This Too Shall Last

Finding Grace When Suffering Lingers

By: K.J. Ramsey, Kelly M. Kapic - introduction

Narrated by: K.J. Ramsey, Tom Parks

This audiobook is not a before-and-after story.

Our culture treats suffering like a problem to fix, a blight to hide, or the sad start of a transformation story. We silently, secretly wither under the pressure of living as though suffering is a predicament we can avoid or annihilate by working hard enough or having enough faith. When your prayers for healing haven't been answered, the fog of depression isn't lifting, your marriage is ending in divorce, or grief won't go away, it's easy to feel you've failed God and, worse, he's failed you. If God loves us, why does he allow us to hurt?

Over a decade ago chronic illness plunged therapist and writer K.J. Ramsey straight into this paradox. Before her illness, faith made sense. But when pain came and never left, K.J. had to find a way across the widening canyon that seemed to separate God's goodness from her excruciating circumstances.

She wanted to conquer suffering. Instead, she encountered the God who chose it. She wanted to make pain past-tense. Instead, God invited her into a bigger story.

This Too Shall Last offers an antidote to our cultural idolatry of effort and ease. Through personal story and insights from neuroscience and theology, Ramsey invites us to let our tears become lenses of the wonder that before God ever rescues us, he stands in solidarity with us. We are all mid-story in circumstances we did not choose, wondering when our hard things will end and where grace will come if they don’t. We don't need to make suffering a before-and-after story. Together we can encounter the grace that enters the middle of our stories, where living with suffering that lingers means receiving God's presence that lasts.

Comfort

I have had chronic fatigue for about 40 years and God has been so faithful to love me. This book is such a comfort and validates my experience as a Christian with an illness that is invisible. I have tried to make sense of it, but this book gives me, a poetic form of just relaxing. Thank you, Fran.

Grace For Shared Stories

This is a beautiful treasure. I cannot say enough to convey its impact on me so I stop here. A beautiful treasure.

So helpful for dealing with chronic pain 

I absolutely love this book! The author does a phenomenal job of addressing the many aspects of living with long term suffering. Truly a blessing!

Inspired

Thankful for framing suffering in hope and grace when living and experiencing suffering. I appreciated the rich reflection on how Jesus is present with us in our suffering.

Beautiful and rich read

This is my first time reading this beautifully written treatise of pain and suffering in the lives of those who are faithful followers of Jesus. I read it slowly in an effort to absorb the wisdom and to bring heading to my own hurting heart. I will read this again in the future.