This Too Shall Last

March 2, 2020
In this contemplative debut, therapist Ramsey, who has an autoimmune disease, explores living with pain and explains that she has a messy “middle story” rather than a tidy “before and after.” Ramsey argues that most Christians believe in God’s ability to heal the body physically and spiritually, and therefore have trouble dealing with long-term suffering. She chronicles her adult life, revealing how suffering exposes self-sufficiency (“Our unique ways of escaping and avoiding suffering are rooted in a self-sufficiency that will never be enough”) and suggesting that though pain may seem like the enemy, not facing it will only create more problems. She includes many moments taken from scripture that detail God’s goodness and also warns against the tendency to minimize or overly spiritualize suffering. Quoting Jesus’s words to his disciples, she refutes the perception that suffering results from a lack of faith: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world.” She also challenges assumptions about repentance (described by Ramsey as self-reflection and commitment to self-betterment) by reframing it through the perspective of grace and communion with God: “repentance is remembering that all of life is an opportunity for communion and choosing to live as such right now.” Christians dealing with pain will appreciate Ramsey’s comforting, candid memoir.

May 1, 2020

When faced with chronic pain, therapist Ramsey decided to use the experience to help others. The author draws from her own experiences living with an autoimmune disease in this debut. Through a series of essays, with considerable references to both theological thought and scientific studies, Ramsey explores thoroughly the topic of suffering as it relates to God and humans. The underlying theme is that living with pain can lead one to develop a closer relationship with God, as people may seek strength and guidance. However, a strong tradition of self-reliance in American society, Ramsey observes, tends to overshadow complete reliance in faith, even within churches. As a result, people tend to view pain as a personal inconvenience or, worse, as a stigma. Similar to Julie Caton's Soul Pain Revealed Suffering, Ramsey's insightful book is valuable for its focus on how one chooses to live with physical or emotional struggles amid a society uncomfortable talking about illness. VERDICT Highly recommended for readers grappling with whether God allows pain to happen in our lives.--Chad Clark, San Jacinto Coll. Dist., Pasadena, TX

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