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When You Suffer: Biblical Keys for Hope and Understanding
To be human is to suffer—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In addition to our own suffering, we also encounter the suffering of those around us. While the world of medicine attempts to relieve suffering and the media tries to sell us on a life without pain, only the Church offers the perspective that suffering has meaning. St. John Paul II said that suffering without meaning can lead to despair, but if we can attach meaning to our suffering, we are capable of going through anything.
When You Suffer is a refreshing look at the mystery of pain and suffering and how to find meaning and even joy in the midst of it. Jeff Cavins discusses why we suffer and how our suffering can draw us closer to God. He explains that suffering is the greatest opportunity to love as Christ loves and how, by "offering up" our suffering, we join in Christ's mission to redeem the world.
When You Suffer is a refreshing look at the mystery of pain and suffering and how to find meaning and even joy in the midst of it. Jeff Cavins discusses why we suffer and how our suffering can draw us closer to God. He explains that suffering is the greatest opportunity to love as Christ loves and how, by "offering up" our suffering, we join in Christ's mission to redeem the world.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2015
112 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Cavins
101 books170 followersAfter twelve years as a Protestant pastor, Jeff returned to the Catholic Church under the guidance of Bishop Paul Dudley. His conversion story, one of the best known and inspiring stories of its kind, is chronicled in the best-selling book, My Life on the Rock.
Over the past several decades, Jeff has dedicated his life to developing The Great Adventure: A Journey through the Bible, a practical, interactive program that helps people read the “big picture” of God’s plan in Sacred Scripture and understand its meaning for their lives. The Great Adventure presents the entire sweep of the Bible in a way that is easy to understand and genuinely fun. Its unique Bible Timeline learning system has revolutionized Catholic Bible Study for hundreds of thousands of Catholics since 1995.
Jeff received his MA in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Over the past several decades, Jeff has dedicated his life to developing The Great Adventure: A Journey through the Bible, a practical, interactive program that helps people read the “big picture” of God’s plan in Sacred Scripture and understand its meaning for their lives. The Great Adventure presents the entire sweep of the Bible in a way that is easy to understand and genuinely fun. Its unique Bible Timeline learning system has revolutionized Catholic Bible Study for hundreds of thousands of Catholics since 1995.
Jeff received his MA in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 17, 2016
When You Suffer is the second book from Jeff Cavins in his recent "Biblical Keys" series. The first book was entitled Praise God and Thank Him and focused on a joyful life. This latest book focuses on hope and understanding for moments of suffering. With that theme and the purple book cover, this book screams LENT! So I figured, that would be a good time to read through it and share it with you. The book begins with a chapter on the notion of an "ideal life." That concept is hard to grasp, so he narrows it down to an ideal day. After thinking about your ideal day, which involves doing things you enjoy doing, he broadens us back to an ideal life, which involves a predictable life, comfort, and one that reflects your gifts. Unfortunately, real life is never like the ideal life. Real life is uncomfortable and full of suffering.
This leads to the next chapter, which discusses the meaning of suffering. He doesn't dive into the weighty Scripture on making your suffering mean something, but instead gives us two concrete examples of people (one being Pope John Paul II) who took their suffering and made it matter. Chapter Three takes us all the way back to Adam and Eve to show how and why they suffered. He then provides us with a few brief pages with examples of suffering all throughout salvation history. Chapter Four provides different purposes for suffering, i.e., punitive, probative, and disciplinary. Chapters Five and Six detail the concepts of supernatural suffering and Jesus' suffering and our participation in it. The final chapters are the most practical/beneficial as they focus on practical things you can do when you suffer, such as prayer, confession, and, trusting that God will never put you through more than you can handle.
We are all fallen human beings in a state of sin. This sin leads to suffering, and this suffering is something that will never leave us until we reach Heaven. Fortunately for us, suffering isn't the end result, but merely a spiritual tool we can use to grow closer to God. So let Jeff Cavins easy to understand writing style and his vast Scriptural wisdom be your guide to this difficult concept. You might also want to get a second copy, because with a topic like this, it's sure to be a well-borrowed book.
