WorldMagazineBookoftheYearCreativeQuarterlyProfessionalGraphicDesignRunner-UpChristianityToday’sBookoftheYearWinnerECPATopShelfBookCoverAward“ThisbookwillmakenoattempttodefendGod....Ifyouarelookingforabookthatboaststriumphantlyofconquestoveragreatenemy,orgivesadetachedphilosophicalanalysisthatneatlysolvesanabsorbingproblem,thisisn’tit.“ToooftentheChristianattitudetowardsufferingischaracterizedbyadetachedacademicappealtoGod’ssovereignty,asifsufferingwereagameoramathproblem.OrmaybeweexpectthatsinceGodisgood,everythingwilljustworkoutallrightsomehow.Butwherethenishonestlament?Aren’tweshortchangingbelieversoftherichesoftheChristianteachingaboutsuffering?InEmbodiedHopeKellyKapicinvitesustoconsidertheexampleofourLordJesus.OnlybecauseJesushastakenonourembodiedexistence,sufferedalongsideus,died,andbeenraisedagaincanwefindanyhopefromthedepthsofourowndarkvalleysofpain.AswelooktoJesus,weareinvitedtoparticipatenotonlyinhissufferings,butalsointhechurch,whichcallsusoutofisolationandintotheencouragementandconsolationofthecommunallifeofChrist.Drawingonhisownfamily’sexperiencewithprolongedphysicalpain,KapicreshapesourunderstandingofsufferingintotheimageofJesus,andbringsustoarenewedunderstandingof--andparticipationin--ourembodiedhope.
