When The Stars Disappear
When the Stars Disappear, Vol. 1 by Mark Talbot takes readers on a thought-provoking journey into the depths of suffering experienced by Naomi, Job, and Jeremiah in the Old Testament. We are suffering in a similar way to the suffering that man has endured since the Fall. As believers, we can find strength, hope, and comfort as we read about the trials endured by these three pivotal individuals. As each wrestled with their suffering and a couple even cursed the day they were born they ultimately worked through their sufferings. They were reminded that God's plans do not always make sense to us but He uses man's sufferings as part of His perfectly planned storyline. Suffering should draw us closer to the Lord. We can find hope and joy amidst our suffering when we yield ourselves fully to God. We can trust that God in His grace and mercy will see us through.
Mark Talbot talks about his own personal sufferings throughout his life. Mark like so many of us, experience seasons of profoundly disorienting perplexity. Mark says, "When, night after night, sleep fled from me because I was utterly unable to understand how God in his goodness could have been playing any part in what was happening to me. I have experienced hurts so deep and disruptive that they have dominated my consciousness, making me feel I could lose the Christian faith that has oriented me for almost my whole life." Wow how many of us can relate to those thoughts and words? I know I can.
Chapter 3 entitled "Breathing Lessons ~ How to Survive Great Suffering" takes readers into the book of Psalms. Talbot writes, "Sufferers sometimes need the same reminder, for thinking God has forsaken or betrayed us involves losing our perspective, which can make it seem as if everything is closing in on us so we can hardly breathe." Talbot talks about how women in labor, athletes training, and his own experience in physical therapy when the therapist would say, "Breathe!"We have to learn how to breathe. Mark talks about lamenting in the Psalms. Studying the Psalms teaches believers how to breathe in two ways. First, it teaches us to pray. "Profound suffering can stifle our prayers by overwhelming us and by tempting us to think that God mustn't care if he didn't prevent this pain." Second, it helps us to pray properly. "These psalms of lament also show us how to breathe. As acts of faith, they are little portraits of proper praying. Faithful praying has a rhythm that envelops our suffering in hopeful stories." Psalms is full of encouraging words as well as individual laments that we can both learn from and draw hope from. The psalmists so eloquently displayed their trust in God as we read throughout Psalms verses such as: Whatever the Lord pleases he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. Psalm 135:6, Some boast of chariots, and some of horses; but we boast of the name of the Lord our God. Psalms 20:7, 5 Thy steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, thy faithfulness to the clouds. 6 Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God, thy judgments are like the great deep; man and beast thou savest, O Lord. Psalms 36:5-6.
The book ends with an Epilogue, and A Reader's Guide. The Reader's Guide is very useful in helping you get the most out of this book. Talbot explains the necessity of reading the book more than once. He talks about footnotes, quoted Bible passages, poetry, and endnotes. Also at the end of the book is a 26 page section entitled Notes. Here Talbot provides explanations for the endnotes throughout the book by chapter. There is also a Scripture Index at the end of the book.
When The Stars Disappear is a wonderful book. I read this book during an exceptionally difficult time of suffering in my life. When The Stars Disappear and Give Me Understanding That I May Live were recently sent to me for review by Crossway Books. A few weeks ago I needed to be taken to the ER. I knew that I would more than likely be waiting a bit so I brought When The Stars Disappear to begin reading. I was in a considerable amount of pain and due to complicated circumstances I endured over 12 hours without pain relief. I have multiple chronic medical conditions and one that requires daily pain medication. I was beside myself in pain. I prayed and tried to distract myself by reading and each page I read was like a salve to my suffering. God meets us where we are. It was even more impactful to hear the author discuss Jeremiah's suffering. This is because Jeremiah's calling, life, and trials are being studied right now in BSF, so it's fresh inmy mind. What a blessing this book has been. I cannot wait to read Give Me Understanding That I May Live, Vol. 2 by Mark Talbot.
Crossway.org
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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