A Path Through Suffering

Even if you haven’t experienced deep suffering, this book is such a solid reminder of what suffering can teach us, and how the Lord uses it for His ultimate glory and our good. Highly recommended.

This book is inspired. I cannot tell you how it has brought order to thoughts and feelings and scripture knowledge and experiences. It has provided and continues to provide a heading in the storm of suffering and the pain that life brings. Lillias Trotter is a perfect accompaniment to this book. It just speaks to the roots of human nature and self protection through the wise eyes of Christian love and leadership. A must read and a must re-read!

Elliot's book is the best I've read on the subject - She focuses on the everyday "inconvenience" category of suffering (what Jung called 'necessary suffering')and makes the case that having your flight cancelled can indeed be redemptive suffering when we approach it from a spiritual perspective "in Christ." I love her definition of suffering: "Wanting what I don't have or Having what I don't want." Elliot points out that most of us are not called to be martyred, tortured, or imprisoned for Christ, but that ALL of us are called to share in His suffering in order to be made into his image through the death of what Thomas Merton calls the "false self." Having said that, I believe the word "obedience" has been contaminated in our culture because of it's inextricable association with abuse (and loveless duty/obligation). I prefer the MESSAGE translation of LUKE 9.23 ff; Then he (Jesus) told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat--I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?" 'Follow me and I'll show you how' is more accurately reflective of God's love for us than 'obey me or else'. God always comforts us in our 'necessary suffering' and as Psalm 30 says, "The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter!". Thank you, Elisabeth for a life-changing look at what it means to be a follower of Crist through suffering.

One of THE best books by E.E. A great book applicable to many different types of suffering - physical suffering, emotional suffering, spiritual suffering. I kept this book in my bag every where I went during a season of deep emotional pain. Elliot's voice was a great comfort to me and pointed me always to Jesus and the Gospel. Glory to God for her obedience, her meek heart willing to learn the lessons God taught her, and for God directing me to this book. When I hear that someone is suffering, I mail them a copy of this book. It is emotionally healthy and leads you to a more mature, sanctified faith. Such a book and such a voice are rare these days.

I have read this book as a devotional off and on for many years. Recently, I found it in Kindle format and had to download it to my Fire. Anything Elizabeth Elliott writes is deep and deserves thinking about, and this book is no exception. I know that it is not popular in today's Christian circles to teach/preach that suffering/pain is also part of our walk. Yes, there is much joy, undeserved blessings, but also sorrow, pain, suffering either brought on by ourselves, others, or just living in this world. Elizabeth Elliott does a wonderful job addressing these issues in a thoughtful, sensitive way. You will not just breeze through this book. I have read through it many times by just taking a chapter a day. It has helped me and others through some hard times. I am no one, obviously, but I can and do recommend this book.

Everyone has asked God, "Why? Why me? Why this? What are you doing?" in their spiritual walk. It is something that every Christian from the beginning of time has gone through and what every Christian will ask God in the future. No Christian should be left with their questions unanswered in this area. Elisabeth steps in and speaks from her experiences on something that she personally has experience with- the loss of two husbands, one to cannibals the other to cancer. She knows deeply what it is like to have suffering and loss touch her life. She also knows what it is like to see suffering from God's perspective, choose His ways and thought and reap the benefits. Don't miss the chance to sit at someone's feet and be mentored in your spiritual journey. Someone who has gone their and back again, not regretted it and discovered what it feels like to rejoice and say THANK YOU for suffering. It will change your life and be a true blessing. This book is one I give away most often...the message is so needed for EVERY person in this world.

This is the first book I have read by Elisabeth Elliot, but definitely not my first book on suffering in the Christian life. This is now one of my favorite books on the topic. The book is easy to read but packed full of wisdom. Consistantly, she points to God's purpose in our suffering and does it in a way that does not gloss over life's difficulties. Yet it remains uplifting. That is no easy task. I highly recommend this book and will be looking for more books written by this author.

An amazing book by an amazing woman. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed by what she wrote (so challenging) and sometimes I felt it had fallen short of comforting me in my particular trial. But most of the time I felt this book fed my longing to understand the “minor chord” in life (to understand a bit – there is no way to fully understand suffering in this life I think). I can't fathom trying write about this topic and I admired that she ever took this project on.

Very helpful resource in a hard time.

I found it has really helped to transform my thinking on why Christians suffer in various ways and helped me to believe that suffering precedes glory, that there is a path through suffering.

Each chapter has such helpful things in it. It really helped me to see suffering through gospel eyes. Brilliant book.

Have not finished it yet but very good reading so far. Very encouraging reading for a person facing trials in life.

Brilliant book. Bought 5 more for friends. Arrived on time