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erlenzi's review
5.0
The church needs this book! K.J.'s words are both a balm and a challenge to the reader. Through her beautifully crafted and theologically rich prose, K.J. invites us to reconsider our assumptions about healing and living victoriously in Christ. She reminds us that we can acknowledge our pain, whether physical or emotional, and know deep in our bones that God is truly there with us in the midst of it. If you are a pastor, a chronic pain sufferer, walking through long-term sickness, infertility, grief, or just want to better understand what the incarnation of Christ means for his followers (hint: all Christians!), buy this book.
haveyoumetlisa's review
4.0
I am more and more convinced we need more ministries of lament - in the church at large, and mine specifically. I don't know what to do about it though...
sarah_reading_party's review
5.0
If a book about suffering can be enjoyable to read, this is the one! K.J. Ramsey takes her readers on a journey - a journey to see how God can meet us in our suffering and pain and how we can meet others there as well. She uses her life story to examine the question of what happens when suffering does not end. How can you move on? How can you have hope in the midst of tough circumstances? K.J.'s story relates to a chronic health condition, but she also incorporates examples of other types of pain - relational, abuse, church hurt, and more. This book literally applies to everyone, even if you don't think suffering has lingered in your life! It is hopeful without being sugary sweet, and is as real as it comes. K.J. brings in the word of God too, in powerful ways that aren't preachy. She uses the example of Christ's suffering as a way we can live well in pain. She also uses psychology and her counseling skills to ground the book in real, practical ways you can grow. It was a great read!
Disclosure: I was on the launch team for the book, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. I wasn't the best team member ever but this is my genuine, honest review. I got a free copy to read ahead of the book's release but that was it. All thoughts are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.
Disclosure: I was on the launch team for the book, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. I wasn't the best team member ever but this is my genuine, honest review. I got a free copy to read ahead of the book's release but that was it. All thoughts are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.
lrnash's review
4.0
I was gifted this book by a friend, and it was just what I needed in this season of life. I cried as I saw my story shared in that of others.
lizwine's review
3.0
(I received an ARC).
I really appreciate and respect KJ’s ministry online. I wish this book had more of her personal stories, which have been written with poetic care. I have some differing theological views so with that being the majority of the pages of many chapters, I found it distracted me from the timeline of her story.
I really appreciate and respect KJ’s ministry online. I wish this book had more of her personal stories, which have been written with poetic care. I have some differing theological views so with that being the majority of the pages of many chapters, I found it distracted me from the timeline of her story.
helen_moore_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
kneely09's review
4.0
“This is grace: God joined us on the floor of this earth.
God did not stay far from our pain. He did not judge it from a distance. He did not pity it from the other side of the universe. He became it.
Grace is solidarity instead of scrutiny. This is the power that sustains us when suffering lingers.”
I think what I found most impactful was the author’s push-back against the idea that we can somehow right or pray our way out of pain and suffering; or that if suffering lingers maybe it’s pointing to a weakness in one’s faith. K.J. suggests that encouraging this kind of theology just further alienates the suffering.
I think her book is also a call to communion... to be a part of the grace that sustains the suffering, and a reminder to those who suffer that shame is a liar and that maybe they are not as alone as they may feel. It is a beautiful reminder that each person is seen and known and loved.
I think anyone could learn something or be encouraged or challenged by reading this book. That maybe, as the subtitle suggests, reading it can provide “grace when suffering lingers.”
I received an ARC from the publisher.
God did not stay far from our pain. He did not judge it from a distance. He did not pity it from the other side of the universe. He became it.
Grace is solidarity instead of scrutiny. This is the power that sustains us when suffering lingers.”
I think what I found most impactful was the author’s push-back against the idea that we can somehow right or pray our way out of pain and suffering; or that if suffering lingers maybe it’s pointing to a weakness in one’s faith. K.J. suggests that encouraging this kind of theology just further alienates the suffering.
I think her book is also a call to communion... to be a part of the grace that sustains the suffering, and a reminder to those who suffer that shame is a liar and that maybe they are not as alone as they may feel. It is a beautiful reminder that each person is seen and known and loved.
I think anyone could learn something or be encouraged or challenged by reading this book. That maybe, as the subtitle suggests, reading it can provide “grace when suffering lingers.”
I received an ARC from the publisher.
whitneydziurawiec's review
4.0
Gorgeous and true. KJ Ramsey has seen ongoing suffering and writes about it with poignancy and grace. For her, suffering is not a season that comes and goes, but an ongoing reality. No sentence was trite, and no hope was presented that wasn't hard-earned by the author. I listened to this book and probably would have finished it more quickly had I read it. I will definitely be buying a hard copy of this to have on my shelf.