Beyond the Valley: Finding Hope in Life's Losses

Almost nothing hits harder than the sudden death of a loved one. In June 2002, Dave Branon received the call that devastated his and his family’s world—his 17-year-old daughter, Melissa, had been killed in an accident. “In our theology, we say that God is responsible for Melissa’s death. Why, then, if it is not okay for a murderer to take Mell’s life, is it okay for God to?” And so begins his journey through the valley of grief and wrestling with why.

Dave provides hope and helps answer the need of the struggling Christian for certainty and assurance of God’s love. This updated edition provides insights from an additional ten years along this road.

“Beyond the Valley is a comforting resource for anyone who struggles to trust God after the death of a loved one. Dave’s easy-to-read yet insightful book is filled with reflections on the promises of God from someone who (humanly speaking) has had every reason to doubt Him. Read this and you’ll learn how to draw strength from the Lord when your faith is weak.  —Sam Hodges, Vice President, Publishing, GriefShare and Church Initiative

Dave Branon retired in 2021 after a 40-year career as a writer and editor with Our Daily Bread Ministries. With more than 1,200 articles so far, Dave continues to write for the Our Daily Bread devotional. He has also written 20 books, which include Beyond the Valley: Finding Hope in Life's Losses and Lands of the Bible Today. He and his wife, Sue, have four children and eight grandchildren, and live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.