Suffering: Eternity Makes a Difference

This is a biblical counseling booklet on suffering written by the Biblical counselor Paul Tripp. It is a part of a series called “Resources for Changing Lives” printed by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing that I highly recommend and have found very beneficial for my own personal spiritual growth and also as a resource in pastoral ministry. I recommend this booklet for those who are going through suffering, those who are ministering to those who are suffering and those who are Christians…because we will all go through suffering in our lives.A big theme in this book is the fact that without the perspective of eternity ti is hard to face hardship since the picture is not complete (2). The booklet is an exposition and application of Psalms 73. It gives us four practical ways to respond to the difficult circumstances in our lives. These four steps are examine your focus, examine your conclusion, view life from eternity and focus on eternal riches. Though I have outlined the booklet readers should still consider reading the booklet for the author manages to pack a lot of insights. In addition each point also have a subsection of “How to…” this is very practical and helpful.I learned a lot from this booklet. Sometimes in the Christian life it seems one is re-learning what we should already know; except each time we learn it we go deeper and have a greater appreciation for the truth of God and Christ. For instance one thing I took away from this booklet is that a wrong way to measure God’s goodness is with the metric of personal happiness in physical, external and immediate circumstances. I should know better but sometimes we fall back to the wrong perspective; this booklet is helpful in addressing this. This book also reminded me that trials and suffering are no indication that God has forsaken his promises (16). There are good diagnostic questions throughout the book and each serve for great mediation and heart check. This work turn out to be much better than I expected in addressing the heart that complain or engage in self-pity in terms of going through suffering. Very edifying and God-centered.

This is great book. It is short but powerful, I wish everyone could read it.

Didn’t noticed it has the same title as the larger book! This is a pamphlet compared to the chapter book I was looking for.

I have given out many copies of these to friends and acquaintances. I read it regularly myself. It is a great synopsis for sufferers and the full length books written by him and Ed Welch are for more in depth reading. I also recommend "If God Is Good" by Randy Alcorn and "Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering" by Tim Keller as full length reads.

I gave these to those who were suffering wondering why God was permitting it. It encouraged them to know what the purpose of their life is and that God is in control.

I really did not enjoy this book at all. While the things he speaks of are true biblically, they come across as simple platitudes to a very complex and discouraging problem. What the author needs to add is a touch of compassion.

One thing we all share(believers and unbelievers)is that we try to make sense of our suffering.We all experience suffering in a variety of ways and to varying degrees,we all want to understand(as well as we can)the meaning and purpose of it.Why do some fail to grasp God's purpose in their trials and suffering?Mr.Tripp gives some excellent insight-"...too often we view the purposes and promises of the Gospel in terms of our present,personal happiness,when people typically think about life,they miss the most critical dimension of all:eternity."The better one understands God's overall purposes,then one can more effectively apply it to their specific circumstances,we must bring in 'The Sovereign Will Of God',to make sense of things.In his important and influential work 'The Sovereignty Of God' A.W.Pink gives us this key to unlock our understanding of God's Providence-"we can never understand the Providence of God over our world unless we regard it as a complicated machine having ten thousand parts,directed in all its operations to one glorious end-the display of the manifold wisdom of God in the salvation of the Church,i.e.,the 'called out' ones".Our lives are a dot of paint on 'The Great Artist's Canvas',and if we understand the main theme of the artist's work,that every piece of the work is part of the artist's desired effect and ultimate goal,we will then understand the artist himself better.A principle that Tripp brings out re-the revealing of our weakness,our trials and our suffering...,that I think is very common to most if not all believers is that-"God wants to draw me away from security in anything but Him."One thing that will help Christians in the midst of suffering is to remember the temporal nature of it-This world and all that is in it is passing away.The author comments on 2Corinthians 4:16-18 as it relates to the life of the Apostle Paul-"Paul does not focus on what is seen because of the reality of eternity." It can be argued that next to our Lord Himself,the one who suffered the most 'To Promote The Cause Of Christ' would be the Apostle Paul.The Apostle cites some of his suffering and it is a weighty catalog of trial and pain.How does the Apostle Paul describe the totality of his suffering for Christ-"Paul describes his troubles as 'Light and momentary troubles'." How can he view them in this way?Because he is looking at them from 'An Eternal Perspective'.Paul David Tripp's booklet on suffering will be very helpful to those believers who are in 'The Valley Of Despair',it will help to sharpen the thinking of God's people as to how to view the trials and suffering of this life,as we serve our Sovereign God.

This mini-series covers modern issues that people face. It gives biblical answers to the hard questions. Excellent source for any pastor or counselor.

Suffering: Eternity Makes a Difference (Resources for Changing Lives) 人生には浮き沈みがあるもの、周りの人たちがうまくいっているのに、自分だけが不幸な人生を歩んでいるような・・・・そのように落ち込んでいる人にお勧めの一冊。人生の視点が変わり、胸を張って落ち着きと、喜びと平和の中で新しく歩み始める事ができる。わずか３０ページのコンパクトな小冊子なので、かばんの墨に入れて、時間のあるときにちょくちょく取り出して読むとよいでしょう。英語は易しい文章で書かれているので、それほど苦労しなくても読めると思います。 Suffering: Eternity Makes a Difference (Resources for Changing Lives)