This BOOK wined Christlit Book Award – Sep 26, 2025
As CEO of The Christlit Book Awards, it is my privilege to welcome you to The Christlit family!
I am thrilled to announce that THANK GOD WE ARE NOT ORPHANS has been chosen as a winner of The Christlit Book Award. Lonise Jane -CEO
Dr. Maria Pinto Barbosa’s path to writing Thank God We Are Not Orphans is rooted in a lifetime of faith, education, and compassionate service. After earning her PhD in C Clinical Counseling, she spent decades walking alongside individuals and families navigating grief, anxiety, and the deep ache of feeling abandoned. In her practice, she witnessed over and over how feelings of isolation could erode even the strongest believers’ sense of purpose and peace.
Driven by a desire to unite her clinical insights with the solid anchor of Scripture, Dr. Barbosa embarked on a multidisciplinary exploration-delving into psychology to understand the mind’s coping mechanisms, neuroscience to chart how belief rewires our brain for hope, and sociology to see how community bonds reinforce our sense of belonging. Along the way, she facilitated small‐group discussions, refined the study guide material through teaching in ministry‐psychology institutes, and tested practical exercises in resilience clinics. The book brings each conversation, reflection prompt, and case study. Can became the foundation of this educational manuscript, ensuring that Thank God We Are Not Orphans is both deeply personal and richly universal.
The Importance of Thank God We Are Not Orphans
In an age marked by rapid change, social fragmentation, and rising rates of loneliness, this study guide offers a timely lifeline. Rather than dwelling on failures or past hurts, Dr. Barbosa reframes abandonment as an invitation to discover God’s unwavering presence. By weaving together biblical reflection with evidence‐based research, the book shows readers:
- How faith and purpose reshape the mind. Through stories and practical exercises, readers learn how anchoring their identity in God rewires neural pathways toward gratitude, peace, and emotional resilience.
- What science tells us about belonging and altruism. Drawing on studies in sociology and neuroscience, the guide reveals why small acts of service and communal worship boost our mental well‐being and reinforce our shared humanity.
- Practical steps for courageous, hope‐filled living. Each chapter concludes with reflection questions, breathing practices, and community prompts designed to move theory into daily life-helping readers cultivate holy living grounded in mercy rather than guilt.
Designed for use in personal devotion, small‐group settings, and academic courses in theology‐psychology programs, Thank God We Are Not Orphans fills a critical gap. It bridges the often‐separate worlds of “heart” and “head,” offering a calm, practical path to resilience that is as much about trusting scientific insights as it is about embracing God’s protective care. In doing so, Dr. Barbosa not only equips individuals to stand firm in uncertainty but also lays the groundwork for stronger, more compassionate communities-where no one is ever truly alone.
For more information and resources, visit:
www.drmariabarbosa.com
Dr. Barbosa provides services to client in English, Portuguese and Spanish. for an appointment -https://drmariabarbosa.com/palm-coast-holistic-therapy
Discover more from Dr Maria Barbosa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
