The View from Rock Bottom: Discovering God’s Embrace in our Pain

I had found my rock bottom, and instead of pulling me out,the God of the universe met me there in the rubble.   What is your response when your life turns upside down? When you lose your job? When you receive a difficult diagnosis?   Do you blame God or beg Him for a way out of your suffering? In more than a decade of misdiagnoses and debilitating treatments, Stephanie Tait admits she did plenty of both before hearing the two words that had drastically altered her life: Lyme disease. Yet she has discovered it?s in her pain that Jesus is most present. Through personal stories and biblical examples, you will learn that sufferingconnects you to God as He meets you in your moment of painstrengthens your community when you allow others to comfort you in your sorrowgives you greater appreciation for life?s goodness as you gain an eternal perspectiveEven if the healing never comes, there is something sacred in the suffering. It?s from holy rubble that God makes all things new.   Review ?Many of us have a giant hole in our gospel, which is exposed when confronted with suffering. When our beliefs are too tidy, our answers too easy, and our message cliché, our faith will be shallow, fragile, and uncompelling. That is why this book matters so much. With surprising hope, Stephanie looks straight at her pain and God?s mystery, reminding us that the good news of Jesus Christ is even better than we thought.? -Sharon Hodde Miller, Author of Free of Me?The View from Rock Bottom is such important work-challenging and convicting in a gentle and restorative way.? -Sarah Mae, author of The Complicated Heart?Stephanie has given us such a gift with her story: a full, true, honest, and compelling glimpse of God within our suffering. This book is both hopeful and holy; her words touch our collective grief and name it as precious to God.? -Sarah Bessey, author of Jesus Feminist and Miracles and Other Reasonable Things?Immerse yourself in Stephanie?s profound wisdom. Yes, this book is about pain. Deep, real, still-ongoing pain. And that?s why we all need it. Stephanie is real, challenging, and compassionate. Just what you need right now.? -Carlos A. Rodríguez, author of Simply Sonship and Drop the Stones?This book is for anyone whose cheeks have been scorched by the flames of suffering. In Stephanie?s pain we find ourselves paradoxically at home, as near to the heart of God as we have ever been. It?s true that to be human is to hurt. But that is nowhere near the end of the story.? -Shannan Martin, author of The Ministry of Ordinary Places and Falling Free?The church sorely needs books that are truthful about the reality of suffering, borne out of walking through pain, and this one?s a gem. Warm and clear in style, this book will be a great help and hope for all who struggle and feel like they?ve missed the promises of God.? -Tanya Marlow, disability activist and author of Those Who Wait?This is a book soaked in Scripture. Whatever expectations you have about a Christian book on suffering-forget them. The View from Rock Bottom is honest, challenging, and an important corrective to popular theology on suffering.? -Kaitlyn Schiess, author and theologian?There?s no better teacher on the complexities of pain than Stephanie Tait. She goes beyond instruction and invites the reader to reimagine the purpose of suffering in a way that draws you into the very presence of God. With scriptural clarity and pastoral care, Stephanie gives us the greatest gift in the midst of our own suffering-the hope of a present, loving God.? -Nish Weiseth, author of Speak: How Your Story Can Change the World About the Author Stephanie Tait wears many hats. Blogger, speaker, author, wife, mother, Jesus follower. Her fifteen-years and counting battle with Lyme disease has reshaped her view on the goodness of God. She makes her home in Oregon, where she lives with her husband and two children. She shares her stories at stephanietaitwrites.c