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Living with Thorns: A Biblical Survival Guide
Like the apostle Paul, do you have a thorn in your life that just won’t go away—no matter how many times you’ve asked God to remove it? Maybe you’re troubled by an estranged relationship, a chronic illness, a difficult marriage, depression, a struggle with an addiction, a past abuse—or even a combination of some of these. Author Mary Ann Froelich suggests that the miraculous exists, even for those who live with unchanged circumstances—those with “less than success” stories. She offers comfort, encouragement, and tangible survival tools for facing unchanged circumstances and fighting the despair that so often accompanies our pain.
240 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 10, 2022
An honest, straight forward book. Takes you step by step through one way to process thorns (hardships,suffering, etc.) in a persons life. Was helpful in the way we used it, but I could see it being kind of a flop for others, just with how it’s structured and the general approach of the author. Could be your cup of tea, or you might need to keep looking for a better tool!
October 24, 2019
Great insight and encouragement
I liked that there was an over abundance of real life illustrations. I also liked the huge variety of quotes. These were so helpful. This book is an easy read, not theologically deep but extremely insightful.
I liked that there was an over abundance of real life illustrations. I also liked the huge variety of quotes. These were so helpful. This book is an easy read, not theologically deep but extremely insightful.
May 17, 2020
Each chapter of the first half gives an overview of a different type of thorn. These are more for emotional support. The Biblical references were helpful, but then we're given story after story that just made me feel worse. The stories are very short and usually leave out anything positive that came after or even how the person overcame. The worst is probably the fear chapter, which details a lot of bad things that have happened in ordinary life.
The second half laid out survival tips, but these were pretty basic and come naturally with spiritual maturity so I skimmed them.
A few things left me scratching my head. More than once she said things that contradicted each other, too. In one chapter she says "Despair is suffering without meaning" but then says in another that it's not helpful to tell people God allowed their suffering. She says we shouldn't be asking if God allowed our pain or caused it. I'm sorry, but this is a crucial question to ask. If God didn't cause it, he had to have allowed it. If he didn't allow it, yet it happened, then he's not really in control. If God didn't allow the suffering for our good, then there is no purpose for our pain. Personally, I have never met a mature Christian who was offended by the idea that God uses our pain for good. The Bible is full of verses saying exactly that. (Heb. 12:7,10-11; Is. 39:17; Psalm 119:6; Romans 8:17-18). Later on, there are quotes in the book that agree with this stance. So which is it?
Froehlich also takes a shot at millennials, my generation, as an example of how God, as a loving parent, doesn't shelter us from pain. I wish she'd used a different analogy because the struggles of millennials are much more complex. She suggests that millennials who are sheltered don't learn how to rely on God. False. My being sheltered--though I was not sheltered from my family's generational curse or difficult circumstances--is precisely what drove me to God and to dependence on him. Many who are independent don't learn to rely on God, either. We all have different circumstances and struggles and God does different things with them.
It starts off all sweet and comforting but somewhere during the survival tips it begins to take on a harsher tone. Being told "forgiveness is a command, not a suggestion" is a slap in the face, and not at all motivating. (That way of speaking is all too common and has become a pet peeve of mine.) When we speak that way in place of God, it's like a parent saying "I'm telling you; I'm not asking." It's kind of snotty. Forgiveness is hard enough. It would've achieved the same thing to simply point to the verses that say that if we don't forgive we won't be forgiven.
Since most of it wasn't news to me and since I was getting increasingly irritated, I decided not to finish it.
The second half laid out survival tips, but these were pretty basic and come naturally with spiritual maturity so I skimmed them.
