Suffering Well: How To Steward God's Most Feared Blessing

by Rick L. Thomas

“Rick Thomas invites his readers to enter into a place for “mature audiences” only, to listen as he recounts the darkest time in his life and how, through his journey of intense suffering, he was led to spend four years in the Book of Job. What he discovered was that the book wasn’t really about Job (the most famous sufferer of all time) – but about God, and in particular – about learning to trust God in all our circumstances. This book is especially rich with biblical references to support his conclusions on why we are “called” to suffer. Consistent with his biblical counseling background, Rick gives the reader specific calls to action at the end of each chapter, making it not only an engaging read but practical as well. The book can be used for personal devotions, used in a small group setting or given away as a gift – it will bless the giver and the receiver!” Nancy Hohmann, Enid, Oklahoma

204 pages, Paperback

Published July 16, 2018

Reviews

[C.H. Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suffering Well is a cross between a personal memoir, a devotional exposition of the book of Job, a resource for those who are suffering, and a manual for biblical counselors who are helping those who are suffering. Four hats, if you will, but it wears them all well. This is a book you can safely give to sufferers, knowing that its content is thoroughly biblical.

A weakness of the book is its nearly overwhelming self-referentiality. Thomas does not use many insights of others, or if he does, he doesn't footnote them. He's drawing out of the deep well of his personal experience of extreme suffering. Though his insights are excellent, there might have been a clearer tone of humility had he added a few voices of other biblical counselors. Overall, that's a relatively minor weakness--I intend to use this book broadly in counseling.

[Bryana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book! As a lover of Christian theology/apologetics I highly recommend.