Shaped by Suffering: How Temporary Hardships Prepare Us for Our Eternal Home

• ISBN: 9789392340048
• Pages: 256
• Format/Edition: Paperback
• Dimensions: 21.5 × 13.5 × 1 cm

About the Book

Suffering is a universal experience, and this book explores the Christian response to pain, trials, and affliction in a fallen world. Written by Kenneth Boa and Jenny Abel, it addresses how suffering shapes us and helps cultivate Christlike character. Drawing insights from 1 Peter, the authors remind readers that suffering is both inevitable and temporary, urging us to focus not on the nature of our pain but on how we respond to it.

• Key Themes:

  • Understanding Suffering: Suffering is not only a part of the human condition but also a tool God uses to refine and shape His children for eternity.
  • Christian Perspective on Pain: The book challenges short-sighted views of pain, urging Christians to develop a more biblical perspective on suffering as part of their spiritual journey.
  • 1 Peter's Wisdom: Referencing 1 Peter, the authors emphasize that suffering is a guarantee for Christians, and how we handle it matters more than the nature of our trials.
  • God’s Purpose in Suffering: Suffering is not meaningless; it has the potential to draw us closer to God and prepare us for eternal life.
  • Personal Growth: Our response to suffering can either make us bitter or better, and this book offers encouragement to choose the latter through faith and hope.
  • Living Hope and Joy: Despite suffering, there is always living hope, present joy, and a glorious future that awaits those who trust in God’s plan.

• Purpose and Impact:

  • This book equips Christians with a deeper understanding of the purpose behind suffering and how it can be transformative in the spiritual journey.
  • It encourages hope and offers practical reflections on how to endure trials while maintaining faith in God’s eternal promises.
  • It offers biblical wisdom for handling pain and adversity with grace, and how such trials can be stepping stones toward a closer relationship with God.

The authors aim to shift the focus from the temporary nature of suffering to the eternal hope that God offers, transforming trials into opportunities for spiritual growth.