The Treasures of Darkness: Eight Benefits of Pain and Suffering

By Debbie Vanderslice

The Treasures of Darkness is an eight chapter nonfiction book that examines the various aspects of suffering and asks the question ‘can anything good come from it?’ Because we live in a tarnished world full of muck and mire, readers are more than familiar with different kinds of suffering and pain. The question is not if we will suffer in this life, but rather, to what degree. Instead of focusing believers and nonbelievers who will see firsthand that there really are benefits to our pain. There are truly treasures of darkness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973659334

Debbie Vanderslice

Debbie Vanderslice graduated with honors in history (BA) from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, where she played tennis on full scholarship and was selected to the GTE all Southwest honor team. With her strong writing skills and love for God, the Arkansas bred razorback has gone on to work freelance for Day Spring Cards and Celebration as a freelance writer. Debbie has also had Shameless,(New Hope Press) and Gilead Now (WestBow Press) and Behind the Curtain (Tate Publishing) as well as The Dance of the Addition. (Tate)

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 Debbie Vanderslice.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-5934-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-5933-4 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/17/2019

Contents

Overview

Endorsements

Dedication

About the Author

Competition Section

Chapter 1   Knock, Knock, God Calling

Chapter 2   Too Close for Comfort

Chapter 3   An End to Our Actions

Chapter 4   Taller and Taller

Chapter 5   Sacrificial Pain

Chapter 6   For His Glory

Chapter 7   Wonderful Things

Chapter 8   The Incarnation Revealed

Overview

The Treasures of Darkness is an eight chapter nonfiction book that examines the various aspects of suffering and asks the question ‘can anything good come from it?’ Because we live in a tarnished world full of muck and mire, readers are more than familiar with different kinds of suffering and pain. The question is not if we will suffer in this life, but rather, to what degree. Instead of focusing believers and nonbelievers who will see firsthand that there really are benefits to our pain. There are truly treasures of darkness.

Endorsements

Suffering and pain are a part of everyone’s life. We do so much to avoid it, numb it. Talented writer, Debbie Vanderslice, who knows more about pain than many of us, teaches us though her own journey with pain and suffering about the treasure she has found in dark times where she was empowered to see God’s presence. Her story of faith empowers us to do the same.

Rev.Dr. Joanna Seibert, MD, emeritus professor of Pediatric Radiology Arkansas Medical Sciences, author and ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church

"

Dedication

to Hannah my pride and joy. You keep me going

to Sherry and Leigh Anne you are wise beyond your years

to Kay thanks for letting me be me

to Lisa Ginny, Louise, Ann, Kathy, Shirley Dana, you keep me going

to Mom, Cynthia, Chip, Gibbons Edy and Shep

and to the Westbow crew for me believing in the publishing world again

About the Author

Debbie Vanderslice graduated with a history degree (B.A.) from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where she played tennis on a full scholarship. While there she was an academic All-American and a member of the history honor society. With her strong writing skills and love for God, Debbie has gone on to work freelance for such companies as DaySpring, Celebration, and Standard. She has had Shameless, an indepth women’s bible study, published by New Hope Publishers and Gilead Now by Westbow, as well as The Long Rain, Gentle Storms, That Old Dam, The Addiction of the Dance, Dressing Up Death, and Behind the Curtain by Tate Publishing.

Debbie currently teaches and writes full time. Debbie is currently training for her second marathon. Debbie was a nationally ranked tennis player who won several state championships, was the