Christian Pain and Suffering - Words of Encouragement for the Hurting

This is one of the best books I've ever read on the topic of Christian Pain and Suffering. She does an excellent job of answering the thorny question, "why does God allow suffering." With in-depth, detailed looks into the lives of many of my favorite Bible heroes such as Joseph and Job, she delves into how we should handle suffering, following their excellent examples.

You may be dealing with the difficult issues of caring for the aging parents in your family, including the possibility of going through the dying process that will include grief and may include hospice or prolonged hospitalization. Or perhaps you are enduring your own painful illness. It could be a beloved child who is very ill and doesn't understand what is going on that has you crying out for wisdom. Perhaps it's not something big, but one little thing after another that has you crying out to God for help and mercy. Whatever your sorrow is, this book can help you come to a better understanding of why you are walking through this "valley of the shadow of death" and how God would have you deal with your situation.

Her love for God and her caring and concern for her readers shines through and I found this book to be such an encouragement. It will be in a prominent place in my own library, plus I know I'll be giving away copies to many I care about when they are going through a difficult season of life. I highly recommend "When the Hurt Runs Deep!"

This is a small, easy to read book with only ten chapters. Each chapter covers one "Red Sea Rule," such as:

Realize that God means for you to be where you are.

Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief.

Know God is with you at all times, even if it doesn't always feel like it.

Be sure to praise God in every circumstance!

Each rule is valuable and biblical and well-suited for all of us, including those of us in the Sandwich Generation, caring for elderly parents and babysitting grandchildren. In fact, these are also great lessons to share with our grandkids.

I found this book to be greatly encouraging as well as full of comforting Bible verses - a handy little guide when I need something small to tuck in a purse or briefcase.

I love to underline important points in books, and this book (along with all the others in this lens) has so many passages underlined! I can always tell if a book is really good by whether I've underlined a lot or a little and this goes beyond a lot.

I think my favorite rule was #2 as that is something God keeps working on me right now - "Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief." Caring for our aging parents has many difficult moments - whether it's because someone you are caring for is being a bit recalcitrant, or because their health is causing you much grief. Multigenerational caregiving can double or triple the issues you deal with. But God is able to use all of that to teach us, to grow us, and then to help us turn around and use it to teach others about Him. As Mr. Morgan's quote from Matthew Henry puts it, "God sometimes raises difficulties in the way of His people, that He may have the glory of subduing them, and helping His people over them." Very thought-provoking and challenging.

All in all, I found this to be an excellent and encouraging book and highly recommend it, along with others he has written, including "The Promise: How God Works All Things Together for Good."

Life can be very rewarding for the Sandwich Generation, but it can have painful moments as well. The difficult Sandwich Generation issues of caring for the elderly parents and relatives in our family often lead to the sad moments of grief as we deal with major health issues from stroke to dementia symptoms and from hospice or hospitalization to the final moments before a loved ones death.

That doesn't even count the other members of our extended family who may be dealing with a wide variety of problems - from job loss and financial difficulties to illness or heartache. All of that can lead to sorrow, grief, and a hurting heart for you as well. Here are more books that have been a comfort and encouragement to me in dark moments and I pray they will be for you as well.