A few things left me scratching my head. More than once she said things that contradicted each other, too. In one chapter she says "Despair is suffering without meaning" but then says in another that it's not helpful to tell people God allowed their suffering. She says we shouldn't be asking if God allowed our pain or caused it. I'm sorry, but this is a crucial question to ask. If God didn't cause it, he had to have allowed it. If he didn't allow it, yet it happened, then he's not really in control. If God didn't allow the suffering for our good, then there is no purpose for our pain. Personally, I have never met a mature Christian who was offended by the idea that God uses our pain for good. The Bible is full of verses saying exactly that. (Heb. 12:7,10-11; Is. 39:17; Psalm 119:6; Romans 8:17-18). Later on, there are quotes in the book that agree with this stance. So which is it?
Froehlich also takes a shot at millennials, my generation, as an example of how God, as a loving parent, doesn't shelter us from pain. I wish she'd used a different analogy because the struggles of millennials are much more complex. She suggests that millennials who are sheltered don't learn how to rely on God. False. My being sheltered--though I was not sheltered from my family's generational curse or difficult circumstances--is precisely what drove me to God and to dependence on him. Many who are independent don't learn to rely on God, either. We all have different circumstances and struggles and God does different things with them.
It starts off all sweet and comforting but somewhere during the survival tips it begins to take on a harsher tone. Being told "forgiveness is a command, not a suggestion" is a slap in the face, and not at all motivating. (That way of speaking is all too common and has become a pet peeve of mine.) When we speak that way in place of God, it's like a parent saying "I'm telling you; I'm not asking." It's kind of snotty. Forgiveness is hard enough. It would've achieved the same thing to simply point to the verses that say that if we don't forgive we won't be forgiven.
Since most of it wasn't news to me and since I was getting increasingly irritated, I decided not to finish it.
November 23, 2019
I appreciated this book so much. It was well written and spoke volumes to my heart and mind. Having lived with an illness for many years, it was encouraging, insightful, and continually pointing me back to Christ- in spite of living with thorns.
It was certainly biblical as the subtitle says, and Mary Ann's use of Scripture was excellent.
I did not just read through the book, but read the chapters and utilized the 'Food for Thought' questions at the end of each chapter- pondering, praying through the questions and writing down my thoughts. What a beautiful exercise to do using all the wisdom in this book. Thank you Mary Ann for writing this book.
It was certainly biblical as the subtitle says, and Mary Ann's use of Scripture was excellent.
I did not just read through the book, but read the chapters and utilized the 'Food for Thought' questions at the end of each chapter- pondering, praying through the questions and writing down my thoughts. What a beautiful exercise to do using all the wisdom in this book. Thank you Mary Ann for writing this book.
February 29, 2020
Excellent book. We all have thorns in our lives; tough circumstances or occurrences that challenge our faith and make it hard to cope. The author gives Scriptural guidance and encouragement so that one can be strong to endure in the right way with the right attitude. I used this as a devotional, so read it slowly, and spent more time on the chapters that pertained to myself.
June 21, 2019
I was not thrilled with Ms. Froelich's writing style, but I did enjoy her message and many other authors whom she quoted in this work. I intend to peruse the glossary for some of these other authors' works.
January 26, 2024
Giving up on page 106. So far, the book can summed up as, "read your Bible". Every topic points to healing in Scripture so its more useful for me to just read my Bible.
April 30, 2024
This is a very good and timely book about how to live with the ongoing problems, hurt and betrayals of life while living in agreement with God.
December 10, 2012
A great, easy work of pop theodicy. It asks readers to consider that their thorns-- chronic pain, poverty, depression, all those things that God is supposed to bless away-- are actually somehow purposeful, even if they, as a part of God's will, are inscrutable. I am happy to have read it and would recommend it to any believer who struggles with something that God just won't seem to fix or relieve.
July 27, 2011
Been living with thorns for a while, but it seems that I understand the principles and have been utilizing them all along. Nice to know I am on the right track.
December 15, 2013
Life changing!
September 3, 2013
We all have thorns to live with, this gives insight into the way we should live with them.
June 11, 2021
Haven't finished this book.
Very helpful to get through difficult times, getting a new perspective.
Very helpful to get through difficult times, getting a new perspective.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews