Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God's Sovereignty

It’s a great book. Definitely recommend

Excellent down to earth look at some of the tough things of life from one who is both joyful and encouraging in spite of having her world reduced to a wheel chair existence at the age of 17.. Joni has been through way more than most of us in America can hardly imagine in the way of loss and suffering. There's no sugar coating here, but just a realistic look at life here on earth as not the end all, because the bible teaches that in this world we will have trials and tribulation but to rejoice because our names are written in heaven if we we're following Jesus and are trusting Him to have died in our place for our sins There are few who will not experience suffering at some point in their lives and Joni gives us hope that Jesus Christ can see us through even the worst of times. I love that Joni is not afraid to admit to some concerns as to being able to continue in pain if God doesn't intervene. and it's refreshing that she doesn't claim to have the Christian life all locked up in a nice package or formula. In spite of some of the "name it and claim it" preaching we find prevalent in our society, Joni is an example of one who has seen God use her in the lives of many many suffering people who could not relate to her in the same way if her life was without handicap. Of course, she prays for and would love to be healed, but God has not chosen so far to do so and, if we're honest, He is not bound to heal any of us physically, but is most concerned about our souls. At the writing of this book, Joni had been experiencing much greater almost unbearable physical pain and as of the date of my writing here, she is still on the air and sounding good, so I'm hoping the Lord healed her or gave her some way to cope with the pain since this book was written. I read the book a while back and am probably not remembering it fully, but I would highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to see a life of one who walks with God through really hard times and wouldn't exchange her life for one of a whole body and ease in life without Jesus Christ..

Why does God allow pain? Is God concerned with suffering and involved in it? Plato, C.S. Lewis, Rabbi Harold Kushner, Henri Nouwen, the apostle Paul and others have all addressed these age-old questions. Instead of focusing on how God is involved in the problem of pain, Joni Eareckson Tada chooses instead in her book, A Place of Healing, to examine how God can use pain to draw her closer to Himself and lift her above her human sufferings. Joni, left a quadriplegic from a diving accident four decades ago, is the author of over fifty books and founder of Joni and Friends, an organization devoted to accelerating Christian outreach among those with disabilities. She will serve as the Honorary Chairman of the 2011 National Day of Prayer, held on the First Thursday of May. In addition to coping with the struggles of living from a wheelchair, Joni now has new challenges. She is assaulted with unrelenting, chronic pain and has been diagnosed with cancer. Her reactions? "Suffering may be a part of God's...mysterious plan, but God's intention is always to demonstrate compassion and unfailing love." Joni illustrates over and over in her book how powerfully God's love touches her at her deepest point of need. Her chapter headings ask difficult questions: * What Benefit is there to My Pain? * How Can I Go On Like This? * How Can I Bring Him Glory? * How Do I Regain My Perspective? This devout, genuine woman answers each question with tender, heartfelt examples from her walk in faith. Suffering can make us bitter or compassionate. Suffering can drive us away from God or make us fly into His arms. A Place of Healing is her testament to the restorative power of loving, committed service to God, no matter what our circumstances. She rejoices in the fact that God had plans for her life much wider, higher and more profound than she ever could imagine. Her last chapter entitled, "Thank you, God, for this Wheelchair" demonstrates that because of her circumstances, not in spite of them, she is happier as a child of God than she ever dreamed possible. Do you have a friend or relative struggling with grief, financial loss, health issues or physical pain? Give them a copy of A Place of Healing. May they find comfort in the profound testimony of someone who treads where they walk, albeit, in a wheelchair. Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont

A Place of Healing is Joni's look at suffering in light of God's sovereignty and goodness. If you are unfamiliar with Joni, she is a quadriplegic who has been used by God to minister to many since her diving accident led to her paralysis. As I was struggling with this issue I wanted to hear counsel from someone who had endured suffering. That being said, I trust the Scriptures an infinite times more than I do someone's experience, so I wanted someone who would open the Word of God and deal with the issue with Scripture as the key focus. I was not disappointed with this book or with Mrs. Eareckson Tada's counsel. Joni begins the book by giving a report of what is going on in her life at the time of writing. Her paralysis persists, but not she is enduring chronic pain. She deals with this to let the reader know where she is coming from, writing from the midst of a battle, but also to lead into the main question we face when we see suffering and worship a good God. Why? Not only the why question of suffering's existence, which can be easily seen from Scripture, but the why question of suffering in the life of a child of God who sincerely and faithfully seeks God's healing. Joni recounts an experience she had on a televangelist's program in which she was blindsided with a critique of her faith and the fact that she remained unhealed because of sin in her life and a lack of faith. This causes Joni pain, but coupled with a search of Scripture leads her to a realization that is important for us all to understand and accept, "(h)ere is what I believe: God reserves the right to heal or not ... as He sees fit." This is key! Without this, we will struggle with this issue unnecessarily and in a manner that will not lead to growth in holiness and faith, but rather doubt and despair. God is God and we are not and He will do what He chooses to do. the fact is I only know so much, I only understand so much, I only see so much, and I only grasp so much of what I do see. With Paul, I sometimes have to cry out, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" (Rom. 11:33). Not long ago, the words of this old hymn drifted into my mind: I am not skilled to understand What God has willed, what God has planned; I only know at His right hand, Stands One who is my Savior!1 Ah, there are many things that God has revealed--things I do know and understand. But there are many more things that He has not chosen to reveal yet and may not reveal this side of heaven. And one of those things is why He sometimes chooses to step in and supernaturally heal one person and not another. We have to be ok with the truth that God is God. We have to be ok with the fact that He works things how He sees fit and that He is all-wise, all-loving and the definition of good. Will this convince an unbeliever while they wrestle with suffering in the world and the truth-claims of Christianity? Probably not. But really the only thing that will work in that situation is the regenerating power of God's Holy Spirit anyway. What this does do is remind me, a born-again believer in Christ, that He is good. And He is in control. And I can rest in that. Chapter 4 is entitled "What Benefit Is There to My Pain?". This chapter is an amazing read. Joni works through the benefits of suffering and how a good God uses suffering for the good of those who love Him and for His own glory. She goes over multiple points including how suffering can turn us from a dangerous/deadly path, how suffering increases our desire for Christ, how suffering reminds us of our frailty and weakness and how God can use suffering to make us more fruitful. Joni then gives a few detailed examples of how God has used her and the ministry He started with her called Joni and Friends to minister to, love on, reach out to and lead to the salvation of many who Joni would not have been able to reach without her paralysis. It is an amazing reminder of how suffering exists in the life of a believer so that they may be ministers of hope, healing and grace. Joni spends the remainder of the book speaking to those who suffer and encouraging them on how they can endure and how they can bring glory to God through all of it. She also spends more time looking at some testimonials of how God has used her paralysis to bring glory to Himself and lost people to salvation. This is a greatly encouraging, greatly challenging book and it was a pleasure to read. I praise God for what He has done and continues to do through the life and work of His Son found in the life and work of Joni and her friends.

