Book Review: A Place of Healing – Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’s Sovereignty

A PLACE OF HEALING: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’s Sovereignty by Joni Eareckson Tada focuses on the true story of Joni Eareckson Tada. This book review was written by Hank Griffith of South Suburban Evangelical Free Church. This book is good for those suffering with a chronic illness.

If I were to choose one living Christian to meet personally, it might be Joni Eareckson Tada. Joni has suffered greatly in her life, but she’s grown into such a godly and wise woman. In A Place of Healing I learned that Joni is now in more pain than she ever was before. She reports that some days are almost unbearable, and in the near future she may have to give up her active ministry. Despite it all, what a spirit she has – ever trusting God and serving Him with all she has!

This delightful book is chock full of deep biblical insights on healing, including our ultimate in heaven, as well as on living with chronic pain. I also appreciate so much Joni’s real-life inspirational stories and good humor.

Let me share just one story with you as an example:

“The other day my friend Karen flew into town from the East Coast to see me.

No big deal, right?

Well, really it is a big deal. Because Karen came by herself, and she is almost completely blind. With a lot of courage and plain old determination, she got on the plane, found a friend to pick her up at the airport, looked me up, and came to see me.

On the night of her arrival, the two of us went out to dinner at a local restaurant. I had thought she was going to ask her friend to join us, but the friend had to get going and explained she was only there to drop Karen off.

It gave me a little pause. There would be no one to give us assistance at the restaurant? A blind woman and a paralyzed woman? This was going to be somewhat interesting. When Karen’s friend took off and left us, I think the staff at the restaurant was as nervous about it as I was.

(CONTINUE READING…)

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