What do you think?
Rate this book
Grace Grows Best in Winter
"It was not long after I left the hospital in 1967 that I fell into a deep pit of depression. I was but a young girl, yet I was facing an overwhelming future - a life of total and severe paralysis. I was in desperate need for answers. . . . A young friend who often cam by my home for visits stopped by one day with a special book in hand . . . . Together, we read that book through the weeks of winter . . . . I eagerly look forward to each chapter - discovering sense in sovereignty and delighting in a new grasp on God's grace. . . . May I be the friend who stops by in your life this day? You have in your hands that same special book that I read back in that first winter of my disability. Grace grew then for me. And through grace, you will grow too!" - Joni Eareckson Tada, from the Foreword. MARGARET CLARKSON of Willowdale, Ontario, was a poet, hymn-writer, and author. She has written hundreds of articles and several books. Here she offers a thoughtful, biblical exploration of the "why" of human suffering.
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 1985
7 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 24, 2013
When my mom, now deceased, was enduring a really difficult period in her life due to her rheumatoid arthritis, this book, written by one who also endured debilitating pain, came to her rescue. Though alone, she knew, while reading this book that she was not alone. I have her copy, with her margin notes. It is like having a conversation with her...and I am now comforted by both these women.
January 25, 2026
If I could read one book over and over again and have it feel like the first time I might choose this one. Wish I had read it years ago during seasons of heavier suffering. This book convicted me to thirst for the cup of life that God has poured for me.
In faithfulness hast Thou afflicted me,
O Sovereign Love;
I will not fear, but look in faith to Thee
Enthroned above,
And know my Fathers heart of grace has planned
This darkness that I cannot understand.
In faithfulness hast Thou afflicted me,
O Sovereign Love;
I will not fear, but look in faith to Thee
Enthroned above,
And know my Fathers heart of grace has planned
This darkness that I cannot understand.
April 29, 2022
This book is a treasure. Rich and insightful, it is written from one who is afflicted to fellow sufferers. Beautiful and poignant poems or hymns open each chapter. The author has spent much time meditating on Scripture and has a strong biblical theology of suffering. Joni Tada wrote the preface and I can see how God used this book to give Joni a biblical foundation for living with her own affliction and helping others through her own writing. I came across this book accidentally but knew right away it was a treasure that I will reread throughout my life and give to others.
January 12, 2019
This book is a great foundation and suffering "prep" for anyone who encounters hardship in life or knows someone going through trials -everyone. It has 31 short chapters, but don't be fooled, they are dense and deep, rich and wonderful. (I did not even read every Scripture reference given, but that would be great for further study.) Those 31 chapters transported me from my very small personal view of pain and suffering to a much larger scope of God's perspective on the subject. I particularly enjoyed the metaphor of the hedge that is used throughout the book and the use of poetry (one poem to open every chapter.) The poems felt like cheers from the saints of old. Don't be put off by the older language used in the poems and in quotes. This book is a very thorough and at the same time practical collection of thoughts and theology on suffering.
January 2, 2022
Old fashioned way of writing takes a little while to get used to. Short chapters so easy to pick up and put down. Strong reminder that if you are a Christian then you are never alone in your suffering because God is with you.
August 22, 2022
Read this for a book club and the author had really helpful and interesting thoughts on pain, healing, and perseverance.
January 11, 2024
I loved this book as I read it to my husband during his last weeks here on this earth. After he died I finished the last couple of chapters.
Want to read
May 6, 2025Recommended by Christina C.
Read
July 30, 2025Such an excellent book!
March 23, 2020
Margaret Clarkson breaks down well the believers life and struggles in battling our God-given "Hedges." The purpose of the book is in regards to those who suffer from physical infirmaries, but she mentions it is not solely contained to that. This is an encouraging book for anyone who is struggling with physical trials, as well as spiritual or emotional. I strongly recommend we read it to set our mind on Christ, and the sovereignty of God in loving us well.
June 11, 2021
Encouraging! Clarkson compares the suffering that God allows in our lives to hedges. Sometimes they can be thorny obstacles, but God uses them to mature us and grow us in relationship with him. Many times her words were just what I needed to hear on a certain day. Each short chapter begins with a hymn or poem.
"Our suffering itself may become a form of prayer, if we can learn to let submission and love, even praise, ascend to God through it... Such an offering may be one of the purest forms of worship known to the spirit of man." p. 105
"God is our Builder; the Architect of the universe is the great Designer both of the heavenly temple, of which we form a part, and of our individual lives. We are the stones of His choosing and His workmanship, and He has a plan and a particular use for each of us. We are of great variety, and the refinements that will make one stone ready and fit for use will not do for another, so we are individually perfected." p. 158
"And the amount of work He can do through us is in the direct proportion to the amount of work that we have allowed Him to do in us." p. 162
And this challenge: "For God has promised that we shall triumph in the evil hour and has made provision by means of which we may do so. It is up to us to seek out these provisions and to learn to use them; for when sudden evil strikes, the soul who has not already learned to use God's armor will have no opportunity to learn to do so then. We are urged to remember our Creator early, before the evil days come, and he is a wise Christian who does so." p. 136
"Our suffering itself may become a form of prayer, if we can learn to let submission and love, even praise, ascend to God through it... Such an offering may be one of the purest forms of worship known to the spirit of man." p. 105
"God is our Builder; the Architect of the universe is the great Designer both of the heavenly temple, of which we form a part, and of our individual lives. We are the stones of His choosing and His workmanship, and He has a plan and a particular use for each of us. We are of great variety, and the refinements that will make one stone ready and fit for use will not do for another, so we are individually perfected." p. 158
"And the amount of work He can do through us is in the direct proportion to the amount of work that we have allowed Him to do in us." p. 162
And this challenge: "For God has promised that we shall triumph in the evil hour and has made provision by means of which we may do so. It is up to us to seek out these provisions and to learn to use them; for when sudden evil strikes, the soul who has not already learned to use God's armor will have no opportunity to learn to do so then. We are urged to remember our Creator early, before the evil days come, and he is a wise Christian who does so." p. 136
August 8, 2015
I greatly enjoyed this book in this time in my life even though I am blessed to not be enduring any prolonged physical suffering at the moment. I recommend this book to anyone suffering with a chronic or terminal illness whether physical, mental or emotional. Even though this book is older and some of the wording is old fashioned it really spoke to me about the hedges God places in our lives. As a person blessed with good health I was convicted to use my health more effectively and be more grateful in the life I have.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews