Preface
A hope that survives suffering
There are books that simply inform. Others inspire. But some are born in deeper places — places shaped by tears, seasons of struggle, silence, and faith.
Between Sorrows is one of those books.
Throughout these pages, Pastor Roseno Ribeiro offers more than biblical reflections or motivational thoughts. He invites readers on a spiritual and personal journey, showing that even the most difficult moments of life can become opportunities to encounter God in a deeper way.
We live in an emotionally exhausted generation. People are surrounded by anxiety, fear, loneliness, loss, and internal struggles. Many continue smiling on the outside while fighting silent battles within.
God remains near to those who call upon Him.
Jeremiah cried out from the pit. Joseph survived the prison. Naaman found healing in the Jordan River. Elijah was sustained in exhaustion. David found refuge in the valley. And the same God who sustained them is still alive today.
The author does not write as someone who has never experienced pain. He writes as someone who has walked through difficult seasons and discovered that God’s Word remains a safe refuge for weary souls.
Between Sorrows does not promise a life without suffering. Instead, it points to a hope that survives even in the middle of suffering.
As long as Christ lives, hope remains alive.
Introduction
When Pain Meets Hope
There are pains that human words cannot fully explain. Silent wounds. Long nights. Moments when the heart feels too exhausted to continue fighting.
Throughout life, I have discovered that many people carry hidden battles deep within their souls. Some continue smiling on the outside while crying on the inside. Others keep working, serving, and helping people around them while quietly carrying emotional wounds.
It was through observing these realities — and walking through my own difficult seasons — that Between Sorrows was born.
This book was not born only from biblical study. It was also born from tears, from prayer, from silence, from perseverance, and from trusting God during difficult days. It was born from the conviction that not every pain means the end.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, while fear spread across the world and thousands of people were losing their lives, I also faced difficult days. The atmosphere was heavy. The news was overwhelming. Uncertainty touched entire families.
Yet during that season, I held tightly to Psalm 91.
“Because you have made the Lord your refuge...”Psalm 91:9
While many were feeding fear, I knew I needed to feed my faith. And it was during that process that I discovered something even deeper: the Word of God is not merely a religious text. It is a shelter for weary souls.
This book is an invitation. Not to pretend pain does not exist, but to discover that pain does not have to have the final word.
Chapter 1
When the Soul Cries in Silence
There are pains that no one can see. Wounds that do not appear on the body, yet bleed inside the soul every single day.
I have learned that some of life’s greatest battles happen in silence. On the outside, we may continue smiling, working, preaching, singing, and moving forward. Yet on the inside, there are moments when we are simply fighting not to fall apart.
Many people believe that men and women of faith never experience anguish, fear, emotional exhaustion, or thoughts of giving up. But the Bible never hides the human weaknesses of those who chose to trust in God.
Scripture presents broken people, weary people, persecuted people, afflicted people, and people who often felt they had no strength left. Yet there is a powerful difference between those who overcome and those who surrender completely to despair: those who overcome continue clinging to God even in the midst of pain.
“The cords of death entangled me... Then I called on the name of the Lord.”Psalm 116:3–4
The psalmist does not hide his pain. He speaks openly about sorrow, distress, fear, and anguish. Yet there is one thing that changes the entire story: he called upon the name of the Lord.
The secret is not avoiding difficult days. The secret is knowing where to run when those days arrive.
Jeremiah cried out from the depths of the pit, and God did not ignore him. No matter how deep a person’s suffering may be, there is still hope for those who call upon the name of the Lord.
Perhaps someone reading this book is thinking: “My situation is different. You don’t know what I am going through.” And that may be true. I may not know your hidden tears. But there is Someone who knows.
God knows.
He knows the sleepless nights. He knows the emotional struggles. He knows the fears hidden deep within the heart. He knows the thoughts that nobody else can see.
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”Matthew 11:28
Jesus never called the perfect. He called the weary. Many people believe they must first rebuild themselves before seeking God. But the truth is exactly the opposite. God is the One who begins the rebuilding process.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I made a decision to feed my faith. Not because I was stronger than anyone else. Not because I was immune to suffering. But because I chose to trust God’s Word even in the middle of a frightening situation.
That was when I discovered something powerful: the Word of God is not merely something to read. It is nourishment for those who are fighting to survive emotionally.
Joseph was rejected by his own brothers, sold into slavery, humiliated, forgotten, falsely accused, and imprisoned. From a human perspective, Joseph had every reason to give up. Yet something remained alive within him: the Word God had spoken through dreams.
Not every pain means the end. Sometimes pain is simply the road between the promise and the purpose.
Today I understand that many people do not merely need answers. They need hope. They need to believe again. They need to understand that life still exists beyond the valley. That God still restores. That God still lifts people up. That God still heals.
Perhaps the greatest miracle is not living without struggles. Perhaps the greatest miracle is remaining standing after everything that tried to knock us down.
My prayer is that through these pages you will discover the same truth that transformed my own journey: when we cling to God, pain may wound us, but it cannot destroy us.