Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain by Meier and Henderson

 

Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain

By Paul Meier. MD and David L. Henderson, MD

Published by Thomas Nelson

 

In our lives we all experience pain; this pain comes in all different forms.  Some of the forms covered in this book include loneliness, loss, discipline and failure.  Many times as we go through each experience there is that nagging question as to WHY we have to experience so much pain in our lives.  Is there really a purpose behind it all?  The authors say there is purpose.  As they discuss each form of pain, the authors strive to show their readers the possible purposes.  Knowing the purpose beyond our experiences can bring us through these things; sometimes knowing can make the difference to making it or not!

 

I chose this book hoping to find some solace, some answers, some hope.  I have worked through some painful experiences in my life; I think the biggest or most important of them all would be the death of our son in 2004.  What was the purpose of that death?  Was there one?  I’m sure every parent in such a situation would ask the same questions and many more, just like Jason and I did.  So did the authors succeed in answering my questions?  Did I find that hope? Did I get the answers?  I would say that the authors were successful in their attempt to give the world a little more direction and hope.

 

More than just dealing with the big issue, I found myself dealing with little issues.  Sometimes we tend to overlook (or pretend to overlook) little hurts, snide remarks, that tinge of loneliness.  I learned that those little things matter too!  That if these things are left unprocessed that this pain simply builds and builds and becomes HUGE in our minds.  Through reading this book, I have discovered a few of these little issues that I need to spend some time working through.  It’s going to take some time and I’m glad to have a good resource to help me do so.

 

I have recommended this book to others, even while I was still reading it.  Each section deals with a specific issue.  You don’t have to read the book from cover to cover.  You can pick the issue that you are currently dealing with and just read that section.  I love that about this book.  When my grief wells up and I don’t know what the next step might be, I can turn to the section on death or on loss and read for encouragement and help.  Or if I’m feeling lonely or shunned I can turn to that chapter.

 

 

Finding Purpose can be purchased at Thomas Nelson and at Amazon.

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,