In the Fiery Furnace of Suffering

Suffering is an inevitable part of our lives as humans. We, as Christians, are called to have an understanding of suffering that is based on how the Bible interprets and mentions sufferings. Suffering is a huge theme throughout the Bible. The first part of this book focuses on what the Bible says on the topic, as what the Bible says about suffering is the best way to understand and perceive our own sufferings. Be warned, suffering is NOT a subject that is light and fluffy, hence this book is NOT light or fluffy. The second part of this book contains stories of my own personal sufferings, which have been unique in many ways, and include an incurable genetic disease. I look at these sufferings in light of the Scriptures and the lessons the Lord taught me through them. The idea is that each of you, by reading this book, may also be encouraged to look at the Lord's purposes in your own sufferings, past and present. If our hope is rooted firmly in the Lord, there is hope and rejoicing in the midst of our sufferings.

"This is one of the best books on suffering I have ever read. It is packed with biblical truth so that we are reminded of God's sovereignty and his purposes in suffering. At the same time, Laughlin tells us a number of stories about his own suffering, and some are agonizing. Laughlin is transparent about his own weakness and his own fears, and reminds us that our strength in suffering is only in the Lord. I was encouraged and challenged in reading this amazing book."
--Thomas Schreiner, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Tabor Laughlin is a PhD student in Intercultural Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS). He was a missionary in China for ten years and leads a small mission agency in NW China. He now lives with his wife and kids in Deerfield, Illinois. Laughlin blogs on ChinaSource and Desiring God and is the author of Becoming Native to Win the Natives (Wipf and Stock).