This leads to the next chapter, which discusses the meaning of suffering. He doesn't dive into the weighty Scripture on making your suffering mean something, but instead gives us two concrete examples of people (one being Pope John Paul II) who took their suffering and made it matter. Chapter Three takes us all the way back to Adam and Eve to show how and why they suffered. He then provides us with a few brief pages with examples of suffering all throughout salvation history. Chapter Four provides different purposes for suffering, i.e., punitive, probative, and disciplinary. Chapters Five and Six detail the concepts of supernatural suffering and Jesus' suffering and our participation in it. The final chapters are the most practical/beneficial as they focus on practical things you can do when you suffer, such as prayer, confession, and, trusting that God will never put you through more than you can handle.
We are all fallen human beings in a state of sin. This sin leads to suffering, and this suffering is something that will never leave us until we reach Heaven. Fortunately for us, suffering isn't the end result, but merely a spiritual tool we can use to grow closer to God. So let Jeff Cavins easy to understand writing style and his vast Scriptural wisdom be your guide to this difficult concept. You might also want to get a second copy, because with a topic like this, it's sure to be a well-borrowed book.
May 4, 2020
Well written book on how to understand suffering in the Christian life.
March 3, 2016
Yes. Suffering can be a beautiful thing: when it’s been redeemed. And, lucky for us, Christ redeemed it! So now what?
Read Cavins book, that’s what.
Jeff Cavins has taken the beautiful apostolic letter, Salvifici Doloris, and made it accessible to “the everyman.” He begins the book by showing us what suffering actually looks like in daily life, and assures us that dramatic, heart wringing, hand clutching suffering is not the only kind. When real life doesn’t match ideal life, says Jeff, that’s suffering.
And then he proceeds to walk us through the theology behind "offering it up" and provides practical ways to accomplish it.
[read the rest here]
(I received a copy of this book in hopes that I would provide a (good) review. My thoughts on the book are my own.)
Read Cavins book, that’s what.
Jeff Cavins has taken the beautiful apostolic letter, Salvifici Doloris, and made it accessible to “the everyman.” He begins the book by showing us what suffering actually looks like in daily life, and assures us that dramatic, heart wringing, hand clutching suffering is not the only kind. When real life doesn’t match ideal life, says Jeff, that’s suffering.
And then he proceeds to walk us through the theology behind "offering it up" and provides practical ways to accomplish it.
[read the rest here]
(I received a copy of this book in hopes that I would provide a (good) review. My thoughts on the book are my own.)
August 18, 2016
"God whispers to us in our pleasures…but shouts in our pain." - C.S. Lewis
Suffering is an unavoidable part of life. Everyone will suffer at one time or another, including those who seem to live a charmed life. As Christians, when we suffer we face a choice: we can suffer in solitude, or we can suffer with Christ. Jeff Cavins tackles the question of how to suffer with Christ in his new book Biblical Keys for Hope and Understanding When You Suffer.
Often, when we come to a great trial in our lives, we can feel as if we are isolated in our distress — that we suffer alone. I know first hand about how great suffering can make you feel utterly alone and how it can lead you to the edge of despair. When I was pregnant with each of my girls, I suffered from debilitating Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). For months, I needed as little stimulation as possible to minimize the effects of HG. I did best in a dark and quiet room, resting and sleeping as much as possible. When this happened with my first daughter, I poured myself into prayer, always with the great hope that each day would be the last day of HG. When I was finally free of symptoms at 20 weeks, I felt such gratitude that I would break into tears at the smallest thing, filled with thankfulness to God for what felt like a new life for me.
When I was pregnant with my second daughter and the HG struck again, I was filled with despair and dread. I knew there would be months of suffering, months of taking drugs that made me feel like a zombie so I could keep the HG at bay, months of being sick. Instead of hope, I merely suffered. I felt like I couldn't even pray any more. It was probably the hardest 25 weeks I've ever lived through. The glimmer of hope I felt as I approached the 20 week mark — which was when I stopped being sick with my older daughter — was dashed when I hit and passed that mark without any lessening of my symptoms.
