Stories of people who have responded in grace to hard trials are a tremendous encouragement to our faith. Reading of their tests of faith, hardships, weakness, and ultimate victory strengthens us. Suffering does indeed test us, and is used by our great God to make us more like His Son.
I would like to introduce you to some of the biographies and autobiographies of great sufferers that have encouraged my wife and me.
“Classic” Autobiographies and Biographies (Pre-2000)
Adoniram Judson (American missionary to Burma)
To the Golden Shore Adoniram Judson
Adoniram and his first wife left the USA in 1812 to fulfill the Great Commission in India. They were immediately redirected to Burma (Myanmar). Their story tells of a multitude of hardships faced by Adoniram Judson and his family. His first wife died, then his second. He lost children, too. Extreme deprivation and emotional duress were well known by the Judsons, but their faith endured. There is wonderful devotional material all throughout these accounts of their lives.
Corrie Ten Boom (Netherlands)
The Hiding Place Corrie Ten Boom
The Ten Boom family was not Jewish, but they stood up for the Jews as the Nazis began to persecute them in conquered Netherlands. The Ten Booms then were greatly used of God in developing an underground for smuggling Jews out of the country and out of Nazi hands until they were discovered. Then the Ten Boom sisters were sent to the Nazi death camps where they suffered incredibly. Yet grace shown through, faith deepened, and God greatly used their story later to bring many to Christ and strengthen Christians throughout the world. The film of their testimony is very moving: Hiding-Place-Movie .
Darlene Deibler Rose (American missionary to Papua New Guinea)
Evidence Not Seen: A Woman’s Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II
Darlene and her husband’s sacrifices for the Lord began with missions to the interior of Papua New Guinea. Little did they know that they would find themselves prisoners of war to the Japanese who conquered PNG. Darlene lost her husband in the prison camp, and her sufferings were very great, but God gave her tremendous grace to overcome. You can watch/listen to Darlene give her own testimony in these simple YouTube videos: Deibler Rose Testimony Part 1 and Deibler Rose Testimony Part 2 .
Geoffrey Bull (British missionary to Tibet)
Geoffrey was a single missionary that had no idea that his burden to reach Tibet with the Gospel would result in him spending three years in a Chinese Communist prison. Bull faced very intense emotional and psychological torture at the hands of the Communists, as well as physical suffering endured. He wrote three books about his experiences and the rich lessons of God’s grace taught to him in those very dark times: When Iron Gates Yield (1955), God Holds the Key (1959), and The Sky is Red (1967). These books are now out of print, but I have been so blessed by them, I thought I would mention them still.
Here is the audio account as Bull tells his story (YouTube): Geoffrey Bull Testimony .
Joni Eareckson-Tada (American)
Joni The Unforgettable Story of Joni Eareckson Tada (1976)
Joni was a teen out swimming with family and friends. She dove into the water and hit something with her head, completely paralyzing her whole body. This is the story of her struggle to survive, learn how to live and overcome some of her handicaps, all while navigating the Christian life. This is a powerful testimony of God’s grace.
The movie is effective in showing her story: Joni the Movie , though it reflects the culture of the 1970s. This is one of the first of many recordings of Joni’s testimony (YouTube): Joni testimony .
Contemporary Autobiographies and Biographies
Laura Story (American)
When God Doesn’t Fix It: Lessons You Never Wanted to Learn, Truths You Can’t Live Without (2015)
Laura was a typical American Christian affected by the “follow your dreams” approach to life. She was, and is, a worship leader and musician. Laura Story’s life was radically shaken when her husband, Martin, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. This is the story of how incredible difficult life became for them and how God helps them one day at a time by God’s grace.
We may not appreciate Laura’s music or her view of congregational worship, but her testimony shared in this book is very engaging and instructive, both spiritually and practically. This is a great resource for those with a spouse who is severely affected by physical limitations.
Kim Phuc Phan Thi (Vietnamese-Canadian)
Kim is the “girl in the picture” made famous during the Vietnam War, a naked little girl running down the road away from exploding napalm bombs, her clothing incinerated off her body. This is the story of her life, beginning with her childhood near the Vietnam/Cambodian border during the Vietnam War. It is her Christian testimony that records her journey of faith from Vietnam to Cuba to Canada. Those who are aware of Asian culture will be especially helped by this testimony to God’s amazing grace.
You can watch/listen to her testimony here (YouTube): Kim Phuoc Testimony
Nik Ripken (American missionary to Africa & interviewer of Persecuted Christians worldwide)
The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected (2013)
This is an incredible story. It begins with great suffering witnessed by Ripken in Somalia and experienced in Kenya with very personal loss and grief. Their faith is shaken by these experiences. Ripken then goes on a worldwide journey to interview Christians is very hostile situations to learn from them what allowed them to endure the sufferings that they had experienced with such grace. This is a “must read”.
The film of the book is very good, but the book is better: https://www.insanityofgodmovie.com/ .
Virginia Prodan (Romanian)
Saving My Assassin (2016)
This is the account of a young Romanian attorney during a brutal Communist regime. It tells of her journey to faith in Jesus Christ, which began as she saw Christians persecuted for their faith and sought to help them legally. She faced more and more persecution herself as a result. One incredible part of this book is when she comes face to face with someone who once tried to kill her, and we read how the Spirit led her to respond. We enjoyed the audio book version of this resource.
Conclusion
These are books that I have read in recent years that have spurred my faith in Jesus Christ. As more and more of the free nations of the world move quickly into socialism and its totalitarianism, and war seems to be just over the horizon in some places, may God use these testimonies of great suffers to inspire and prepare God’s people to suffer well.
