A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God's Sovereignty [Kindle Edition]

Joni Eareckson Tada (Author)

Book Description

In this eloquent account of her current struggle with physical pain, Joni Eareckson Tada offers her perspective on divine healing, God’s purposes, and what it means to live with joy. Over four decades ago, a diving accident left Joni a quadriplegic. Today, she faces a new battle: unrelenting pain. The ongoing urgency of this season in her life has caused Joni to return to foundational questions about suffering and God’s will. A Place of Healing is not an ivory-tower treatise on suffering. It’s an intimate look into the life of a mature woman of God. Whether readers are enduring physical pain, financial loss, or relational grief, Joni invites them to process their suffering with her. Together, they will navigate the distance between God’s magnificent yes and heartbreaking no—and find new hope for thriving in-between.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Over four decades ago, a diving accident left Joni Eareckson Tada a quadriplegic. Since that time, she has become a beloved writer and speaker to millions. But today, Joni faces a new battle: chronic, unrelenting pain. As she writes,

Just as I said to God years ago when I was first injured, I find myself praying, Lord, I can’t live like this for the rest of my life! This ongoing urgency has forced me to look back on familiar scriptures and examine them from new angles. Does God miraculously intervene in the lives of all who pray for release from migraine headaches, multiple sclerosis, cancer—or, in my case, chronic pain?

And if not, why not?

Here Joni invites you to walk with her through an intense and baffling season of her life. Her words offer not a bundle of ivory-tower theological conclusions but intimate insight from a woman on a journey—a woman who believes in healing from a God who chooses when that healing will come.
 

About the Author

Joni Eareckson Tada is the president of Joni and Friends, an organization accelerating Christian outreach in the disability community. An acclaimed artist and the author of nearly fifty books, Joni lives with her husband in Southern California.

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Product Details

• File Size: 438 KB
• Print Length: 229 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1434765326
• Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (September 1, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005MT8U3S
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,865 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #26 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Living > Death & Grief

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Serious, Hopeful Look at the Mysteries of Suffering & Divine Sovereignty in the Midst of Chronic Pain August 5, 2010

By Cameron B. Clark VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Although Joni has written about suffering in previous books such as A Step Further and When God Weeps, she wrote this book to revisit the topic after experiencing two years of unrelenting chronic pain that still continues. Almost 60 years old, and a quadriplegic for 43 of them, this book chronicles a new chapter in her life. It is the fruit of Christian maturity as well as careful biblical reflection and takes a very practical, God-glorifying approach. The title, A Place of Healing, refers not only to "our wonderfully sovereign God" as our place of healing (page 12), but also to her wheelchair (page 52) as her place of inner growth and healing where God can be glorified the most.

One is introduced to suffering as an aspect of spiritual warfare in chapter 1. Chapter 2 addresses the real question regarding God and healing which is not whether God can heal but whether or not he will heal all those who truly come to him in faith. In chapter 3 one is introduced to Canadian missionary statesman Henry Frost who wrote the book Miraculous Healing, first published in 1931, which Joni considers the most sensible and balanced treatment on the subject of divine healing. She expounds on four key points on healing found in this book, adding her own insights. Chapter 4 provides five benefits to suffering, chapter 5 gives four answers to the question of "How can I go on like this?", and chapter 6 lays out eight ideas on how we bring Christ glory in a time of trial or limitation. Chapter 7 suggests several ways to gain a fresh, hopeful perspective, and chapter 8 meditatively reflects on heaven as a place of ultimate healing. Chapter 9 introduces us to some wonderful people her ministry came into contact with who spiritually overcame their "disabilities". The title of Chapter 10 speaks for itself: "Thank You, God, for This Wheelchair" which, again, takes us back to her wheelchair as a place of inner healing. There is also an Epilogue written months after the book was completed to provide an update of good news.

This is one book that gave me occasions to weep, to worship, and to wonder. I will certainly be referring back to it now and then and I've purchased Frost's book, Miraculous Healing, at Joni's recommendation. Although A Place of Healing is realistic, it is not pessimistic. It is full of Christ-centered hope and will be an encouragement for Christians who are suffering in different ways, providing empowerment to overcome. I highly recommend it.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars When Faith Meets Pain and Suffering August 5, 2010

By C. Bennett VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Joni Eareckson Tada wrote this book in the midst of pain and suffering, from the trenches. Having prayed for healing, the answer was "no" or "not yet." How do you deal with that in your Christian life? How do you accept pain and suffering when you know God desires your health and wholeness? This book is all about that struggle with pain, suffering, and loving God through it. It is written with maturity, with experience, and with love.

The book is divided into ten chapters, that ask questions like: "what benefit is there to my pain?" and "how can I go on like this?"

Tada reaches into her almost forty years of experience as a quadraplegic to answer these questions, even in the midst of her own questioning.

As someone with a rare, treatable but incurable endocrine disease, I found this book to be of tremendous benefit. These are questions I have often struggled with, and her perspective, biblical insight and seasoned maturity brought a fresh breath of hope to me.

This book will be a terrific gift to someone you know who is suffering through disease, illness and pain.

Five stars, without question, for its authenticity.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Trusting Providence in the midst of pain August 5, 2010

By Robert G. Leroe VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

(in another book) Joni was asked to list the most important, influential books she has read (besides the Bible) and at the top was an old seminary text, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, by Loraine Boettner. One can only speculate how comforting the doctrine of God's sovereignty has been for this remarkable, saintly woman. Accepting the mystery of Divine Providence is the only way life makes sense at times, and learning contentment within God's purpose is the book's underlying theme. I found this latest book of autobiography, reflections, and insight profoundly moving. While I maintain that A Step Further is Joni's most substantive book on human suffering, I can see how this latest volume provides another layer in an ongoing story, placed upon a firm foundation of faith tested in untold trials. New experiences, new insights are based on new struggles with chronic pain (and just prior to publication it's been learned that Joni has breast cancer...and not surprisingly, she hopes to encourage fellow cancer patients). We can read about her experiences, and yet although Joni is a gifted writer, even her words are inadequate; we can only imagine her struggle (and victory) in the grip of circumstances that would defeat most people. It's been said that suffering will make us either compassionate or bitter. Joni has had more suffering than most people ever will, and her heart for God and others shines through this wonderful book.

More About the Author

Joni Eareckson Tada is the founder of Joni and Friends, an organization accelerating Christian outreach in the disability community that numbers 610 million people worldwide. This organization operates out of the new Joni and Friends International Disability Center located in Agoura Hills, California. Joni is not only an international disability advocate but an artist and the author of numerous bestselling books, including Pearls of Great Price, Diamonds in the Dust, More Precious Than Silver, the Platinum award-winning Joni, Heaven: Your Real Home, When God Weeps, and The God I Love.