We all suffering at times during our life. If you want to better understand how your suffering “completes” our Lord Jesus’ suffering while on earth, this book is for you!!

A Place of Healing is a transparent book that reveals Joni’s questioning about her own chronic pain, quadriplegia, and what she believes about God. Very well written, it begins with a zealous young man telling her she didn’t have enough faith for God to heal her, the time she went to a faith healer’s meeting, and so many things that she has learned over the more than forty-five years since she was paralyzed. Joni addresses God’s sovereign will, why He allows suffering, the good that comes through weakness, and the very real day-to-day struggles she faces. She talks about contentment and joy along with pain and needing people to help her with almost everything. She tells some hilarious stories, like the time she traveled with a blind friend—just the two of them—on a plane. Should we question God? Or should we question just enough to get answers? Are there always answers—or do we move ahead in the faith that the Lord has a purpose in every situation, be it physical suffering or emotional? When we belong to Jesus, God has a plan, a purpose. Joni knows that God has used her in a special way because she is a quadriplegic. She would never have had the opportunities to share the gospel without the special platform she has because of the grace He has given her in the midst of her suffering. She has purpose and a reason to get up and go to work each day. A Place of Healing ends with a few chapters with stories about people who have been blessed through the ministry of Joni and Friends. They are absolutely wonderful stories of how God put two unlikely people together to meet a special need. Sometimes, it’s a fitted wheelchair . . . or encouragement. I loved this book and would especially recommend it to people experiencing any kind of trial. It might change your perspective.

It is hard to believe that this amazing woman who is paralysed from her neck down since her teenage years, has achieved so very much in her life and has been such an inspiration and help to so many people in her life. I have no doubt that she would not have been able to do this were she not a real Christian. Now after over 40 years in a wheel chair and in immense pain she longs for the total healing she will receive when she passes from this life and goes to heaven - and she has no doubt at all that is where she is going. That she has managed to write this inspiring and informative book at this time of her life while suffering immense physical pain, is a miracle in itself. Does she feel sorry for herself? No! Is she asking for sympathy? No! She is a gifted and talented woman. Is this book depressing? No! It is a powerful, encouraging book which I think everyone should read. All of us who are able bodied take so much for granted and still conplain in life. How often are we grateful for all that we have - physically, emotionally and spiritually? How many of us are prepared for the hereafter? As some people say, there is one thing none of us can escape - and that is death! Be prepared for it! If you are feeling depressed and hard-done-by in life - read this book! You will never be the same again. It is so inspiring and I congratulate Joni on the wonderful example she has been during her life and for writing this wonderful book.

This book is full of insights and will benefit everyone who reads it. Recommend this to all who want to understand better as in to the why’s How to grow with grace to fill Gods purpose

To be shown ANOTHER, humility, pointing toward The Father. Being found to be living, but fir Hesus Christ, alone 🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻✝️

Excellent as are all Joni's books; not afraid to deal with the hard issues and very scripturally sound

Very helpful book

This came to me as I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and got a real fright at the thought of not being able to use my hands. Well, since, I have started treatment, and I have good days as well as bad days, but mostly I have learnt to have grateful days every day!! An excellent encourager when one sees only the dark and not the light at the end of the tunnel.

This book seems to me to have been very well researched and the difficult issues deeply thought through by someone who is well placed to speak on the subject of healing, pain, and faith. You may not agree with everything Joni says, but her views and thoughts are strongly backed up by scripture and she draws on other writers as well. She deals with the tough questions of why some are healed and some not, the sovereign will and plans of God that we don't perhaps always understand and keeping the faith. You'll cry in parts and rejoice in others. If you have questions, or know others who have, about healing and faith - read this book!