Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain

This is a book review for Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain by Paul Meier and David Henderson. I received it as part of Thomas Nelson’s BookSneeze program. I am in no way required to give a positive review.

Honestly, I wasn’t looking forward this book. The title killed it for me. I’m in a pretty good place in my life right now and I’m not experiencing any overwhelming pain or depression. I figured I would read it when and if that time came. The book was sitting on my shelf though, so I figured I’d skim it and give it a shot.

What I learned, mostly psychologically, was deeply beneficial. The authors both have their MDs and it shows. They bring incredible insight into what it means to feel pain and how to not only move beyond it, but find God’s purpose in it. Most of us, whether we admit it (or even realize it) are generally experiencing some form of pain in our everyday lives. It can be anything from the injustice in our world (BP oil spill, for example) to the simple feeling of worthlessness that comes over us when we waste a few precious hours of time.

I don’t know about you, but when I think of pain, I think of the big things. One of the biggest things in overcoming any pain, however, is realizing that we are actually experiencing it. Sometimes this is especially hard for Christians to do. We are so caught up in being the light of the world that we often just rush by the hurt in our lives. We also have this fear of admitting to people that we’re not in a good place, because Christians are obviously just supposed to have everything pulled together all the time. To really be light, though, requires that we know ourselves and know what God says and promises about pain. Here’s a hint: you probably won’t like what He has to say.

Reading this book not only gave me insight into my life right now, but I know has helped prepare me for the pain that will someday come. It’s inevitable, and I am okay with that…because I’m ready.

Love and Peace,
Jeremy