While I'd heard occasional jokes growing up about "offering it up" when something bad happened, no one ever explained the idea to me. In fact, since my mother was a convert, she didn't have any context for it at all. To her, it was just an old wisecrack that Catholics used to say — like an old joke that no one took seriously. Years after my second child was born, a friend introduced me to the idea of offering it up and uniting my suffering with Jesus' suffering on the Cross. I tried to do this, but still didn't understand it very well. Over the years, I've learned a bit more about it, but Jeff Cavins' book has been eye-opening for me.
Cavins talks at length about the idea of suffering from a Biblical perspective. He begins by explaining the difference between physical suffering (pains of the body) and moral suffering (when the very soul hurts). Everyone is familiar with both, but Cavins reminds us that very often, moral suffering is hidden from view; even saints such as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta suffered from times when their souls hurt. Sometimes they even felt so far from God that they couldn't feel His presence or comfort at all. (I had never heard of this, either, when I was growing up. When I read that Mother Teresa suffered a Dark Night of the Soul for close to 40 years, I literally wept. To know that someone I always loved and could recognize, even in my childhood, as a saint could suffer from a Dark Night…it gave me such hope and comfort!) The saints and the Bible both can give us great examples of suffering in this life. St. John Paul II said that suffering has a "passive character" because it happens to us — it's not something we do.
But St. John Paul II also says that our suffering is something unique to each of us. Each of us suffers in a way that is different from every other person in the world. In Salvifici Dolorus, he said, "This means that your suffering is unique and unrepeatable." And what we must do with our sufferings is to unite them with Jesus and offer them to the Father. If the Father was able to bring good out of Jesus' sufferings on the Cross, He can do so with our own sufferings. Cavins recommends that you offer your cross to Jesus and lay it at His feet. For me, this means that I have a mental image of a box containing my problem (or, if it's a person, I lead that person by the hand) which I take to the foot of the Cross. I mentally offer this problem to Jesus, and I leave it at the foot of the Cross.
Cavins says that this becomes our gift to God. We give of ourselves, and ask God to do something good with our suffering. Just as God could take Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross and grant salvation to the world, He can take our suffering and grant graces to those around us. This really puts into action the idea of self-giving love. And, as Cavins says in his book, "Self-giving love is not something God does; it is who he is."
There's so much more to When You Suffer that makes this so worth reading, but I want to leave you with what I thought too be the key to suffering and why it happens. (In fact, I highlighted most of the page and wrote "THE KEY" in big letters down the margin of the page when I read it!) Cavins wrote about how we must die to self and give of ourselves completely. Each day, we need to live less for ourselves and more for God (and, in that process, live for and serve others). And he then talks about our ultimate suffering: death. Cavins quotes Archbishop Fulton Sheen when he said, "If death were merely a physical must, we would not fear it; our fear comes from the moral fact that we know we ought not to die. We fear death because it was not part of the original plan laid down for us." And then Sheen brings home how to use our suffering to prepare for death so that we aren't so terribly afraid of it. "Death can be robbed of its greatest show fearfulness if we practice for it. Christianity recommends mortification, penance, and detachment as a rehearsal for the great event. … The basic spiritual principle is this, that death must be conquered in every thought and word and deed by an affirmation of the eternal." (p. 101)
To me, this was the key to truly understanding the idea of "offering it up." We practice offering up our little sufferings now (and doing so cheerfully!) so that we can be ready to offer our entire lives up to God as a sacrifice of love. Even though I had done so much reading on the idea of offering up my aches and pains and suffering, this book has further developed my understanding of the entire concept.
