Held by Grace: My Story of Mercy and Redemption

By Don Cole

Held by Grace is not simply a collection of memories-it is the story of a man rescued time and again by the relentless love of a faithful God. In this powerful memoir, Don Cole opens the door to his life with a raw, unfiltered honesty that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. It is a journey through brokenness and healing, fear and faith, rebellion and redemption.

Don's story begins in the quiet corners of childhood where faith was a faint whisper-present but distant. Raised in a home where church attendance faded and silence often spoke louder than love, he searched for identity and meaning early on. The seeds of spiritual curiosity were planted, but the soil was rocky. Pain, neglect, and moments of unspoken trauma became hidden burdens he carried for decades.

As a teenager, Don tasted freedom-and danger. With each year, the lines between confidence and recklessness began to blur. By seventeen, he had already survived a terrifying car crash that should have taken his life. But it didn't. It would become the first of many moments when God's hand preserved him in ways he didn't yet understand.

His early adult years saw a rapid rise in the business world. Don became a respected technology leader, tasked with saving companies millions. But behind the accolades and salary was a growing spiritual void. He began to compromise his values, chasing success at the cost of relationships and integrity. His conscience stirred, but the noise of achievement drowned out the whispers of truth. As he climbed higher in his career, he fell deeper in his spirit.

Then came the crash-legal issues, public humiliation, addiction, broken relationships, and the haunting loneliness of a man who had it all and lost it. Homelessness and despair followed, and Don began preparing for the worst: prison. In those dark days, grace began to flicker again-not as a concept, but as a Person. He prayed. He cried. He begged for mercy. And mercy came.

God's intervention didn't always arrive in dramatic miracles. Sometimes it was a quiet voice, a stranger's kindness, a therapist's advice, or a pastor's sermon. Other times, it was in courtrooms, hospital beds, and rehab programs. At every low point, God reached deeper still.

As Don slowly began to rebuild, he found that grace wasn't just about forgiveness-it was about transformation. He wrote down his life, chapter by chapter, seeing in hindsight how God had been there all along. He made peace with his past, sought forgiveness, and began using his story to help others. Along the way, he discovered the healing power of Scripture, the importance of community, and the unwavering presence of a Savior who had never let go.

Held by Grace is a journey through dozens of pivotal chapters-from surviving a near-drowning scuba diving accident to witnessing his daughter's rise in sports, from sleeping in his car to leading Bible studies in parks and shelters. Every page is a testimony to the mercy of God and the resilience of the human spirit when surrendered to Him.

This memoir doesn't pretend to tie up every loose end. It doesn't glamorize the past or downplay the consequences of sin. Instead, it holds space for grief and gratitude, for sorrow and sanctification. It acknowledges the wounds and celebrates the healing. Through poetic reflection, vivid storytelling, and heartfelt scripture, Don brings the reader into each turning point, allowing them to see God's fingerprints even in the mess.

Held by Grace is for anyone who has ever wondered if it's too late, if they've gone too far, or if God could still use what's left of a broken life. It's a call to come home, to believe again, and to rest in the truth that we are never beyond the reach of grace.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FPLV9ND2
• ISBN13: 9798262231157
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 284 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"