The Joyful Mourning Bookclub | June Edition
Looking Back
final thoughts of May's book
God's Grace in Your Suffering
by David Powlison
God's Grace in Your Suffering was a simple yet helpful book about suffering. It was a tender exposition about how God is intimately caring for us in the middle of our pain and broken circumstances. Throughout the book we are reminded over and over again of the truth that God will never leave us.
Towards the end of the book David Powlison writes these words that help summarize the goodness of this book and it's overall objective: "Our awareness of suffering, pain, weakness, and danger has steadily intensified. But with that, Our awareness of God's powerful love at work has steadily intensified as well. Sin, misery, and death abound. Grace, joy, and life abound all the more. Mercy will have the final say."
That statement reminded me of an earlier statement Powlison makes in chapter 5:
- "There's no random chance. No purposeless misery. No bad luck. Not even (and understand this the right way) a tragedy. Tragedy means ruin, destruction, downfall, an unhappy ending with no redemption. Your life story may contain a great deal of misery and heartache along the way. But in the end, in Christ, your life story will prove to be a comedy in the original sense of the word, a story with a happy ending. You play a part in the Divine Comedy, as Dante called it, with the happiest ending of any story ever written. death, mourning, tears, and pain will be no more (Rev. 21:4). Life, joy, and love get last say."
Let's Discuss!
As a reminder, if you didn't get a chance to join us for the live discussions, you can view them all on our Youtube Channel or over on the Bookclub Resource Page!
Head down to the comments to answer the discussion questions. I'm excited to hear what you thought of this month's selection.
Discussion Questions
- What did you like best about this book?
- What did you like least about this book?
- Was there a specific passage that left an impression, good or bad? Share the passage and its effect.
- Was there any idea or specific passage that felt hard to read or relate to? An idea presented as truth that you have a hard time believing to be true?
Let us know in the comments your thoughts to the discussion questions! My answers will be in there!
June Edition
I Will Carry You, The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy
by Angie Smith
I followed along with Angie's journey and her daughter Audrey's story via her blog after my son died in 2008. She put words to what I was feeling and couldn't quite articulate, words that not only helped me understand (and those around me) what I was feeling but also words that brought enormous comfort to my broken heart. Through her story, God reminded me I wasn't alone.
This book was such a gift to me 10 years ago and I am certain it will be for you as well. I am so grateful to be reading alongside you all this time.
xo,
ashlee
What's the Book About?
I Will Carry You tells the powerful story of a parent losing her child, interwoven with the biblical story of Lazarus to help those who mourn to still have hope—to find grace and peace in the sacred dance of grief and joy.
Who Is The Author?
Angie Smith, a wife and a mom to Ellie, Abby, Kate, Audrey, and Charlotte. While pregnant with their fourth daughter, Audrey, they received news that she would not survive and Angie began blogging as a means of communication with friends and family who wanted to be updated as they walked those difficult days.
Angie's blog, Bring the Rain, (www.angiesmithonline.com) started as simply that - a way to share her heart honestly and to have the gift of listening to those who had experienced similar loss, but truthfully, not all that much has changed along the way. Angie now writes books and Bible studies and teaches around the country, but the heart of all of those ministries is the same as it was when her fingers typed the very first words on her blog: Angie greatest passion is to make the Bible feel accessible and relevant, and to share her own ups and downs along the way to encourage others in their faith.
You can listen to her interview on the podcast here: Episode 015 with Angie Smith
Why this Book?
01. THE STORY. While this book has theological elements and truths, I chose this book more-so because it tells a story. And as women walking through brokenness it is helpful to hear the true story of another woman who has walked through a similar trial. Stories remind us we aren't alone. Stories remind us we will be ok, albeit different and changed, but ok. Stories remind us of hope.
02. THE AUTHOR'S HONESTY. Angie is honest about what it felt like to receive a terminal prenatal diagnosis, what it felt like to carry her daughter knowing she would not live and what the days after her daughter's death felt like. Her honesty reminds us that it's ok to ask the hard questions about faith, to wrestle with truths we thought we believed, to ask questions we may not have felt the freedom to ask before walking through such pain. Her honesty is raw and tender and gracious and a gift to those who are in the midst of grief.
Read with us!
Order your copy from Amazon or download and read via Kindle.
LISTEN WITH AUDIBLE!
I love Audible as an easy way to read books. It’s so easy to listen in the car, on a walk, around the house... or when you just don't feel like actually reading.
Get a FREE audio book when you try Audible for 30 days!
- Sign up here for a free 30 day trial.
- Download the Audible App
- Sign in and find a book (your first one is free!)
Live Discussion
Join our weekly live discussions by signing up below. The live discussions happen every Thursday at 9am (est).
Join Us!
Be the first to know about each month’s new book selection as well as the monthly reading plan and the recorded live discussions.
JOIN THE JOYFUL MOURNING BOOK CLUB
Don't forget to answer the discussion questions for May!
Discussion Questions
- What did you like best about this book?
- What did you like least about this book?
- Was there a specific passage that left an impression, good or bad? Share the passage and its effect.
- Was there any idea or specific passage that felt hard to read or relate to? An idea presented as truth that you have a hard time believing to be true?
Answer in the comments below!