Whether you've been looking into this idea for years or you've never heard of it before, Jeff Cavins can guide you to a deeper understanding of suffering and its role in our lives as Christians. I highly recommend this book, not only for those who might be suffering right now, but also for those who merely know someone who is. The ability to suffer well and live a good life in spite of it is something our world desperately needs today. It's an untapped power for good in the world, and as Christians we need to gain an understanding of it and help others see it, too. By uniting our suffering to Christ's suffering, we can unleash untold graces on the world.
Suffering is an unavoidable part of life. Everyone will suffer at one time or another, including those who seem to live a charmed life. As Christians, when we suffer we face a choice: we can suffer in solitude, or we can suffer with Christ. Jeff Cavins tackles the question of how to suffer with Christ in his new book Biblical Keys for Hope and Understanding When You Suffer.
Often, when we come to a great trial in our lives, we can feel as if we are isolated in our distress — that we suffer alone. I know first hand about how great suffering can make you feel utterly alone and how it can lead you to the edge of despair. When I was pregnant with each of my girls, I suffered from debilitating Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). For months, I needed as little stimulation as possible to minimize the effects of HG. I did best in a dark and quiet room, resting and sleeping as much as possible. When this happened with my first daughter, I poured myself into prayer, always with the great hope that each day would be the last day of HG. When I was finally free of symptoms at 20 weeks, I felt such gratitude that I would break into tears at the smallest thing, filled with thankfulness to God for what felt like a new life for me.
When I was pregnant with my second daughter and the HG struck again, I was filled with despair and dread. I knew there would be months of suffering, months of taking drugs that made me feel like a zombie so I could keep the HG at bay, months of being sick. Instead of hope, I merely suffered. I felt like I couldn't even pray any more. It was probably the hardest 25 weeks I've ever lived through. The glimmer of hope I felt as I approached the 20 week mark — which was when I stopped being sick with my older daughter — was dashed when I hit and passed that mark without any lessening of my symptoms.
While I'd heard occasional jokes growing up about "offering it up" when something bad happened, no one ever explained the idea to me. In fact, since my mother was a convert, she didn't have any context for it at all. To her, it was just an old wisecrack that Catholics used to say — like an old joke that no one took seriously. Years after my second child was born, a friend introduced me to the idea of offering it up and uniting my suffering with Jesus' suffering on the Cross. I tried to do this, but still didn't understand it very well. Over the years, I've learned a bit more about it, but Jeff Cavins' book has been eye-opening for me.
Cavins talks at length about the idea of suffering from a Biblical perspective. He begins by explaining the difference between physical suffering (pains of the body) and moral suffering (when the very soul hurts). Everyone is familiar with both, but Cavins reminds us that very often, moral suffering is hidden from view; even saints such as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta suffered from times when their souls hurt. Sometimes they even felt so far from God that they couldn't feel His presence or comfort at all. (I had never heard of this, either, when I was growing up. When I read that Mother Teresa suffered a Dark Night of the Soul for close to 40 years, I literally wept. To know that someone I always loved and could recognize, even in my childhood, as a saint could suffer from a Dark Night…it gave me such hope and comfort!) The saints and the Bible both can give us great examples of suffering in this life. St. John Paul II said that suffering has a "passive character" because it happens to us — it's not something we do.
But St. John Paul II also says that our suffering is something unique to each of us. Each of us suffers in a way that is different from every other person in the world. In Salvifici Dolorus, he said, "This means that your suffering is unique and unrepeatable." And what we must do with our sufferings is to unite them with Jesus and offer them to the Father. If the Father was able to bring good out of Jesus' sufferings on the Cross, He can do so with our own sufferings. Cavins recommends that you offer your cross to Jesus and lay it at His feet. For me, this means that I have a mental image of a box containing my problem (or, if it's a person, I lead that person by the hand) which I take to the foot of the Cross. I mentally offer this problem to Jesus, and I leave it at the foot of the Cross.
Cavins says that this becomes our gift to God. We give of ourselves, and ask God to do something good with our suffering. Just as God could take Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross and grant salvation to the world, He can take our suffering and grant graces to those around us. This really puts into action the idea of self-giving love. And, as Cavins says in his book, "Self-giving love is not something God does; it is who he is."
