The Power of Suffering: Strengthening Your Faith in the Refiner's Fire

by John F. MacArthur Jr.

In today’s modern world of convenience and comfort, suffering can seem senseless. This idea has even crept into the church, where many believe that if we make the right choices and do the right things, pain can be avoided. So it’s little wonder that when do encounter tough situations, we face even tougher questions: Why does God allow suffering? Where is God when I’m hurting?

 

The Power of Suffering takes an in-depth, honest look at the reality of pain and hurt in the life of a believer. Filled with rich Biblical truths and fresh insights, this study explores how God ultimately uses suffering for good in the lives of His children, and offers encouragement and hope for the heavy heart.

 

Includes a guide for both personal and group study and features discovery questions, suggestions for prayer, and activities, all designed to connect life-changing truths with everyday living. 

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction, Theology, Ebooks

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

John F. MacArthur, Jr. was a United States Calvinistic evangelical writer and minister, noted for his radio program entitled Grace to You and as the editor of the Gold Medallion Book Award-winning MacArthur Study Bible. MacArthur was a fifth-generation pastor, a popular author and conference speaker, and served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California beginning in 1969, as well as President of The Master’s College (and the related Master’s Seminary) in Santa Clarita, California.

Reviews

[Trace]

MacArthur Points Us To the Word

I liked this book a lot because MacArthur does not tell me 1,000 stories about someone who was hurting, survived, then a lesson we can learn from their case study. He instead points to Scripture again and again. For an American, I have been through some suffering and in reading this book I was constantly encouraged and challenged to look to Jesus and see how my suffering is not just for my good. Nor is it just for the Father's glory. It is also for the good of others as we suffer in community and minister to each other from our pains and in the midst of our pains. It was also very convicting as it reminded me of times I have fallen terribly short in holding a Christ centered perspective.

This was not a lengthy read, although the discussion/reflection questions make it quite a bit longer. They are good things to chew on while processing things in the book.

This may have been the first MacArthur book I have ever read, but I will definitely be reading others and I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to live their faith boldly and not live in comfort away from pain until their dying day.

[Bob Allen]

Excellent study of the biblical passages related to suffering. MacArthur debunks the popular interpretation of suffering as punishment for sin. Instead, he shows how the Bible interprets suffering as a normal, expected part of the life of an obedient disciple of Christ that results from a fallen world. He shows how God uses suffering to make us stronger and to purify us. MacArthur never says we should seek suffering or even that it is a good thing. However, good comes from it.

[Austin Preuss]

I have yet to come across a sermon, book, or lesson from John MacArthur and not be entirely absorbed by the wisdom found inside. This book was no different for me.

MacArthur lays out his book in a way that is incredibly easy to follow. He begins by laying the foundation that suffering IS inevitable in the life the Christian; this is an explicit worldview promised by our Lord and his foremost disciple: Peter. The Christian will be persecuted for the sake of Christ, the Christian will face trials aimed at shaping him and conforming him to the image of the Son (Rom 8:29).

Once the groundwork is set, he provides small examples found all throughout the Old Testament where a sole reliance on God proved to be the most effective way to navigate the trials each studied individual was facing. This culminates with the study of the first Christian martyr (Stephen) and how "He simply trusted in God’s overall plan for him and didn’t fight back to save himself" when he died for Christ's sake (page 47).

He progresses to two individual case studies: Paul's trials whilst writing the epistles and the ultimate difficulties that Christ overcame. At no point during these chapters does MacArthur stray too far from pragmatic and applicable advice for the sake of retelling their stories with supreme reverence. The idea that "Preventative spiritual maintenance is implicit in being prepared for the unexpected and having a mind-set that accepts the basics of discipleship before suffering and hardships happen" (page 109). He consistently addresses that the OT prophets, and now the characters of Paul and even that of Christ persisted despite their circumstances not only because they leaned on God amidst their greatest challenges, but because they had set long held precedents of doing so far before the trials arrived.

MacArthur ensures to remind the reader of lighter details too; truths that apply to any circumstance the reader might find themselves in. Acknowledging that "whenever the going gets tough, we can always come to Him in prayer, confident that He will fully empathize with what we are enduring" and that ultimately "nothing in this life can take away an eternal inheritance in heaven’s glory" allows this book to serve the Christian reading it no matter what sort of ordeal they find themselves charged with (104, 150, respectively). It is this sort of comprehensive examination of the Biblical texts within that permit outreach to exceed that which might be ordinarily expected of a book released nearly two decades ago.

