CBB Review: When You Suffer

Suffering is an expected part of our humanity. With a proper understanding of how to approach and deal with pain and suffering we have a golden opportunity to draw closer to God. Jeff Cavins provides readers with a guide on how to handle suffering in his latest book When You Suffer: Biblical Keys for Hope and Understanding.

In the early parts of the book Jeff details the two kinds of suffering which are physical and moral. Drawing heavily from St. John Paul II’s apostolic letter Salvifici Doloris, we learn these are a result of the bodily and spiritual elements of humanity. Physical suffering is experienced in obvious instances like a broken limb or cancer whereas moral suffering are those moments when we experience our “dark nights of the soul” like those experienced by Mother Teresa and Padre Pio. Jeff points out, “We know one thing, though, and that is suffering happens, and it happens to us. What we will learn in the following pages how to respond”.

An overarching theme within the pages of this book is that suffering can be used for good. We only need to know how to use it. Jeff provides a number of powerful suggestions oh what to do while in the midst of suffering. This suffering we are referring to does not have to be a major debilitating crisis. It can be as simple as an unexpected change in your daily plan and how we deal with the change. “Whether you are talking about giving up your life for a friend or driving to a wedding when you wanted to stay home, you can find meaning that will work for good I your life.”

It is key to remember that no matter no matter what we are dealing within our lives we have a loving Father who wishes to closely unite with us. “As Christians, when we unite our suffering with Christ, when we take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, we invite him to coauthor our lives and direct the narrative.”

We most certainly have heard of the practice of offering up our sufferings and Jeff covers that in this book. The real meat and potatoes of this book of the book comes in Chapter Nine when Jeff lays out ten things to do when suffering. There is not adequate space in this review to detail them however I will list them and encourage you to get this book for the full details.

1) Entrust Yourself to God

2) Unite Your Will with the Will of Christ through Prayer

3) Realize That Jesus Will Allow You to Go through Something You Can’t Handle

4) Go To Confession

5) Participate on the Altar during Mass

6) Take a Vocation, Not a Vacation!

7) Pray the Rosary

8) Let the Saints Come Marching into Your Less-Than-Ideal Day!

9) Keep an Eternal Perspective.

10) Be Merciful and Show Forgiveness

Jeff Cavins has written a compelling and helpful book on suffering that I would recommend for everyone. Regardless of whether we are personally suffering at the moment we most certainly know someone that is. Back to Jeff, “You aren’t alone in your suffering or in your quest for understanding. The treasure you are searching for – the valuable meaning in your less-than-ideal day is a reality that can be experienced. You will find meaning attached to your suffering, meaning that will give you courage and purpose beyond anything you have known before.”

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