Offer It Up: Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering

by Megan Hjelmstad

What if the way to endure suffering is not to run from it, but to find deep healing through it?

In Offer It Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering, learn how God can repurpose your pain to become redemptive—benefitting not only your own soul, but others’ too.

Author Megan Hjelmstad draws from her experience with chronic illness to address the fear, grief, limitation, and needs that accompany suffering. Along the way, readers will be given practical tools to face any cross with purpose and peace.

Through solid Catholic teaching, authentic personal stories, and the heroic witness of the saints, Offer It Up shines a bright light on the path to sharing our suffering with Christ.


Offer It Up is an irreplaceable companion for all who need hope in hard times.

Genres: Catholic, Nonfiction, Religion, Christian

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 5, 2025

Reviews

[Maycee Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

So incredibly good. So much more than I anticipated. Goes beyond the realms of suffering but ties everything together so well. I was moved and touched and motivated. Highly recommend to all!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a convert to the Catholic faith, I had heard of offering up our sufferings to unite them with Christ’s sacrifice and I would clumsily try to remember to do that during difficult times or illness without really understanding how or what it meant. Megan’s own journey and beautifully written guide to redemptive suffering not only helped me better understand how to put this into practice but shined a light on this powerful special relationship with God and His work. She artfully shows us how our struggles and anxiety from those struggles can be used for special graces and provides tools and guidance on how we can do that. This book brought to light a new awareness of walking with Christ everyday in small ways that may otherwise feel insignificant or overwhelming. Megan’s storytelling and woven words brings so much understanding and reaches the deepest part of your soul that you want to change, your desires to be closer to God ache inside you and she provides all the tools to help us do just that. It's absolutely beautiful.

[Fr. Jeremiah Myriam Shryock CFR · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Offer it Up" by Megan Hjelmstad is a remarkable book that should be read by anyone who desires to grow in genuine holiness. In simple yet well-crafted language, Megan leads the reader into a deeper understanding and even acceptance of the mystery of suffering. Through theology, spirituality, and her own personal experience, which as this book reveals, has not been lacking, Megan reminds us that suffering is not a sign of God’s absence, but an opportunity to participate with God in the sanctification of souls. By sharing her own examples of suffering, and especially the grace that suffering has brought her, we are both consoled and strengthened by Megan’s witness. After reading this book one can more easily find the courage to offer up one’s own suffering for others. "Offer it up" is filled with wisdom, practical advice, and is a powerful testimony to the fact that God can effect good even amid suffering. Megan Hjelmstad is a prayerful, wise, and trustworthy guide along the mysterious path of suffering. I could not recommend this book enough.

[Fred Christopherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Offer it up” is a reasonably common phrase among Catholics. This is because we believe that we can offer to God whatever suffering we have as a form of intercession for others, and that this intercession can be targeted to the needs of specific (or general) individuals. The theology of this was described by Pope St. John Paul II in his apostolic letter “Salvifici Doloris.” Bishop James Golka notes in the forward that “The redemptive quality of suffering is a central them in Christian Theology.” (p. xiii). Mrs. Hjelmstad also discusses the theology involved, but her books stresses practical application. She describes “offering up” of suffering as a form of intercession. She seems to cover all the ins and outs of this practice.

This type of prayer can get one out of the “victim” mentality, showing how the “offering up” of suffering can help us share in Christ’s ministry of redemption. Mrs. Hjemstad uses lots of personal examples and can do so because she has suffered more than most of us. The book is peppered with autobiographical content.

Written from a Catholic point of view, the book is well-organized, readable, and interesting.

[Kate Alvarado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly insightful book on suffering, its power, and its purpose; the text is rooted in Catholic doctrine, theology, the lives of the Saints, and the author’s firsthand experience with her life-changing diagnoses (and universal, relatable sufferings too!)

Though the presence of darkness and suffering in the world with an all-powerful and good God can be confusing and involves some mystery that we can’t answer this side of death, Megan answers so many questions here that I find myself with a much better understanding than before I read this book! (And I am now motivated to read Salvifici Dolores this year!)

[Matthew J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read. Megan's blend of beautiful writing, authentic sharing, deeply personal reflection and sound theology is unlike anything I've encountered. I found myself drawn into her story and emotionally connecting while at the same time highlighting and notating so many passages and gleaning such wisdom from the redemptive theology she shares. This is genuinely the best book I've read in a long time. It will touch your heart and soul, give you hope, and teach you with gentle wisdom why redemptive suffering is truly a powerful path to union with Christ. 10/10.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed a lot for me, as someone who suffers with chronic autoimmune conditions I was familiar with the phrase ‘offer it up’ but didn’t know how to do it! Megan gives practical advice as well as the theological basis for uniting our suffering with Jesus, with beautiful stories of her own journey too. I loved this book and I can’t wait to share it with friends with similar journeys to make.

[Dana Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so thankful for Megan and this book-at some point(s) in all of our lives we will go through some kind of suffering and I’m thankful for this book that prayerfully teaches how to truly offer it up to God!

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, insightful, true. What a remarkable glimpse into the interior experience and prayer life of Hjelmstead. This book offered much to ponder and has been a blessing to me.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving tales of faith and suffering - recommend if you are currently in a dark time or even not. Suffering is a part of life.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt, so much good in this book. I have learned so much and will continue to increase my faith by learning more about redemptive suffering. Thank You