And as if it wasn't touching enough, filled with wisdom in each of the seven chapters, I even found my own little lesson as early as the first section: that in learning how to lose somebody, "we may need to let them go God’s way rather than holding on to them so they’ll live the way we’d prefer" (page 28).

I can find no greater reason than that to regard this book as highly as possible. Would recommend.

[Christian Cha]

A fantastic book on suffering. The insights in the book will challenge your traditional view on suffering in this life on earth. I truly think every Christian should read this so that they may acquire more wisdom - knowledge of Christ while in humble obedience to Him.

"Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His own suffering and death, is an unequalled example of the reality that one can be completely in the will of God, supremely gifted and used by God in ministry, and perfectly righteous and obedient toward God and still undergo tremendous suffering. Jesus was tried and executed as a criminal, yet He had done nothing wrong. He was the ultimate subject of unjust suffering and punishment, and He thereby gave us the standard for how to respond to our unjust persecution."

[Amanda Matthews]

This was an encouraging read with so many principles and examples from Scripture that helped me feel more grounded in the Word with a balanced view of suffering.

I did feel that a good portion of the book was geared toward persecuted Christians, but at the same time, enough was applicable to Christians who suffer in general and presented a mature view of “why bad things happen to good people.”

I don’t always agree with John MacArthur 100%, but this read was good.

[Travis Breedveld]

I would 100% recommend this book. This is a great reminder for those of us who suffer

[Shanna]

This book felt like it was written by someone who was told he had to write it but had no idea how to go about doing so. MacArthur never seemed to go further than scratching the surface on suffering. It felt like a half-sermon on accepting some potential, vague sorrow. The book never seemed to acknowledge deep pain or suffering or even believe that it could happen, which led to no real world or comforting perspective. I suggest DA Carson's How Long, Oh Lord? for a book with more respect for the reality of sorrow and an actual look at the role Christianity can play within.

[Angel Parrish]

If Dr. MacArthur has ever experienced suffering, it did not inform his writing in this book. It's rather like reading a highly-detailed, poorly-written sermon. Or having it read to you in monotone.

Nothing to grasp the reader. Nothing to identify with. Just a very tired, unoriginal look at the same Bible verses anyone would use, with no applications or insight. A computerized analysis of the book of Job might be easier to read.

Glad I got it for free.

[Trevor Smith]

It’s not that there was anything bad or wrong necessarily. MacArthur just isn’t the first person I would call during a time of suffering. I love the biblical approach, but I didn’t see l an acceptance of suffering. Very much a “God is in control, get on with it attitude.” I think the Orthodox can provide some better insight into suffering.

[Kristie Cobb]

Help me to see the positive and why we suffer. Excellent book!

[Aaron W]

Not what I had hoped. Felt superficial and lacking depth for such a profound topic.

[Cyril Danthi]

As the couples exchange rings as they take Vow in front of the people and the priest. The ring shows the commitment of their vows. In-between the day we are born and dead, suffering becomes a part of our life. Whether rich or poor, boy or girl, white or black, young or old - all suffer in one form or the other. The intensity of the suffering very based on the complexity and withstanding capacity, however suffering is guaranteed. Suffering can be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual and this is common across.
Even Jesus underwent physical, mental, emotional and spiritual sufferings. Even though he was son of God, he didnt get relief of not suffering. The author has captured these sufferings and reminds the readers, christen life is suffering and suffering do enable to build faith and trust with the God. The author captures verses of sufferings from the bible and is good for meditation.
I would recommend reading the last chapter first and then reading the book for reflections.

[Nancy DeValve]

MacArthur has some very helpful things to say and this book would be one I'd be willing to share with people going through a hard time. He gives a good solid theology for suffering. Two things that I really remember from the book is that he said when Paul said he had a thorn in the flesh is that he believes that thorn was a person. I've never heard that before and am not sure I agree. The other thing he said is that while suffering helps us grow in patience, that's not the main purpose of our suffering. The main purpose is to help us know better how to worship, honor, and glorify God in everything. When we get to heaven, we won't need to be patient, but we will be spending the rest of our lives glorifying God. For me the book was not written in an engaging manner and I would have benefited more if he'd included real ways in which he had suffered and learned these biblical truths.

[Susan Carpenter]

Many of us in the west, who are fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to be relatively "wealthy" in worldly goods as opposed to those who are not, call things "suffering" that are not suffering. Such as "suffering" with a nagging mother-in-law, or an annoying boss, etc. etc.

