I recently interviewed Jeremy Marshall, author of this book of 20 devotions entitled 'Hope in the Face of Suffering'.   Jeremy is living with incurable cancer so shielding is nothing new for him as any infection can lead to very serious complications for him.  I can't think of anyone more uniquely qualified to write a book of devotions about fear, suffering and death.    

If the coronavirus has taught us anything it has shown us that life is fragile.  Our society thought that science and modern medicine protected us from any nasty surprises.  The last year has shown us that science and modern medicine have serious limits.  Jeremy's book encourages not to look to politicians or scientists for our security but trust in a sovereign God through His son the Lord Jesus Christ.

In 20 short, simple chapters Jeremy takes the reader through Genesis, Job, the Psalms, 2 Kings, the Gospels and finally Revelation.  He reminds us that suffering and death were not part of the original plan but is a result of the fall.  Suffering can be bewildering and overwhelming but the gospel gives us hope.

The book is accessible, encouraging and very, very real.  He points us back again and again in the book to the ultimate answer to pain and suffering, God Himself.  In the midst of suffering God's promises become real, His word speaks to us in new ways and we look to him for grace and strength.  As Corrie Ten Boom says in 'The Hiding Place': 'I only realised that Christ was all I needed when Christ was all I had.' 

This a great little book and so appropriate for the time in which we are living.  When people are asking questions about fear, death and suffering, why not give them this little book and point them to the God who suffered and died and will one day wipe away every tear for those who are in Christ.  Why not think about buying multiple copies and sending them to family and friends?  This book has been a great help to me, and I am confident that it will be a great comfort to you too.

I have also published a longer review of this book on my blog, here.

Andy Murray, Livingston Free Church