In the past several months I have had occasion to counsel with someone whose marriage ended in disaster. The relationship was broken beyond repair. One spouse had already moved on to establish another relationship and the person with whom I was talking was having a hard time letting go.

Another situation dealt with two estranged roommates, both professing Christians, who as a result had to find new roommates without resolving the broken relationship. Both situations had the common thread of damaged, or in these cases, broken relationships. Both had no repentance, no healing, no restoration, with only hurts and pains as a result. I recommended Lou Priolo’s book to these people. It is practical, readable, and right to the point of how to end a broken relationship or as the title suggests.

I found Wayne Mack’s words in the foreword to be right on target, “Now, I have a book that from beginning to end will provide the very kind of biblical, practical, specific help that counselors who work with people going through this experience will find this book to be a valuable resource, as will the people who are actually experiencing the pain of a broken relationship.”

Priolo is the director of counseling at the Eastwood Presbyterian Church (PCA) Montgomery, Al., and has vast experience dealing with relational matters. He uses helpful case studies, writes in an easy to read style. It focuses clearly on how to end a hurtful relationship, and in a manner that could possibly encourage such a situation not to develop. He has a chapter for example, entitled, “You Can’t Hurry (Out) of Love,” underscoring the importance of time in all relationships.

He talks about the importance of patience and endurance. “Patience is the ability to rejoice in the knowledge that your present distress will produce godly character that is of great value, not only in this life, but also in the next.”

The book is full of practical helpful biblical counsel. Because relationships have to be a priority for Christians, because that is what Christianity is all about, Christians would benefit from knowing some key things about them. This will be a book that you would want to have alongside Ken Sande’s Peacemaker, reviewed earlier in Equip for Ministry.

Prioli includes a helpful checklist at the end of the book for evaluating one’s “failure list for relationships.” He intentionally expands that checklist for former husbands and wives. You will have to read the book to understand the importance and practicality of what he says.

 -Charles Dunahoo

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