This book illustrates both that kind of idea of suffering and the Bible's idea of suffering. They are two different things, though some overlap.

Being a sufferer of chronic pain, I grabbed this book hoping there might be a little bit about this in it. I was not disappointed. Understanding how suffering refines us in God's ways can be of great help, hope, strength and comfort to ANYONE (not just those in the west) who suffers in this life. There is a reason for it, even a reward for it if we understand it rightly and it is Biblical suffering, and most of all much hope for those who live it.

[Jon]

Across the Bible, God shares with those who listen that He allows problems, trials, suffering and problems to cause us to grow. I've lived with Chronic, Intractable pain for more than 15 years now. In Psalms 119:71 it says, "It is good that I was aflicted, that I might learn Your statutes." I'm a better person because of the trials I've suffered.

James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

[Canny Tay]

In a sinful world that we all are living in, no one can escape the problem of suffering. But thank God that those who find shelter in the arms of God should not worry at all. In his book "The Power of Suffering," which I just finished reading, John MacArthur points out many reasons why Christians should see the positive side of suffering and lists numerous promising scriptural texts for those who are suffering at this moment. It is a great book that encourages Christians to move forward in faith as they face present difficulties.

[Amy Wilson]

Nice short read, but a very powerful book. I was a little embarrassed to listen to it since there is a tissue box on the cover, but read it because it got good ratings. Whether you’re going through a trial, sufferings, anxiety, or just have something you know you need to surrender to the Lord this book is for you. Everything MacArthur writes is backed with Bible verses and biblical truths. Highly recommend! Wish I would have read this right after my mom passed away.

[Manjunath Ballur]

Simply put, one of the worst books I have ever read. There is nothing in this book. Author quotes some incidents from Bible and other Christian texts and does not bother illustrating with some real life examples of suffering and coping with suffering. The title of the book is just for catching the attention of the readers.

I will rate this as one of the worst written books I have ever read. This book had lots of potential. I am surprised at the 4 star rating.

[Toño Véliz]

El autor explica como Dios obra detrás del sufrimiento. Muchas veces sufrimos de manera injusta o por la misma naturaleza que tenemos como humanos, enfermedades y demás. Dios puede obrar para nuestro bien eterno mientras suframos por Su nombre o en problemas naturales.
Este libro nos recuerda y alenta qué nuestra dependencia es en Dios. No se pierda de la lectura.
Excelente lectura básica para todo cristiano.

[Ariel Hernández]

Es un increíble libro, que nos enseña bíblicamente la importancia y el por qué del sufrimiento en la vida de un cristiano, le recomendaría este libro con los ojos cerrados a cualquier persona que le interese el tema de Dios y el sufrimiento y toda pregunta que surja de la pregunta ¿Porque Dios permite el sufrimiento?

[Bryson Massey]

I greatly admire Pastor MacArthur and this book is a great nonfiction book to read. For any christian it is a struggle to live in this world that is ruled by the prince of the power of the air, Satan. However, in this instruction outline of the scriptures, John shows us what the Apostle Paul says about about faith and what our suffering truly means, but also how to rejoice in it.

[Darlene Pedrosa]

Always an excellent read

John MacArthur has a way of making scripture so easy to understand. This is an essential read for all because there will inevitably always be a time of suffering.

[Jamie W]

Bedrock truths from scripture regarding the difficult topic of suffering. I disagree with his cessationist position but highly respect the man and am fully convinced of the truths on suffering presented.

[Moni]

Es un libro que te ayuda a entender desde el punto de vista bíblico el sufrimiento y el propósito de Dios detrás del mismo, ayudando al creyente a confiar en la soberanía de Dios. Muy recomendable si estás pasando por momentos difíciles.

[Aimee Ortega]

Definitely helped to renew my faith in the midst of the the refiners fire. Great encouraging read.

[Carl Palmateer]

Always interesting to read a book on an unpopular subject. When being offended is such a grave injury what will people do in the face of true suffering?

[Sarah Mikhael]

كتاب رائع عن الالم ، كعادة ماك ارثر بيتكلم عن الالم بطريقة كتابية ، مبدعة و غير مكررة .

[Susanne]

A thorough study of the purpose for suffering, and the temporal AND eternal benefits when we are rightly focused on God, obedient and submissive to Him, and dependant upon Him.

[Ivelice de Rodríguez]

Nos muestra el concepto del sufrimiento a la luz de las escrituras. Me gusta los ejemplos bíblicos que utilizó.

[Jennifer]

Excellent! I will read this book again.