age under their guidance as my youth leaders. Life comes full circle and the foundation of Christ’s love for me has been the rock and hope of my letting go of all bitterness from disappointments, so they would not engulf my life. Instead, I learned to see the joy of being grateful in all things every day and the peace that brings to my soul.
—Beatriz Pando

All of us experience disappointments and unmet expectations in our daily lives. How we react and deal with them can make all the difference in how we move forward. This is the central message of “Crushed Hopes.” The book reinforced for me the importance of never forgetting the Lord is in control and has a plan for my life. It also provides simple, sage advice, and practical tools that I can use every day. With every disappointment or unmet expectation, I have three options: give up, give in, or give it all I've got. Jim's book has been a great encouragement to me.
—John Gass