A Path Through Suffering: Discovering the Relationship Between God's Mercy and Our Pain

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Summary: Suffering and the Theology of the Cross
Review: Elisabeth Elliot brings to her writings a clear but thorough literary style, personal testimonies and anecdotes from her own life and the lives of others, both living and dead, and a theology and philosophy of life grounded in the teachings of the Bible.
In this book she introduces each chapter with illustrations about the cycles of plant life--based upon the books and illustrations of Lilias Trotter, a 19th Century British female missionary and artist who was a missionary in Algiers in North Africa. Personally, I thought the illustrations became a bit tedious and repetitious.
The theme of the book is Christ centered and Cross centered. Elliot makes the point--I believe correctly--that suffering finds its greatest meaning and depth in the suffering that Christ endured for us and that humanity, especially His followers, must to some point reduplicate in their own lives. Human suffering becomes in a sense redemptive, meaningful and even a source of contentment when in faith it is surrendered back to God just as Christ surrendered His own life and mission to the will of God the Father.

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Summary: Substantial comfort/helpful wisdom
Review: Elisabeth Elliot writes from the heart and soul. She makes many of life's tragedies meaningful and shows us a path to transform ourselves by transforming these events and trusting in a unversal, spiritual perspective...

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Summary: Reconciling Faith and Suffering
Review: I was born with health issues and have suffered for many years of my life as a result. I am now an adult and have rarely enjoyed life without significant pain of some kind. I have been prayed for, prayed over, told I lacked faith, preached to, felt sorry for, etc. But this book puts meaning and purpose not only in suffering, but in faith through suffering. With the additional quotes from the inspired poetry of a woman who suffered before us, this author puts meaning behind the idea that God is sovereign even in our suffering, and she does not settle for trite answers. She offers a reason to hope and believe even in suffering and a rationale for why God still loves us even if He must lead us down a path through suffering. Many authors have tried to reconcile suffering and the idea of a loving God, but this author simply offers an experience with a loving God while suffering. I have given this book to many friends who have had to face trials or suffering and would heartily recommend it to anyone willing to accept that God may have a purpose in their suffering.

Rating:
Summary: A must read for anyone who suffers!
Review: This book is a "must read" for anyone who has ever suffered or is suffering, for any reason. This book helped me so much to realize that "suffering" is not for nothing, as Elisabeth well puts it. There is a reason why God allows us to suffer. He wants us to be drawn to Him and Him alone. You will never be the same after reading this book. Read it with a heart open to hear what God wants to say to you about suffering. It is not something pleasant to do, but you will be a better person having gone through it. May God bless you, dear one, as you suffer with Him.