Getting Through What You’re Going Through
Maybe you thought you’d be further along by now.
Or have a different kind of life.
Maybe you thought that relationship would have happened, that dream would have come true, that path would have opened up—and it didn’t.
Or you feel stuck, behind, not sure if you made a wrong turn somewhere.
You’re trying to make sense of what is, even if what “is” is not what you thought it would be.
Or maybe you’re searching for a moment of peace before carrying on.
Getting Through What You’re Going Through by poet and writer Tanner Olson explores these ideas and offers you hope through it all. You don’t have to just “get through”; you can “go through”—all the ups and downs, disappointments, unexpected surprises—knowing that God is present and hope remains. In this collection of over one hundred poems and reflections, Tanner shows that God’s timing may be slow until it isn’t. Every day presents a gift to open. And hope is there to be found in the simplest things—a cup of coffee, a good friend, a single pancake.
If you’re feeling stuck, unsettled, or even just happy to be here, know that hope remains and you’re right where you’re supposed to be.
Pre Order Getting Through What You’re Going Through today!
Hope in Their Hands: Reaching 5,000 Students with 1 Book
One book. Thousands of students. A movement of hope.
When I began writing Getting Through What You’re Going Through: Poems and Essays, I wasn’t trying to be profound—I was just trying to be honest. Honest about hardship. Honest about grief. Honest about healing. Honest about the moments when it feels impossible to take the next step, and the quiet strength that somehow helps us keep going.
I didn’t write this book because I had all the answers. I wrote it because I’ve wrestled with the same questions you might be carrying: Will I make it through this? Where is God in all of this? What now?
This book was born out of seasons of grief, quiet mornings with coffee, restless nights, and conversations with friends who were just trying to keep going. It grew out of my own seasons of stress, joy, waiting, and hope. Along the way, I discovered something simple but life-changing: we aren’t meant to go through life alone. And we don’t have to “just get through it”—we can walk through it with honesty, courage, and faith.
I wrote these words to remind you (and myself) that even when life feels uncertain, God is still faithful.
That hope is not far off—it’s here, in the small moments of stillness, in the kindness of others, in the promise that tomorrow can look different than today.
These are the words I needed to hear in high school.
These are the words I know I’ll still need when I’m older.
My dream is for 5,000 students to hold this book in their hands—not because it will give them every answer, but because it will remind them that what they’re going through matters, that they are not alone, and that they have the strength to endure.
This project is bigger than me.
It’s about giving hope, language, and courage to a generation searching for a way forward.
With your help, we can put these words where they belong: in the hands of young people who need them most.
If you find yourself in the middle of something heavy, I hope these pages feel like a companion for the road—a reminder that you’re not forgotten, that you can slow down, breathe deep, and trust that goodness is on the way.
This is why I wrote this book: not to hand you a map out of the hard places, but to sit with you in them and point toward Hope.
With hope,
Tanner Olson
Why High School Students?
High school is one of the most formative—and most challenging—seasons of life. Students are asking big questions about identity, purpose, faith, and the future. Many are carrying heavy burdens that they don’t always have the words to express.
The teenage years are filled with:
Transitions — leaving childhood behind and stepping into adulthood.
Pressures — from school, peers, family, and the uncertainty of what comes next.
Loneliness — even surrounded by people, many students feel unseen and misunderstood.
Silent struggles — anxiety, grief, and depression often show up for the first time in these years.
That’s why this book matters here, and now. Getting Through What You’re Going Through doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but it offers students something deeply needed: language, hope, and presence.
For a student sitting in a classroom wondering if anyone understands what they’re going through, these pages can be a reminder: you are not alone, your story matters, and you have the strength to keep going.
Partnering with Schools, Churches, and Ministries
We already have a group of schools and churches interested in working together to get these books into the hands of students.
But this vision is bigger than just one community.
If you know of a Christian school, church youth group, or teen conference that would benefit from receiving Getting Through What You’re Going Through: Poems and Essays, let’s connect.
Together, we can place this book into environments where it will be read, discussed, and shared.
This isn’t just about handing out books—it’s about creating spaces where students can reflect, grow, and discover hope in the middle of what they’re going through.
By partnering with churches, schools, and ministries, we can multiply the impact far beyond 5,000 students.
👉 Nominate a School or Church Group Here
How You Can Help
I can’t do this alone—this vision only becomes reality when we come together.
Here are a few simple but powerful ways you can be part of bringing hope to 5,000 students:
1. Give
Every dollar makes a difference.
$50 → Put 5 books in students’ hands.
$100 → Provide 10 books for a small group.
$250 → Sponsor a classroom set of 25 books.
$1,000 → Place 100 books in a school.
$5,000+ → Partner with us to sponsor 500 students
2. Share
Spread the word. Share this campaign with friends, family, teachers, churches, and organizations who care about students. The more people who hear about this project, the more students we can reach.
3. Partner
If you’re part of a school, nonprofit, business, or faith community, let’s talk about how we can collaborate to reach even more students. Together, we can expand this vision far beyond 5,000 books.
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to consider being part of this project.
Whether you give, share, nominate, or simply pause to learn about the vision, your presence here matters.
This campaign isn’t just about funding books—it’s about reminding 5,000 students that what they’re going through matters, that they’re not alone, and that hope is real.
Your support—big or small—helps put Getting Through What You’re Going Through: Poems and Essays into the hands of young people who need it most. Together, we can offer words that encourage, inspire, and remind the next generation that goodness is still on the way.
With gratitude,
Tanner Olson