Stronger Than Ever, Jason Jackson

“Life is filled with swift transition…” goes the popular hymn and indeed it is. Life is filled with transitions, changes—joys and challenges; but also adversities, sickness, setbacks, uncertainties, temptations and trials. Sometimes we may seem plagued with various difficulties to the point we think we are overwhelmed, but often can look around and find someone we would not want to change places with. Even though we can find someone in worse shape than ourselves, the “misery loves company” policy is not always comforting. How can we get through this life, but live it to the fullest? The only life that is truly fulfilling is the Christian life, and the only book to show us the Christian life is God’s Book, the Bible. Brother Jason Jackson’s work, Stronger than Ever: Heavenly Advice for Earthly Life and the True Stories of Real People Who Overcame Adversity and Are Strong Because of the Power of Christ, is an important resource for those who both need to prepare for difficult times that will come (cf. Ecclesiastes 12:1f) or weather the storms that have risen in our lives. Do we really trust God and His word? Really trust? In whom do we place our trust? These are important questions we should reflect on seriously and re-examine our lives accordingly.

For example, Robert Plant wrote these lyrics in tribute to his wife: “If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you. When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me.” It is a wonderful thought in regards to marital love (although not original with Robert Plant); however, marital love is far short in comparison to God’s love for us individually—both quantitatively and qualitatively. A Christian married couple is enveloped by God’s love for both of them—before, during and after their marriage and respective lives. The Psalmist wrote these words showing God’s love for us and how much we can depend and rely upon Him: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling” (Psalm 46:1-3, NKJV). Drawing from this Psalm, Jason Jackson writes:

How bad can things get in life? This psalm envisions the worst. How crucial it is that we teach our children, “No matter what happens to us in this life, we must never doubt God’s love for us. No matter what, always trust in God.” Look at the history of God’s reliability, this psalm implores. Even if he should permit suffering in our lives, it is a divine complement to his glory (cf. 2 Thess. 1:3-5).  (Page 178).

This book offers straightforward teaching from the Scriptures and advice from the experiences of others on how to live a life in spite of setbacks and adversity. It discuses adversities created by our own sins but also adversities created by the sins of others or events that appear to have no explanation whatsoever. Jason Jackson makes the excellent point that God is always the solution, not the cause of the problem. Some tend to dismiss the fortification of one’s faith from the word of God (Rom. 10:17) and that is a grave error. We fail oftentimes because we do not believe, we do not believe oftentimes because we have not studied, we have not studied because….

Some fail to fully understand that a victorious life is not one that ends at the grave. There is a popular motto that states “Success is a Journey, Not a Destination.” While there is truth in that, the Christian life is both the journey and the destination. This book will provide sound counsel from the Scriptures on how to prepare ourselves and our children so we can be as Jeremiah described: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit” (Jeremiah 17:8-9, NKJV).

Originally printed West Virginia Christian, Vol. 17, No. 11, November 2010, p. 8. Reprinted by permission.