There's so much more to When You Suffer that makes this so worth reading, but I want to leave you with what I thought too be the key to suffering and why it happens. (In fact, I highlighted most of the page and wrote "THE KEY" in big letters down the margin of the page when I read it!) Cavins wrote about how we must die to self and give of ourselves completely. Each day, we need to live less for ourselves and more for God (and, in that process, live for and serve others). And he then talks about our ultimate suffering: death. Cavins quotes Archbishop Fulton Sheen when he said, "If death were merely a physical must, we would not fear it; our fear comes from the moral fact that we know we ought not to die. We fear death because it was not part of the original plan laid down for us." And then Sheen brings home how to use our suffering to prepare for death so that we aren't so terribly afraid of it. "Death can be robbed of its greatest show fearfulness if we practice for it. Christianity recommends mortification, penance, and detachment as a rehearsal for the great event. … The basic spiritual principle is this, that death must be conquered in every thought and word and deed by an affirmation of the eternal." (p. 101)
To me, this was the key to truly understanding the idea of "offering it up." We practice offering up our little sufferings now (and doing so cheerfully!) so that we can be ready to offer our entire lives up to God as a sacrifice of love. Even though I had done so much reading on the idea of offering up my aches and pains and suffering, this book has further developed my understanding of the entire concept.
Whether you've been looking into this idea for years or you've never heard of it before, Jeff Cavins can guide you to a deeper understanding of suffering and its role in our lives as Christians. I highly recommend this book, not only for those who might be suffering right now, but also for those who merely know someone who is. The ability to suffer well and live a good life in spite of it is something our world desperately needs today. It's an untapped power for good in the world, and as Christians we need to gain an understanding of it and help others see it, too. By uniting our suffering to Christ's suffering, we can unleash untold graces on the world.
January 29, 2018
My Catholic friend gave me this book when I asked what she meant by "offering up" your suffering, or "joining it to the sufferings of Christ" and I found it very helpful. The author writes clearly and sympathetically, beginning by reminding us that suffering is the tool God uses for the refining of his children and explaining the different types and causes of suffering.
I think the concept of offering up puts an emphasis on active participation on our part rather than simply a passive acceptance. The very act of saying, "I believe that good will come from this suffering and therefore I embrace it”, will strengthen our faith and remind us that it is never purposeless. Suffering is not presented as a good work that earns us favor with God, (as I had expected) but as a good work because of its effect – strengthening the church, the bride of Christ.
Offering up puts an emphasis on community rather than on our own personal sanctification, as the very symbolism contains the idea that when we suffer and respond in faith, we contribute to the good of the whole interconnected body of Christ, which gives our private suffering added value and meaning.
Although I have different views than the author’s about asking the saints and Mary for help in suffering, I appreciate his exhortation to remember that we are surrounded by great “clouds of witness” - those who have suffered and have gone before us. Highly recommended.
I think the concept of offering up puts an emphasis on active participation on our part rather than simply a passive acceptance. The very act of saying, "I believe that good will come from this suffering and therefore I embrace it”, will strengthen our faith and remind us that it is never purposeless. Suffering is not presented as a good work that earns us favor with God, (as I had expected) but as a good work because of its effect – strengthening the church, the bride of Christ.
Offering up puts an emphasis on community rather than on our own personal sanctification, as the very symbolism contains the idea that when we suffer and respond in faith, we contribute to the good of the whole interconnected body of Christ, which gives our private suffering added value and meaning.
Although I have different views than the author’s about asking the saints and Mary for help in suffering, I appreciate his exhortation to remember that we are surrounded by great “clouds of witness” - those who have suffered and have gone before us. Highly recommended.
March 14, 2022
I had heard many of my favorite speakers and commentators refer to Jeff Cavins in usually glowing terms. I came across this particular book and decided to give it a try.
