Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets You Free Hardcover – October 1, 2012

This is a most incredible book. One of the best I've ever read and by far the best treatise on the subject. I cannot put into words what this book has meant to me over the past few months that I myself have been going through a painful process that to my knowledge may never end in this life. But what I can say with clarity and strong conviction is that if you are going through this book will change your life forever. I never understood suffering from the perspective that I see it now. And that is not to say that I understand it at all - I certainly don't! But my grasp of God in the midst of it is much tighter, stronger and lasting. If you are are in any way suffering as a result of life period, then this is the book you must read. The writer's style is so forthright and relatable. Even when he may have been writing things that weren't that easy to understand, the way he writes allows for me to ponder for a second and gain further clarity after careful thought to a profound, often surprising, revelation. You cannot read this book and be the same afterwards. Amazing!

This can be very short and sweet. When you are suffering pain and grief there are a plethora of books out there to read to try to bring yourself back to some sort of normalcy. Most of them are 2 or 3 or 400 pages and if you are a Christian, they all have at least one pearl of wisdom that you can hang your hat on. The rest of these books are basically "throw away" because they lay the "loving God" principles on you until you want to puke. When a soul-mate dies, these words are or little or no comfort. However, this book has information throughout that you can hang your hat on if you're a Christian. His explanations of why you feel what you feel are incisive and well presented and provide a measure of comfort that none of the other 15 books I've read provide. I have to feel that God blessed Tchividjian with special insight into the agony that those left behind will endure. If you know someone who needs this I cannot recommend the book highly enough. And if you yourself are suffering loss then it's a must. Man's words will never make the pain go away, but this one makes it easier to bear. Thank you for reading.

Glorious Ruin is a sober, gospel soaked view of suffering. In the West, we have reduced suffering to an inconvenient yet effective way of getting over it and moving on to a greater degree of self awareness, or as a catapult to success - the proverbial "beating the odds." At best, suffering is a stepping stone to success, at worst, it's something that should be avoided at all costs - in Christian circles, however, the tendency is to deny the sting of pain and finding ways to be okay despite inner torture.This book masterfully takes apart each of those approaches and sets it against the perspective of the cross - where graces center stage. Tullian teaches that the relevance of suffering on this side of the cross rests in what has already been accomplished, not in what might be reaped from the experience. We WILL suffer, and real faith grieves.What then is the point? Glorious Ruin offers no earthly silver linings or happy endings, in fact, the conclusion is that suffering points to the fact that we were created for a different world. In this world, brokenness precedes usefulness, and God uses suffering to cleanse us from the things, good or bad, that we trust in more than God and prepares us for eternity.I have to admit, this book left me speechless the last time I had to offer words of comfort to someone who was desperately clinging to her faith - then I realized that Jesus is always enough.I highly recommend this book to anyone who is going through challenges or to anyone who is in a position to walk alongside someone who is.

Throughout my life I have suffered. I've suffered a miscarriage, have had to have more operations than I can count, have spent years either vomiting or being bed ridden due to conditions that took time to correct. I have made the mistake of looking for reasons and explanations for my circumstances. I have also made the mistake of saying, I shouldn't complain because it is not like I have cancer or something. Instead, I should have looked to my Savior, Jesus, to help me through it instead of focusing in on myself.This book was an amazing read. I typically do not read religious books, save for the Bible, yet my pastor recommended this to me. As I began reading, I saw all that I have done through the years. I also saw what I needed to do. This book is not an explanation of suffering nor a self-help book. It is one though that will help bring your focus back to the One Who will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.

Mom just passed and i found this book having read his other books. People suffer differently. We don’t have to “get over it” or “give it time”. All that advice though well intentioned is often salt on a wound. We can’t understand the Why of suffering. That’s like a child asking, why is the sky blue? We need to all read books like this one to prepare our hearts and minds for suffering when it comes. Prepare you hearts with Biblical understanding and wisdom with verses that will comfort you in your time of need and that time when you can comfort others. Try not to be trite and explain it like Job’s friends did.

What a wonderful book to put into perspective the heartaches of life. I have let all my family and friends know about this book. It is a wonderful read about our relationship with God during the most difficult times in our life. I loved it and have been purchasing other books that Pastor Tullian has written. When he writes it is much like when he preaches I feel like he understands life's disappointments and has a way with his words at taking me out of my self centeredness to a more hopeful approach of what God has already done on the cross. This is a great book to share with others who may be going through their own suffering. Pastor Tullian has a way of writing to make easy to understand God's love through all circumstances of life.

Tullian can lay out the gospel in a way few others match. Here he looks particularly at Job and what his narrative reveals about suffering and the God who allows it. This is not a book of answers - it won't spell out the 'why' of suffering in explicit terms. It is much more interested in the Who that meets us in it. It doesn't minimise or avoid the awfulness of suffering, only expounds the beauty and grace of Christ. And in the end, that is enough.

This book is for all those struggling with the "why" questions. The road to freedom is marked with pain and suffering, but God is with us through it all and will welcome us someday into glory with him.

A gift from God to those who need to hear HIm

Fantastic!

Please note the author takes a difficult subject and outlines in easy to understand words the subject of suffering. He explains that Jesus is involved in your suffering and also helps you to realise that he provides a sight of the light at the end of your personal tunnel. The author is related to Billy Graham and also Franklin Graham which should evidence his credentials. Do not hesitate to buy.