Kindle Price: $10.49

Save $1.50 (13%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

Andrew Wilson
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Life You Never Expected Kindle Edition

by Andrew Wilson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 113 ratings
See all formats and editions

Sometimes you end up living the life you never expected. When Andrew and Rachel found out that one, and then both, of their children had severe autism, their world was turned on its head.

This is a book about surviving, and thriving, when something goes horribly wrong. It is a mixture of their story and God's story, and the way in which his has shaped theirs.

With clarity and biblical insight, they share their experience of grief and worship, struggle and hope. As well as reflecting on the specific challenges of raising children with special needs, they speak to broader questions as well: the problem of suffering, building a marriage under pressure, fighting for joy and trusting in the goodness of God.

This is not just a book for families and friends of special needs children, but for all who have been thrown a curve ball in life, and need to know how to lament, worship, pray and hope.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    139 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    IVP
  5. Publication date
    July 17, 2015
  6. File size
    1587 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01C9KYQQC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ IVP (July 17, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 17, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1587 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 139 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 113 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Andrew Wilson

Andrew Wilson

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Andrew is Teaching Pastor at King’s Church London, and has degrees in history and theology from Cambridge (MA) and King’s College London (PhD). He is a columnist for Christianity Today, and has written several award-winning books, most recently God of All Things (Zondervan, 2021).

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
113 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Maria Serrano
5.0 out of 5 stars I love it. I highly recommend it
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2018
Verified Purchase
I love it . I highly recommend it . 🤗🤗🤗
Helpful
 Report
David Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly encouraging
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2022
There is an American version of the book under the title The Life We Never Expected, but I ended up with eh British version with the penguins on the cover. I'm about halfway through and so encouraged. It is incredibly difficult to find books about parenting special needs children from a faith perspective. Most books are heavy on discipline and correction and punishment. This is not that kind of book. This could be read by anyone going through any struggle-one could very easily substitute any grief, or trauma, or illness in place of the situation of the authors and be encouraged. It's not a heavy theological read, it is just encouragement through difficulty.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Naomi Ignatius
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a must read for any families coping with a special needs diagnosis
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
Our 1 year old son has been diagnosed with a rare and terrifying condition. This book has helped us to navigate this difficult space and find God in it. It is relatable, practical and gives a Godly perspective on all the unanswered questions (some of which we may never have answers for). I highly recommend.
Report
D. A. Treharne
5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, yes, yes!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
Really super useful, and the first book I’ve read that is balanced. They don’t claim to know everything, and don’t deny the grief they feel. Don’t agree with absolutely every perspective, but only on minor things, which dont matter one iota when it comes to raising an autistic child!
Report
DonnaW
5.0 out of 5 stars Some books are excellent; others are superb
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 20, 2015
Verified Purchase
Some books are excellent; others are superb; a few- a very few- are extraordinary. Into this third category is catapulted this profoundly honest and totally engaging account of two parents working through the challenges of how to "do life" with their two young, beautiful, autistic children. It should be on the required reading list not only of anyone who has ever asked the question, "Why, God?", but also for all those who have ever simply looked into the far distance and whispered, very quietly, "Why?"
13 people found this helpful
 Report
Bill
5.0 out of 5 stars Very readable
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 27, 2016
Verified Purchase
Great story of how one family cope with a child born with Autism. Some friends did not like the mention of their Christian faith but we all believe in something, even if we say we believe in nothing! Both parents are very frank about their difficulties managing and what helped them throughout the journey.
5 people found this helpful
 Report
Ellie
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read and learn from
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2018
Verified Purchase
Honest, real life struggles and Biblical truth shared in a way that's easy to read and learn from. Would recommend it to anyone, especially people facing difficulties they didn't expect, it doesn't matter whether yours involve children/special needs or something completely different.
3 people found this helpful
 Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report