Keep On Keeping On!
What is suffering? Is it long-term physical pain, deep grief, or emotional issues that cut like a knife—perhaps some or all of the above? Any or all of these things can leave you reeling, and if it doesn’t go away and becomes chronic, facing it daily can be overwhelming.
Although friends and family may want to be supportive, long-term problems can wear down relationships. Turning to God and the Bible for help are excellent ideas. The Beyond Suffering Bible hopes to take that a step further by offering support for those living with continuous challenges. Along with the regular scriptures, throughout this Bible are some inserts written from the point of view of people with persisting problems.
This Bible is the result of a partnership with Joni Eareckson Tada and Tyndale House Publishing. Joni is no stranger to a life that has struggles and challenges. She is a paraplegic who has been wheel chair bound for the last five decades after a diving accident when she was a teenager. She is very honest about the hardships she has faced since then. Surprisingly because of that, she has a strong faith in God, and always points to Him for help.
Another title for this Bible could be The Encouragement Bible. It does not pretend that hard things will not come our way, but it also offers hope to face those really big hard life struggles. It encourages.
Many of us are blessed to own at least one Bible, and often as not, many of us have more than one, sometimes we even own multiple translations. So why would anyone want to buy one more Bible, especially if they already have this translation, the New Living one? Get it because of the perspective this Bible is written from. As a Bible itself, the font it is printed in is one of the best I have seen for a long time, and the volume is very pleasing to the eye. So getting this just to use as a Bible alone would be a good choice, but it offers so much more.
Everyone will have something hard to live through, it may not be a disability, but it will be
something hard, and that makes this Bible one that is relatable to everyone. According to the Bible Gateway article of July 14, 2016, one in five Americans live with a physical disability, one in six live with a chronic condition and 10 million yearly experience a mental illness.* Chances are you interact or know one of these people—or are one yourself. This is a valuable resource for anyone suffering, or anyone who cares about someone who is.
On a personal note, I have been living with a chronic health problem for more than two decades. In the past year, I have also faced a time of deep grieving. I found this Bible to be very supportive, and up-lifting. I highly recommend it.
As the cover of the Bible states, “where struggles seem endless, God’s hope is infinite.”
Tyndale House Publishing has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of the Beyond Suffering Bible, for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
The Beyond Suffering Bible Website: http://beyondsufferingbible.com/
The Beyond Suffering Bible Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoniandFriendsIDC/videos/10155351333432818/
The Beyond Suffering Bible: An Interview with Joni Eareckson Tada https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/07/the-beyond-suffering-bible-an-interview-with-joni-eareckson-tada/
* https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2016/07/the-beyond-suffering-bible-an-interview-with-joni-eareckson-tada/
