Life After Suffering

Viktor Frankl, an Auschwitz survivor, once said that to be human is to suffer. Suffering is an unavoidable part of life, but how do we engage our suffering in a culture that teaches us to avoid suffering at all costs? Through the telling of two stories, the horrific death of his parents and the exiled Judeans of the sixth century BCE, Chris Williams offers a way of engaging suffering that questions the dominant voices of popular culture. Perhaps hope is not found in avoiding suffering at all costs, but by inviting others into our darkest moments.Chris Williams's intertwining of the exile, suffering, and hope of Judah in the book of Jeremiah with his own personal tragedy and the slow process of healing yields powerful insights into Scripture and human experience. His blend of raw honesty and passionate hope is the fabric of true biblical faith. I doubt that anyone who reads this book with an open heart can remain in despair.-J. Richard MiddletonProfessor of Biblical Worldview and ExegesisNortheastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan CollegeChris has gifted us with his story, sharing it only after thinking and praying and weeping--and communally so--long and hard and well. Life After Suffering is a deeply moving and personal account of loss and new hope, some of which I personally witnessed; it narrates well Chris's own profound suffering, and does so in a manner theologically well-crafted, and in faithful continuity with the biblical story.--Lee C. CampProfessor of Theology & EthicsLipscomb Universityand author of Mere DiscipleshipThere are many books today on suffering. Some offer answers that promise to alleviate pain, others offer explanations as to why our pain happened. Chris offers neither, because as someone who has seen unbearable suffering, he knows that easy answers and reasons do not bring hope. With great humility, Chris speaks of suffering through the reality of an enduring and abiding hope. He points us towards a path, a journey to walk. It is a journey where we do not need to suffer alone, where we find comfort in the presence of others and of God, and it is ultimately the place where we find hope and a future through the midst of overwhelming pain.--Aaron MoorePresident and Founder of Solace CounselingSpeaker for To Write Love On Her ArmsChris Williams is a survivor and his memoir is nothing less than a survival manual for those struggling with their own inexplicable suffering. His poignant words pulsate with pain and at the same time, astonishingly, testify to hope beyond unspeakable loss, the possibility that one can somehow get through the worst of times. For this we are deeply indebted to the author!--Louis Stulmanauthor of Order Amid ChaosIn his book, Williams masterfully invites us deep into the recesses of suffering . . . using Jeremiah and his own story as a backdrop for hope, understanding, and even appreciation for the valleys we travel. This book is a tremendous guide for all who have, will, or continue to walk through the shadows of suffering.--Don Schiewer Jr.PastorNew Harvest Christian ChurchChris Williams has earned a MDiv and has served in a variety of pastoral contexts. Most importantly, he is a fellow sojourner along with his wife and three children.