What did Naomi, Job and Jeremiah have in common? They all experienced “profound, life depleting sorrow.” Taken from the moving account of Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27, this book is about the deep despair of night that can blanket any stars of hope. Paul, yes even Paul, had felt utterly hopeless after unrelenting nights of darkness in a storm at sea.

I happened to be reading Jeremiah at the same time as I was reading this book and I found the two to be good book partners. I had never realised how much Jeremiah had doubted God’s goodness and had despaired of hope. What I loved about this book was the encouragement that God is able to bring his goodness and mercy to bear on our lives and it does not depend on our ability to grip onto faith and hope.

There are four volumes in this series by Mark Talbot on suffering. Looking forward to reading the next one!

When suffering the big question is why? What could I have done different? Depending on what the suffering entails, the questions will come and may never be answered or at least in satisfying way. This text is not to answer why but the answer is who. Suffering is meant to lead us to Christ and his suffering. If you have read the word, you know that life is not pain free. Suffering reveals and this is what this text helps the reader to see, take courage, have faith, and look forward to hope.

As I was reflecting on this read, I was reminded that suffering is not to be compared. For example, my suffering is greater than so and so. That thinking doesn't get us anywhere and see the value of suffering. Suffering's value is the increase of our faith. Knowing the value of suffering before, prepares our heart and minds to when the suffering will occur. The bible has great examples of those that suffered to show the glory of God and his attributes. To breath and to be in His presence. Suffer well.

A Special Thank you to Crossway Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

This was an interesting look at suffering the Old Testament - the first part in a series of four books on suffering and Christianity. I felt like it was a little bit too academic for my tastes, but enjoyed the read.

I can´t talk for all of the presbyterian authors, because I don´t know them all, but the ones I have read are very, very enjoyable. This is the first time I take one of Mark Talbot´s book. The title got me. I think all of us have been there, where everything becomes dark, nothing makes sense and you just forget about things you thought were going to be always there. I know it is when we need to go to the fountain of truth, go to stories of saints who endure till the end. "We need to feel scripture plumbing the life-despairing depths of human suffering. It is what you need, to know there is true hope and even when you see not stars, not even the light at the end of the tunnel, there is light for every step of the way. I pray this book to encourage many.
"We need to know how to maintain our faith and hope even in the midst of our suffering. And we need assurance that God will carry us through".
"Suffering has been near the center of a biblical outlook almost from the start. It has never surprised god, an so it shouldn´t surprise us".
The book is full of biblical references, a lot, I like when the author writes the bible verse and adds the book and number at the end, because when not, the book is full with numbers and parenthesis (that is just a personal preference).
I will continue reading books about lament, suffering, pain, hope, and faith, because is part of life and because sadly, a lot of people don´t like to talk about it.