If you are not familiar with the hymn, “How Firm a Foundation” you will quickly become familiar with it as you read God’s Grace In Your Suffering by David Powlison. The entire premise of the book is to map out the way the song addresses suffering. And he does so as only a master counselor could. I will refrain from sharing the hymn here, but will link to the lyrics here.
This book is no treatise or theological dissertation on God’s grace in the middle of suffering. Quite the opposite actually. In the mere 128 pages of the book, Powlison covers a lot of ground, but his goal is much simpler, and readable. Where does he start? With the one in scripture most acquainted with suffering outside of Christ; Job. This was the place I would have started and the place that I have often gone back to in showing how a listening ear can be more helpful than a mountain of advice and correction. Powlison does an excellent job of providing a useful resource in affirming God’s grace amongst our suffering.
Throughout, Powlison affirms the sufficiency of Scripture, emphasizes the sovereignty of God in our suffering, and adeptly encourages sufferers to see the purposes God may have in their suffering. Throughout this book, Powlison points to stories such as; Job, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph as examples from scripture of instances of suffering where God, in his sovereignty uses the situation for His purposes. As he writes, he emphasizes the need to rely on God himself as the sustainer through trials and how the work God has already done and will do is the basis of comfort through all trials.
There is much to be valued here, but in a very careful way, Powlison offers a question most sufferers are not interested in asking themselves. A question that a counselor should be willing and ready to ask at the appropriate time in an appropriate manner. Usually, one who suffers asks the question, “Why me? Why do I have to suffer this.” David turns the question around and asks, “Why not me? Why not this (suffering)?”
The question is presented in a gentle way, reaffirming all the needed promises and assurances of God’s faithfulness to those suffering to have the strength enough to ask this question. David Powlison shows himself a careful counselor as he asks this question. But it is a needed question. The implications of the gospel are such that we cannot ignore the fact that as enemies of God, we deserve worse than death; we deserve eternal damnation. In God’s grace, he has saved us from eternal suffering and intends to use the brief suffering we experience here on earth as a means to refine us and restore the creation around us. “Why not me?” places the motivation in suffering back into God’s sovereign hands.
This book is a great text for those suffering or for those seeking to help those through suffering if we understand it to be simply an exhortation to look deeper into scripture, deeper into our Savior’s loving arms for comfort. I would commend this book to any suffering and looking for where to find comfort. And with it being a short read, it is definitely worth your time.
The following book review is an ongoing effort on my part to find resources worth sharing that may help any and all who are looking to counsel others. It was also done in conjunction with Crossway’s Book Review Program and subsequently a free digital copy of the book was provided for my review.