Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets You Free

Excellent. A must read for every church goer and trauma survivior. Exposes pious platitudes so often used to mitigate our own pain when hearing of someone elses suffering. Exposes the "health, wealth and happiness" syndrome that is plaguing so many churces these days and points one totally in the direction of God's grace that is absolutely free to us all and not due to anything we can ever do. Removes suffering from the realm of something God does "to" us but shows how he remains "with" us while going through it. Tullian Tchividjian has a true gift of applying God's word to every day life making scripture totally understandable and livable. No vain rehtoric here.

This is a most incredible book. One of the best I've ever read and by far the best treatise on the subject. I cannot put into words what this book has meant to me over the past few months that I myself have been going through a painful process that to my knowledge may never end in this life. But what I can say with clarity and strong conviction is that if you are going through this book will change your life forever. I never understood suffering from the perspective that I see it now. And that is not to say that I understand it at all - I certainly don't! But my grasp of God in the midst of it is much tighter, stronger and lasting. If you are are in any way suffering as a result of life period, then this is the book you must read. The writer's style is so forthright and relatable. Even when he may have been writing things that weren't that easy to understand, the way he writes allows for me to ponder for a second and gain further clarity after careful thought to a profound, often surprising, revelation. You cannot read this book and be the same afterwards. Amazing!

Glorious Ruin is a sober, gospel soaked view of suffering. In the West, we have reduced suffering to an inconvenient yet effective way of getting over it and moving on to a greater degree of self awareness, or as a catapult to success - the proverbial "beating the odds." At best, suffering is a stepping stone to success, at worst, it's something that should be avoided at all costs - in Christian circles, however, the tendency is to deny the sting of pain and finding ways to be okay despite inner torture. This book masterfully takes apart each of those approaches and sets it against the perspective of the cross - where graces center stage. Tullian teaches that the relevance of suffering on this side of the cross rests in what has already been accomplished, not in what might be reaped from the experience. We WILL suffer, and real faith grieves. What then is the point? Glorious Ruin offers no earthly silver linings or happy endings, in fact, the conclusion is that suffering points to the fact that we were created for a different world. In this world, brokenness precedes usefulness, and God uses suffering to cleanse us from the things, good or bad, that we trust in more than God and prepares us for eternity. I have to admit, this book left me speechless the last time I had to offer words of comfort to someone who was desperately clinging to her faith - then I realized that Jesus is always enough. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is going through challenges or to anyone who is in a position to walk alongside someone who is.

Throughout my life I have suffered. I've suffered a miscarriage, have had to have more operations than I can count, have spent years either vomiting or being bed ridden due to conditions that took time to correct. I have made the mistake of looking for reasons and explanations for my circumstances. I have also made the mistake of saying, I shouldn't complain because it is not like I have cancer or something. Instead, I should have looked to my Savior, Jesus, to help me through it instead of focusing in on myself. This book was an amazing read. I typically do not read religious books, save for the Bible, yet my pastor recommended this to me. As I began reading, I saw all that I have done through the years. I also saw what I needed to do. This book is not an explanation of suffering nor a self-help book. It is one though that will help bring your focus back to the One Who will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.

...on the purpose of pain that invites us to reflect upon our take on the meaning of life--particularly for God-followers to seriously reconsider how big or small a role we desire Our loving Master to play in our survival. Suffering is inescapable and we shun it at all costs, but I have understood from Tchividjian pain that comes our way can powerfully draw us closer to the bottom line. It has been a worthwhile read to me. I have picked this book hoping to receive help to become more prepared when the going gets tough, whether in relationships, health, etc. After reading it through, I feel empowered and less resentful of suffering. I have enjoyed this author's writing style and tone as well.

Mom just passed and i found this book having read his other books. People suffer differently. We don’t have to “get over it” or “give it time”. All that advice though well intentioned is often salt on a wound. We can’t understand the Why of suffering. That’s like a child asking, why is the sky blue? We need to all read books like this one to prepare our hearts and minds for suffering when it comes. Prepare you hearts with Biblical understanding and wisdom with verses that will comfort you in your time of need and that time when you can comfort others. Try not to be trite and explain it like Job’s friends did.

I have read a lot by Pastor Tullian and enjoy listening to his sermons (available on podcast). You wouldn't know that he is Billy Graham's grandson in that he teaches as a beggar telling other beggars where to find bread. Quite simply, Tullian preaches Jesus. He has wisdom about God's grace, and communicates it in such a fresh new way, that it always increases my faith and gives me peace. I know you won't be disappointed in this book, and if you are new to Tullian, then I'll add that it might just change your life.

Tullian's focus is for people to stop looking for substitutes/explanations in the midst of suffering. These are merely ways in which we attempt to put control back into our hands. Instead of asking for the why and what, Tullian proposes that Christians ask the who in suffering. Christ is with us in our suffering. Christianity has turned into a stoic religion. One in which people have the attitude to try harder or pull yourself up by your bootstraps. However, the God of the bible is not cold hearted, rather He is with us in the midst of trials. We don't need to justify God or explain our situation away as if to numb the pain, rather God allows for us to admit the pain and suffering we are enduring in order to point us back to the cross. I highly recommend listening to his sermons before, during, or after reading this book. The podcasts add a different dimension to what the book is getting it. The book scratches the surface and the sermons take it to another layer by using numerous examples.