Finding Purpose Byond our Pain by Meier and Henderson

“Finding Purpose in the Pain”

“I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born,” says the Lord. – Isaiah 66:9 NCV…

Those words start the introduction to this book. It was without thinking that I brought this book with me this week. On Monday I took off from our Southern Maryland home to drive 12 hours to my in-laws in Indiana. It wasn’t for a vacation or rest that we came, but to visit my father-in-law. July 29th, 2009 he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. After numerous tests etc... we found that it was a stage 4 cancer. Within just a few months it had spread completely to his Liver as well. We are now sitting in the living room of their house and I am watching him holding my youngest son. I didn’t know how much this book would be a comfort for me.

This book seeks to help you learn through the pain, not just the pain of short term such as exams, or child birth, but even into the long term of death and loss.

In the intro the purpose of this book is summed up as follows… “Pain-free living is impossible this side of heaven. We will never find a magic pill to prevent suffering or sorrow.
What if, instead of chasing after a pain-free life, we realized that pain is not the enemy? In fact, pain can be our ally if we allow it to lead us away from danger and toward the healing power of Christ.”

The book then goes through many different avenues of pain: Injustice, Rejection, Loneliness, Loss, Discipline, Failure and Death.

Pain is a way of life. On key of this is support. If you are someone who is dealing with hurt, depression etc… LOVE THEM! If you personally are suffering depression or lost, look to GOD! This book helps to see you and lead you to him.

The best way to sum up this book is in the verse used in the Introduction:
“Be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.” I Peter 1:6 NLT

Thanks to Thomas nelson for giving me this book to read. It couldn’t have been at a more important time.
http://thomasnelson.insidethecover.com/widget/?isbn=9780785229223