God’s Design for Suffering
How Spiritual Practices Help Us in Our Suffering
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Beholding the God We Cannot See James 1:2–4 (NIV) came to mind when I prayed about what to write here. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. When our faith is tested, we are challenged with where to put our faith because to have faith, we must have something to put our faith in. When we face trials, what are we really looking at? Who or what are we facing if we look past the surface? When we face trials, it’s not about looking at the trials. Yes, we will be fighting headwinds, adversaries, but God is before us in all things. In Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV), Moses gives his calling of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land to Joshua and tells him, “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” When we face trials, we are to look past them and find the face of God going before us. Keep your gaze on Him when moving forward because “the testing of our faith produces perseverance and when we let perseverance finish its work in us it leads to us becoming mature and complete, not lacking in anything” (James 1:3–4 NASB). This maturing and lacking in nothing is due to our beholding the Lord because we become what we behold.
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About the Book
Throughout her life, author Rochelle Zieman has suffered because of unfortunate events. During that time, she’s learned a lot about the Lord and a lot about suffering, understanding how God doesn’t give us more than we can handle. We can’t work our way through a situation without God’s help. In God’s Design for Suffering, she shares her story against the backdrop of her experiences, telling how God helped her face these trials. Zieman reveals how he gave her, and gives all of us, spiritual practices to live out when we’re suffering and when we’re not. With songs, poems, and prayers included, God’s Design for Suffering teaches what suffering is and what to do in its seasons such as prayer, reading the Bible, giving thanks, seeking help from other Christians, worship, and changing the way we think. Zieman communicates that times of suffering teach lessons that present opportunities to love others and love the Lord more deeply.
About the Author
Rochelle Zieman is thirty-six years old and is a native of Whittier, California. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministry from California Baptist University. Currently, she ministers to family, in her church, and sometimes with various shelters.