Never Beyond Hope: How God Touches and Uses Imperfect People

Written by Packer with the Bible-study writer Carolyn Nystrom and published by InterVarsity Press in 2000; the British edition was titled Imperfect People (Kingsway, 2000). Packer explores the lives of eight imperfect people portrayed in the Bible, from Samson to Peter, men and women who wanted to serve God, often failed, and were used by him nonetheless. He relates their struggles and recoveries to the reader's own discipleship, and Nystrom adds to each chapter a Bible study, journaling ideas and prayer suggestions. It was the first of their several books together, followed by Praying (2006) and Guard Us, Guide Us (2008).