Eric Ortlund, Suffering Wisely & Well: The Grief of Job and the Grace of God (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2022), 191 pp.
Every follower of Christ will face suffering at some point. Some face more than others. Eric Ortlund’s book, Suffering Wisely & Well addresses the topic of suffering by analyzing the book of Job. As the title suggests, the book seeks to help Christ-followers suffer well by being wise about suffering.
Dr. Ortlund traces Job’s suffering and highlights key observations along the way. He examines the unbiblical counsel that Job receives from his friends and commends the “beauty of gospel friendship.” Job is set forth realistically. His godly character is noted and the struggles that he faces are dealt with honestly.
One of the most refreshing aspects of Suffering Wisely & Well is Ortlund’s ability to integrate biblical principles into daily life. He writes:
Our journey through the long and frustrating debate deepens our ability to journey with our friends in their Job-like ordeals without falling into the friends’ trap of condemning them, while also remembering that the dark things our suffering friends utter in their pain are not the final truth of their lives.
Each chapter concludes with a summary and concluding principles that readers may immediately put into action. Sufferers will be encouraged by Ortlund’s clear biblical presentation and come face to face with the hope held out in the gospel.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Veritas et Lux 