Does Grace Grow Best in Winter?

by J. Ligon Duncan III

Few things trouble our hearts and minds like suffering. "Why is this happening? Why me? How can I get through this? Can I get through this?"

God says we can, but he says more. Suffering is not merely to be endured. It comes into our lives for good reasons. Suffering affords seasons for growth in ways we would not grow otherwise.

This book prepares believers for hardship when it comes their way. Learning some of the purposes for suffering, how it connects us with our Lord and his people, and what God's Word says to us in the midst of our pain will enable us to glorify him in the most troubling times.

The wealth of Scripture in this readable book, its focus on the passion and sympathy of Jesus, and thoughtful study questions for reflection or group discussion will help to transform not only our outlook on suffering, but our lives.

Genres: Christian Living, Christian, Theology, Counselling, Faith, Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2009

About the author

Ligon Duncan is the Senior Minister of the historic First Presbyterian Church (1837), Jackson, Mississippi, President of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, Chairman of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Convener of the Twin Lakes Fellowship, and Adjunct Professor at Reformed Theological Seminary. He served as the 32nd Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in America (2004-2005), the youngest minister ever to fill that post.

Reviews

[Ceresa Caudill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes it’s the right book at the right time....
so very thankful for the ministry of Dr Ligon Duncan!

[Matthew Gasperoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book with good biblical depth.
Though brief, Does Grace Grow Best in Winter? offers a lot to reflect and pray on. It’s deeply relevant, with practical applications to meditate on and bring before the LORD. Reading it in the midst of personal struggle did help to start and reorient my heart and mind toward Christ. But it’s likely just as valuable in seasons of calm, serving as wise preparation for the valleys that inevitably come.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and concise book explaining why we suffer. Spoiler alert, yes, grace does grow best in winter.

[Taylor Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant read, even more so in the Christmas season as the Incarnation of Christ is at the forefront of my mind. Chapter 4, the final chapter in this book on the topic of Jesus’ suffering, was the most valuable and impactful part of this book… I’ve read quite a few books on suffering and this book has been the most theologically rich description of Jesus’ suffering in his time here on earth and what it means for us as believers in our suffering.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ligon Duncan's "Does Grace Grow Best in Winter" answers the question, "Why does God bring suffering?" In his short book, Duncan answers four questions, "Why me?" "What is God up to?" "How can we profit from suffering?" and "What should we think of Jesus' suffering?" Ultimately all of those questions are only answered in the final question. It is only when we know that our God has suffered with us, that the coldness of our suffering is warmed.

Duncan offers simple and gospel-rooted truths in "Does Grace Grow Best in Winter?" He tells us that we need to "Be prepared to embrace a life of suffering." He turns our eyes to the wonder that Jesus himself was somehow "made perfect through suffering" (Heb 2:10). Likewise, "suffering is an instrument in the hands of God's Holy Spirit to build up believers in godliness." Our suffering makes us treasure God more and our circumstances and the world less.

In the end, as God's children we will stand in heaven with the one who suffered on our behalf. "He's the only person in heaven who knows what it is to have the Father turn his back on him, leaving him all alone. He is the only person in heaven who knows what it is to look down into the white-hot volcano of the warath of God and survive." What profound hope lies in that truth?

Because of who Jesus is, we are transformed into his likeness through our suffering. "If Jesus in his suffering displayed compassion, should not our suffering achieve its goal of making us not only God-loving, Christ-treasuring, gospel-believing, godliness-pursuing Christians, but also compassionate Christians? Since we have gone through the valley of suffering, shouldn't we be tender and forgiving and caring, longing to live as Christ lived, forgiving as Christ forgave, and caring as Christ cared?"

Duncan's book is an excellent primer for those who are suffering, or walking alongside anyone who is suffering. There are other, more in-depth books I would suggest to take a deeper dive into the question. Tim Keller's "Walking with God through Pain and Suffering" might be top on that list for me. But Duncan's book is a faithful entrypoint that points us to Christ as we hurt.

[Michelle Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short introduction to an eternal perspective of suffering.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is suffering the evidence that God is unaware or unable to act in our lives, or is there something else we are meant to learn? Duncan answers these types of questions, showing the reality of suffering in light of Scripture and in the person of Jesus Christ. There is a purpose to suffering, and we must be prepared for the suffering that will inevitably come our way. To that end, this book (although short) is useful.

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an absolute pleasure to read. Though it was short and concise, the author offers some amazing biblical insights into suffering the will touch your heart and challenge your intellect. This is a must have for any Christian's bookshelf.

[Cbarrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, pastoral treatment on suffering. Short read. Note especially the section on tracing a line from our sufferings back to Christ's sufferings.

[Matt Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does Grace grow best in winter? I don’t know. But Ligon Duncan has done a great job turning these nuggets from lectures he gave into some probing questions. There are some study questions after the few chapters here, but this book is versatile. I read it for myself taking breaks to reflect. It would take maybe 2 hours or less to read it all straight through. That being said nearly every page had a highlight or a note when I was done. It did wonders for redirecting my selfishness and being more compassionate. Highly recommend it!

[Nathan White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of sermons/lectures on suffering. Easy to read, practical, biblical - it lays a solid foundation for a biblical perspective on suffering. It also includes some great study questions at the end of each chapter which perfectly fit this book for some sort of group study.

[Michelle Gillispie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, concise primer on the gains to be gleaned through suffering. Biblically faithful, Christ-centered, and incredibly edifying. I highly commend it.

[Jillena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book.

[Susan Lindemulder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short book but filled with wisdom and not one to be read quickly. The author points to so many Scripture references, and I love how he brings in some of the "old" hymns of the faith as well.

[Madison Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Christian person should read this book!!!! Absolutely amazing and encouraging to the heart.

[Lydia]

“Our suffering enables us to treasure Jesus’ sufferings more and puts our suffering in perspective.”

A great, quick read looking at the depths of suffering, why we suffer, how to suffer well, and how to look to Christ through suffering.

Grace truly does grow best in winter.

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is short and easy to read. That is a plus. I can't say there was much new that hit me.

Everything that was said in the book was lost to me when I read an illustration that was based on the world's perspective and not God's. I was disappointed to see a well-known author write this. It reminded me that we need to be wise and careful even when we read Christian books.

There was one part that in a way I understand what the author was saying but in another way, it felt like pity for the special needs parent. It was specifically in regards to a parent with Down Syndrome and someone seeing that child thinking the child will never reach their potential or take care of themselves. Please do not pity the parent. That child is reaching their potential it might not be that of a nuclear scientist but it what God has created them to be and do. The child might not live independently but that's okay. Saving more of my thoughts for a blog post.

I struggled with this illustration because it is totally based on the world's perspective and not on the Biblical truth. What is human potential? What are the amazing things? Nothing was said to remind the readers that our human potential is to glorify God and enjoy him. Rather it implied that disabled people cannot live up to human potential. Would you say that to Fanny Crosby or Joni?

My daughter with Down syndrome is glorifying God and enjoying him. She reflects God's character in her relationships with others. She is doing amazing things.



For the reasons above are why I gave it the rating I did.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good primer of a Biblical response to suffering.

Main points:

* The suffering of the Christian is for the good of the individual as well as the collective church (35).

* The question is not whether Jesus can empathize with you; the question is whether you can empathize with what Jesus experienced. The answer is no.

* "[C]onsider it your job to be prepared to suffer" (46).

* It is never stated that Jesus laughed (68). His suffering is emphasized throughout the gospels.

[Kathy]

outstanding!

[GDSD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent....a great perspective on suffering.. A good companion to the 5 lecture series he also did on the subject.