Random Thoughts

Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain

Thomas Nelson sent me a copy of the book “Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain” to review. I had hoped to have it completed long before now. Unfortunately, life happens and we don’t always get to do what we want.

The premise of the book by Drs. Paul Meier and David Henderson is that pain is not the enemy. In fact, through the difficult times in our lives when we find ourselves experiencing pain, it is at those times that we grow. Maybe we understand what someone else is going through in a new way, we learn to empathize with others, or we learn something about ourselves. Their idea is that pain should not be considered something to endure, but something which leads us to change.

The authors describe seven universal struggles and give insight how to grow through each one. These struggles include: Injustice, Rejection, Loneliness, Loss, Discipline, Failure, and Death.

Maybe part of the reason I couldn’t finish reading this book is because I didn’t need it at the time I received it. Having just experienced a death in the family, however, the sections on loss and death were just what I needed when I needed it.

For each section of the book the writers provide information you can use to help you find purpose beyond each struggle. The advice is solid and encouraging. They teach you to seek what God is trying to teach you through each struggle so you can get past the pain and move forward in life.

Even though it took me a while to finish the book, I’m glad I did. I learned a lot and think anyone who has ever experienced pain in their life (and who hasn’t?) will learn as well.