The good thing about reading a book by Jeff Cavins is that one can be quite sure his opinions and positions will not be contrary to church doctrine. And that is very important, or at least, it should be.
I was a bit under-impressed with the first few chapters. I found it rather boring and slow. However, I suspect others may not feel this way at all. It occurs to me that much of those first chapters cover subjects and themes that I have read about and pondered over the last 40 or 50 years. I suspect a younger, or should I say, a more worldly or spiritually deprived soul might actually find these first few chapters to be 'Eye opening" and a beginning to a new and wonderful way to see the world.
As I continued on past the first part of the book I found myself seeing and understanding concepts and ideas that I considered previously. But the author's insights helped me expand my understanding.
In the end I felt the book was quite educating and edifying. There is no doubt this is a difficult subject to write about. Also, I suspect the subject is not very attractive to those who probably need it the most. In this matter I trust, and pray, the Holy Spirit, will see to it that those who need a book like this the most will find it.
The good thing about reading a book by Jeff Cavins is that one can be quite sure his opinions and positions will not be contrary to church doctrine. And that is very important, or at least, it should be.
I was a bit under-impressed with the first few chapters. I found it rather boring and slow. However, I suspect others may not feel this way at all. It occurs to me that much of those first chapters cover subjects and themes that I have read about and pondered over the last 40 or 50 years. I suspect a younger, or should I say, a more worldly or spiritually deprived soul might actually find these first few chapters to be 'Eye opening" and a beginning to a new and wonderful way to see the world.
As I continued on past the first part of the book I found myself seeing and understanding concepts and ideas that I considered previously. But the author's insights helped me expand my understanding.
In the end I felt the book was quite educating and edifying. There is no doubt this is a difficult subject to write about. Also, I suspect the subject is not very attractive to those who probably need it the most. In this matter I trust, and pray, the Holy Spirit, will see to it that those who need a book like this the most will find it.
December 18, 2022
Great book for anyone suffering, a serious, spiritual or physical issue. Kevins does a great job of taking the person step by step through the biblical foundations of offering up sacrifices, united to Christ for redemptive value, especially with his personal experience of serious physical pain, and how he offered it up while still trying to focus on his family more than his personal pain, this is a great book to reminders on why we offer it up and how everything can be used in life to bring us closer to Christ
October 14, 2024
This book had a really different tone than I expected and I actually really appreciated it. While the book does first address reasons why God may allow suffering, the rest of the book was dedicated to using our suffering. That might sound strange to you, but it is a really beautiful teaching that I've known about since my childhood. However, the phrase "offer it up," doesn't fully denote the depth and beauty of that teaching. This was, for me, a very necessary dive into how we can most effectively allow God to use our suffering for the good.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
March 31, 2022
Becoming like Christ dealing with everyday suffering
This book has been throughly researched on the topic of suffering by Jeff Cavins. This is a handbook for using suffering in a productive way, joining with Christ’s suffering on the cross to become the man or women for Christ that God calls us to be. I will be referencing this book in my men’s bible study group and incorporating these heart changing ideas into my personal life.
This book has been throughly researched on the topic of suffering by Jeff Cavins. This is a handbook for using suffering in a productive way, joining with Christ’s suffering on the cross to become the man or women for Christ that God calls us to be. I will be referencing this book in my men’s bible study group and incorporating these heart changing ideas into my personal life.
August 10, 2019
I found this to be an engaging read. Jeff Cavins has an easy writing style, makes the content accessible and understandable. Really helps explain the Catholic saying “Offer it up!” Great resource to understand the redemptive value of suffering.
May 7, 2017
A little different than other books on theodicy. Less emphasis on "why suffering" and more about how to take advantage of it, including repeated emphasis throughout on "offering it up".
June 19, 2017
Excellent Catholic read.
June 26, 2018
Good solid advice
Great explaination of what offer it up means. What it is, why we do it, and what the benefits are.
Great explaination of what offer it up means. What it is, why we do it, and what the benefits are.
