The View from Rock Bottom: Discovering God's Embrace in our Pain

by Stephanie Tait

I had found my rock bottom,
and instead of pulling me out,
the God of the universe met me there in the rubble.
 
What is your response when your life turns upside down? When you lose your job? When you receive a difficult diagnosis?
 
Do you blame God or beg Him for a way out of your suffering? In more than a decade of misdiagnoses and debilitating treatments, Stephanie Tait admits she did plenty of both before hearing the two words that had drastically altered her life: Lyme disease. Yet she has discovered it’s in her pain that Jesus is most present. Through personal stories and biblical examples, you will learn that suffering

connects you to God as He meets you in your moment of pain strengthens your community when you allow others to comfort you in your sorrow gives you greater appreciation for life’s goodness as you gain an eternal perspective

Even if the healing never comes, there is something sacred in the suffering. It’s from holy rubble that God makes all things new.

 

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Religion, Christianity, Audiobook, Memoir

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 6, 2019

Reviews

[Tanya Marlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleased to endorse this book. This was my endorsement:

"The church sorely needs books that are truthful about the reality of suffering, borne out of walking through pain - and this one's a gem. Through sound biblical exegesis and fresh insight, Tait offers confused Christians the chance to find intimacy with God through suffering. Warm and clear in style, this book will be a great help and hope for all who struggle and feel like they've missed the promises of God."

[Allison Pickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t typically choose to read books about suffering and pain. I have found them to be mostly full of trite suggestions, cheesy stories, and overused Bible verses that may be used out of context. I already roll my eyes enough in life, I don’t need to roll them again at fellow believers trying their best to help. So I approached The View from Rock Bottom with great skepticism and prepared myself for another deep sigh and eye roll.
My defenses and skepticism quickly crumbled as I read the author’s life stories, her research of scriptures dealing with suffering and hope, and her willingness to live in the middle. Sitting in the mysterious areas between hope and pain. The View from Rock Bottom is finally a book I feel comfortable to recommend to others. I will be reading this book and highlighting more paragraphs soon.

[Star Gater · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is interesting. I put my mind in a speaker mode, as if I were in the audience, and put the audio on while reading along with the print book. The narrator is amazing. Her diction, softness, and clarity I'm fearful could calm me into enjoying her reading a phone book. She has an endearing and credible quality in her voice.

I found this book relatable, and not whiney. Tait's life is so different than mine, however, I can relate with my own experiences and learn through her story.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important memoir of grappling with faith and disability. Stephanie Tait balances her personal life with deeper theological acumen than I expected. I will be using this book as a text for a small group on Disability Theology and think it’s a perfect starter book with other chapters and articles as supplemental texts. This quote sums so much up: “Do not be surprised when your fiery trouble comes. The message is inescapable. The trials will come. It’s just a matter of when.” This goes against far too much of evangelical and prosperity gospel theology.

2nd read a few months later, for a discussion group:
Still poignant, landed more powerfully the first time. Also, Stephanie is a must-follow on Twitter. Buckle up!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shifted all of my paradigms on so many things, not just on suffering, which is the primary subject being examined. I really think this is a must-read for everyone. I will definitely be spending more time with it in the months to come!

[Karis Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having spent a fair bit of time living in the rock bottom, and always questioning why I couldn’t simply “choose joy” in the darkness or “pray away” the pain, this book was a beautiful theology of pain and suffering. So often I have caught myself wondering what the reason is for it, if it’s a lesson God is trying to teach me, and when will it end and we come out bright and shiny on the other side of it.... this book helped shed light on a better perspective of our suffering and God’s presence in it. I appreciated the author’s authenticity and study of passages and deconstruction of the prosperity gospel so often shovelled down the throats of those who live with suffering.

[Jessica Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book inspired me just for existing, since I know how difficult normal life with Lyme disease can be, let alone the work of writing a book. And what a poignant book! Stephanie Tait makes a painfully honest evaluation of the ways modern Christian culture so often goes off the deep end in response to suffering, and a patient exposition of the beautifully balanced Scriptural perspective. Chapter after chapter hit home with gentle force. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who has faced suffering of any kind (i.e. all of us).

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as part of a group discussion.

I've heard Stephanie Tait on a podcast talking about some of the topics she touches on in this book and I think what she shares there makes sense, but found this book a bit more confusing.

Part of it is the premise of this book. Tait is clear in that this book doesn't have a "happy ending" from the beginning so I can appreciate that this book doesn't have a resolution per se, which isn't super satisfying. This book left me with more questions than answers which I don't love. Tait also seems to recognize that she has some privilege at times, but also glosses over the privilege she has in other areas which feels repetitive throughout the book.

Tait's message of ableism in the church and in her experience is important and needs to be heard. This book is about Tait's experience with pain and suffering as well as unlearning what she calls the prosperity gospel, or the idea that bad things happen to people as a punishment.

