The Mission of Sorrow: God's Gracious Purposes in our Afflictions

by Gardiner Spring

"The Mission of Sorrow by Spring, is one of the most complete books ever written on the subject of SORROW. Each chapter builds upon the other, until the sorrowing believer is brought at last to heaven." David Ash, of Shiloh Online Library

96 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2007

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book for all Christian sufferers!

[Zack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick devotional read on suffering. The language is flowery mid-nineteenth century prose, but not difficult. In fact, Spring’s phrasing is beautiful and lucid. Chapters six and seven on the Bible and on prayer, respectively, are the best sections of the book. Spring’s treatment is solidly Calvinistic (and biblical), emphasizing God’s sovereign goodness even - and especially - in our darkest afflictions. He draws heavily from Scripture, but he does not provide the chapter/verse citations. I recommend this unabashedly theocentric book to all who can digest the style without growing frustrated.

[Miles Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good primer on how God uses affliction; my only caveat about this work is that Spring is writing in 1863 to a group of people who are confronting the American Civil War and the deaths that came w it. I’m not sure every piece of advice he gives about grief should be used all the time.