Does Pain Have a Purpose? (book review)

If you’re looking for a bunch of empty platitudes about suffering through God’s will, don’t read Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain by Drs. Paul Meier and David Henderson. Pain and problems WILL occur in our lives, but just as a physical pain sends us to a physician to root out its source, so should emotional pain send us to the Great Physician for healing. The book’s key point is that pain is NOT the enemy; it is a tool. Most of life’s problems are encompassed by these seven categories: injustice, rejection, loneliness, loss, discipline, failure, and death.

While some people may wish to read the book straight through, others may find it more helpful to read an applicable section at a time. I found that to be a useful feature. The authors presented a good balance of real-life examples with whom readers can easily identify, Scripture promises and reminders, and questions to consider. The section that I found to be most interesting and applicable currently was the one on discipline. Even though it can be self-imposed and necessary, it still hurts. Great read!

I’m a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program and they provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review.