I can see how this could be an eye opening book for some and why Tait's book resonates so much, but it felt more shallow at times than I expected.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's just so good to read a book by a Christian author who doesn't tie difficult circumstances off with a neat bow and say God is good because of it. Stephanie Tait speaks to pain and suffering that are not easily explained or understood and to the struggle of trusting God in the ongoingness of it. Sadly, I can't think of a time when I have asked the question of what we are to do when suffering just continues and I haven't been met with a blank stare. I am thankful to Stephanie for writing this, for her honesty, and for her continued hope in Jesus.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Easy to read and you could feel the author's heart throughout. This was a wonderful presentation on how to handle suffering and what it truly means. As a pastor, it has given me new insight into relationships with those who are disabled and/or suffering long term illness under my care.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the full disclosure that the author is a friend, I can still say definitively that this is one of the most important religious memoirs of recent years. I've learned so much from Stephanie about disability and faith; The View from Rock Bottom only reinforces what she's taught me. She is honest about her pain while being equally as honest about the grace of God she's found. Highly recommended.

[Melinda Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important book. A living, thoughtful and sometimes appropriately academic writing of life lived in pain, false narratives and the unveiling of truth.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sad to say I wasn't impressed by this book. It was a shame because alot of my friends raved about it. It is nothing i haven't heard before.

[Luke McCarnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is raw, honest, challenging, convicting, refreshing, paradigm-disrupting, lament-teaching, and hope-giving. Highly recommended!

[Erin Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did the audiobook and had trouble staying engaged with the book. But overall I like Holy Unhappiness by Amanda Held Opalt much better on this topic of suffering.

[Angela Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book with great interest. I’m pleased I persevered with it to the end as there are some great take aways for anyone.

This quote sums it up quite well
“We’re asked to keep questioning, to keep wrestling, to keep coming back to pray for the impossible—even as we acknowledge that we aren’t promised the answers in this life. Most importantly, we’re asked to remain cognizant of the very real possibility that we’re getting some of this wrong, that we don’t understand nearly as much as we’d like to think, and that there will inevitably be times that “we do not know what to pray for as we ought” (Romans 8:26).”

And this one here

“I know that neither height, nor depth, nor Lyme, nor miscarriage, nor trauma, nor grief, nor the disappointment of seemingly unanswered prayer, nor anything else in this life can ever separate me from His love.”

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fellow Companion

I began reading ‘The View From Rock Bottom’ the first week I spent in hospital this past June. It has now been almost three months & it will be another three before I actually get home!

But it is not my first journey from rock bottom. I’ve been in a wheelchair since a MVA in 1994 & although there has been many highs & lows since, I always have found the comfort of God’s continual presence through them all.

This past summers journey particularly felt drenched in the Spirit as Stephanie Tait’s words brought so much encouragement & salve to my life changes. Sharing many of these moments with family & friends revealed God’s Word speaking to me that even when I don’t have answers, God still knows & loves me here & now.

Thank you Stephanie for reminding me I’m not alone, I still have purpose in this fragile state, & that as we journey together… rock bottom is not the end of the story!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The View from Rock Bottom was just the book I needed when I needed it. This book has been incredibly powerful and moving for me as I been on a recent and significant health battle very similar to Stephanie. When this book showed up at my door, my eyes filled with tears as I read the back cover in relief to know that I was not the only person going through something so tremendously difficult and while I wish no one else would suffer, it brought comfort to know I could lean into another' story. The power of story is so helpful for us to lean into the promises of God. Those promises change our now and our future. This book has been remarkable in my own suffering and journey. I highly recommend it.

[Camryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I've read by a Christian author that didn't made me feel like a terrible Jesus follower because of my mental health. Tate's view of suffering is the most biblically accurate that I have encountered, and her blatant exposure of prosperity gospel within the evangelical church is refreshing. I want to gift a copy of this book to every single well-intentioned church person that has tried to "pray away" my anxiety and suffering, or condemn me for not doing so successfully myself. An enlightening, accurate, and honest take on suffering, Tate has provided her readers with something special.

[J.L. Neyhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written. A good starting place for a better theology of suffering. I really appreciate Stephanie and her work.

[Elizabeth Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following Stephanie online for several years and have always admired her vulnerability and bravery in telling the truth about her struggles, pain and how the current political climate impacts her family. This book is a must- read for Christians, especially those of us in America who swim in the waters of the prosperity gospel, often without recognizing it for what it is.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

An uneasy read but I felt her words were mine.

It's rare to find an author who writes in suffering from first-hand experience, someone I can relate to. And also, she is still waiting for her healing, but has found joy.

[Elizabeth Herr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that I had been waiting for. Tait writes so well about topics that aren't frequently addressed (at least not together). I can't recommend this book enough!

[Allison Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated the vulnerability and biblical wisdom in these pages. Stephanie doesn't shy away from wrestling with topics instead of supplying simple answers.

[Jonathan Puddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, profound, honest words on the nature of suffering and how to find the heartbeat of a loving God in your darkest places. A desperately needed message in this day and hour.

[Michaela Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read! Very thought-provoking but not as interesting as some of the other devotional type books I have read similar to this one.