August 28, 2022
An amazing read on how to handle any kind of suffering, how to move through it and even find joy.
June 15, 2023
Poorly edited with grammar mistakes but had some really good ideas in there that I was not expecting. Helpful and appropriate for me right now. Read it for St Peter book club.
August 29, 2023
This is one of the best books I’ve read on the subject. Well written and easy to understand.
November 29, 2023
I thought it was very informative. I have learned the meaning of offering up your suffering in uniting with Jesus suffering on the cross for the sake of others you love.
April 29, 2022
I read 'When You Suffer' after witnessing a dear friend go through a painful illness and then pass away. If you had told me during the time I was watching it happen - when I was actually going through it - that I would ever find meaning in suffering I would have scoffed at you.
Like with the Great Adventure Bible, Jeff Cavin's genius is in making concepts that are difficult, not obvious, and/or not intuitive intimately accessible to anyone receptive to the message. This book completely flipped my perspective on suffering and hardship.
I honestly don't know how I would have got through the pandemic without it. The last two years have been a time when I witnessed a great deal of suffering and, frankly, even though I know I was spared the worst of it - being a witness to great suffering isn't much fun either!
'When You Suffer' is one of those rare "self-help" books that is truly greater than the sum of its parts. I'm astounded that it's not more widely known. I suppose the deeply Christian nature of the book makes it less palatable to mainstream audiences.
That's a profound shame! The way Cavin's differentiates between physical and moral suffering is a particular strength of the book. This uniquely Christian perspective on suffering offered me truly valuable wisdom.
If you read only one "self-help" book in your entire life, make it this one!
Like with the Great Adventure Bible, Jeff Cavin's genius is in making concepts that are difficult, not obvious, and/or not intuitive intimately accessible to anyone receptive to the message. This book completely flipped my perspective on suffering and hardship.
I honestly don't know how I would have got through the pandemic without it. The last two years have been a time when I witnessed a great deal of suffering and, frankly, even though I know I was spared the worst of it - being a witness to great suffering isn't much fun either!
'When You Suffer' is one of those rare "self-help" books that is truly greater than the sum of its parts. I'm astounded that it's not more widely known. I suppose the deeply Christian nature of the book makes it less palatable to mainstream audiences.
That's a profound shame! The way Cavin's differentiates between physical and moral suffering is a particular strength of the book. This uniquely Christian perspective on suffering offered me truly valuable wisdom.
If you read only one "self-help" book in your entire life, make it this one!
June 23, 2022
In 2015 Catholic evangelist Jeff Cavins and Thomas Sullivan wrote in text and audio formats “When You Suffer: Biblical Keys for Hope and Understanding.” These formats were published by Ascension Press and Servant Audio. The audio book is narrated by Jeff Cavins. The book is the second book in Cavins’ “Biblical Keys” series. The book explores Catholic teachings on the role of faith and hope in life events that are related to human-suffering events. Evangelist Cavens examines how these life suffering events can be conquered by love, hope and grace. (H/L)
October 2, 2015
Loved it. This is a very accessible book rich with biblical references. It was one I couldn't put down! Perhaps it was just what my soul needed to hear right now...? This book made me fall ever more deeply in love with Christ and the Church. What a beautiful, salvific faith we have. What a merciful Father in Heaven we have. What an amazing eternal destiny that awaits us. And yes, this book, quite simply, does offer the keys to those times when we do suffer so greatly.
January 23, 2016
Everybody suffers but the question is how we deal with it... This book perfectly help one person not to cope with suffering but how to accept and transform his/her suffering to a redemptive or salvific suffering in union with the sufferings of Jesus Christ...
November 13, 2015
Jeff gets a bit bogged down in theology in the middle section of the book. He seems to repeat himself multiple times on certain points. Otherwise it was a great read.
July 27, 2016
This is, hands down, one of the best books I've ever read. Highly recommend it.
April 19, 2016
Great book if you are looking for answers to the question "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews