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Where Is God When It Hurts?
If there is a loving God, then why is it that … ? You’ve heard that question, perhaps asked it yourself. No matter how you complete it, at its root lies the issue of pain. Does God order our suffering? Does he decree an abusive childhood, orchestrate a jet crash, steer a tornado through a community? Or did he simply wind up the world’s mainspring and now is watching from a distance? In this Gold Medallion Award–winning book, Philip Yancey reveals a God who is neither capricious nor unconcerned. Using examples from the Bible and from his own experiences, Yancey looks at pain—physical, emotional, and spiritual—and helps us understand why we suffer. Where Is God When It Hurts? will speak to those for whom life sometimes just doesn’t make sense. And it will help equip anyone who wants to reach out to someone in pain but just doesn’t know what to say.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
About the author
Philip Yancey
211 books2,273 followersA native of Atlanta, Georgia, Philip Yancey earned graduate degrees in Communications and English from Wheaton College Graduate School and the University of Chicago. He joined the staff of Campus Life Magazine in 1971, and worked there as Editor and then Publisher. He looks on those years with gratitude, because teenagers are demanding readers, and writing for them taught him a lasting principle: The reader is in control!
In 1978 Philip Yancey became a full-time writer, initially working as a journalist for such varied publications as Reader’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, National Wildlife, Christian Century and The Reformed Journal. For several years he contributed a monthly column to Christianity Today magazine, where he also served as Editor at Large.
In 2021 Philip released two new books: A Companion in Crisis and his long-awaited memoir, Where the Light Fell. Other favorites included in his more than twenty-five titles are: Where Is God When It Hurts, The Student Bible, and Disappointment with God. Philip's books have won thirteen Gold Medallion Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, have sold more than seventeen million copies, and have been published in over 50 languages. Christian bookstore managers selected The Jesus I Never Knew as the 1996 Book of the Year, and in 1998 What’s So Amazing About Grace? won the same award. His other recent books are Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God’s Image; Vanishing Grace: Bringing Good News to a Deeply Divided World; The Question that Never Goes Away; What Good Is God?; Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?; Soul Survivor; and Reaching for the Invisible God. In 2009 a daily reader was published, compiled from excerpts of his work: Grace Notes.
The Yanceys lived in downtown Chicago for many years before moving to a very different environment in Colorado. Together they enjoy mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, and all the other delights of the Rocky Mountains.
Visit Philip online:
https://www.philipyancey.com
https://www.facebook.com/PhilipYancey
Catch his monthly blog:
https://bit.ly/PhilipYanceyBlog
In 1978 Philip Yancey became a full-time writer, initially working as a journalist for such varied publications as Reader’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, National Wildlife, Christian Century and The Reformed Journal. For several years he contributed a monthly column to Christianity Today magazine, where he also served as Editor at Large.
In 2021 Philip released two new books: A Companion in Crisis and his long-awaited memoir, Where the Light Fell. Other favorites included in his more than twenty-five titles are: Where Is God When It Hurts, The Student Bible, and Disappointment with God. Philip's books have won thirteen Gold Medallion Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, have sold more than seventeen million copies, and have been published in over 50 languages. Christian bookstore managers selected The Jesus I Never Knew as the 1996 Book of the Year, and in 1998 What’s So Amazing About Grace? won the same award. His other recent books are Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God’s Image; Vanishing Grace: Bringing Good News to a Deeply Divided World; The Question that Never Goes Away; What Good Is God?; Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?; Soul Survivor; and Reaching for the Invisible God. In 2009 a daily reader was published, compiled from excerpts of his work: Grace Notes.
The Yanceys lived in downtown Chicago for many years before moving to a very different environment in Colorado. Together they enjoy mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, and all the other delights of the Rocky Mountains.
Visit Philip online:
https://www.philipyancey.com
https://www.facebook.com/PhilipYancey
Catch his monthly blog:
https://bit.ly/PhilipYanceyBlog
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 392 reviews
December 27, 2012
When I picked up this book, I was at the lowest point in my life I could possibly be. I was struggling to deal with the loss of my mother and father, dealing with the loss of my innocence that was so violently ripped away from me, I was a single mother who had just gone through a string of bad relationships and I had lost my faith in God. I wondered why God had abandon me, why He took my parents from me and why I had experienced so many horrible things in my life. I thought I was being punished and that He didn't love or care for me. Reading this book opened my eyes. I realized many things about my life and why things were the way they were. I now know that God didn't abandon me, he was always there. I just needed to open my heart to Him. Once I did, my life changed. Soon after, I met the love of my life, my soul mate. We have three wonderful children, our marriage is amazing (not perfect, but whose is!?) and my in-laws are like a second set of parents to me. My heart feels healed and even though I miss my parents (especially my dad) every day, the hurt is less. It's amazing how one book can open your eyes and change everything...
July 30, 2017
I wouldn't call myself Christian, but some Christian philosophy books are okay (I accept all sorts of philosophies about the higher power). In other words, even though it's geared for Christians, this book will not pitch to you - it's a book that you can read and still believe in evolution.
Where Is God When It Hurts is primarily directed at people who suffer, but it's also for people who are close to those who suffer (we're mostly talking physical illness here). It challenges some common (and really pathetic) beliefs that the sufferers have done something wrong ant that's why they suffer, or that their faith is not strong enough. It's so lovely seeing a Christian person, criticizing his fellow Christians about basically being cold, unfeeling pricks. People don't get sick because they're "sinful". Any Christian who believes that should honestly try and figure out if they're still Christian, or just plain heartless. Being a Christian is not about being righteous, and it's not about judging others. Philip Yancey calls bullshit on all of that and recommends that when we suffer, we shouldn't ask the question why we suffer. Instead, we should ask with what purpose we suffer. What should we glean from that experience to grow.
The book also contains stories of people who were severely ill or disabled. Some of those stories are people beating the ordeal and growing despite it, some of the stories are about people the illness crippling their souls as well. I will admit that I cried in a few places, as some of the stories are truly touching. I suffer from chronic pain myself, so there were things in this book that truly helped me cope.
The book also looks at why pain is actually there, why it's needed (biologically). Yancey has convinced me that I'd rather have my toe hurt than eventually fall off without me knowing something is wrong with it. It's a good knowledge.
Anyhow, this was a good book. If you suffer from physical ailments and are Christian, this book will benefit you. Even if you're not Christian, it will still benefit you. If you are close to a friend who suffers and is Christian, then you absolutely need to read this, because it will help you learn how to be there for them. This book has a little bit of everything for everybody.
Read More Reviews On My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
Where Is God When It Hurts is primarily directed at people who suffer, but it's also for people who are close to those who suffer (we're mostly talking physical illness here). It challenges some common (and really pathetic) beliefs that the sufferers have done something wrong ant that's why they suffer, or that their faith is not strong enough. It's so lovely seeing a Christian person, criticizing his fellow Christians about basically being cold, unfeeling pricks. People don't get sick because they're "sinful". Any Christian who believes that should honestly try and figure out if they're still Christian, or just plain heartless. Being a Christian is not about being righteous, and it's not about judging others. Philip Yancey calls bullshit on all of that and recommends that when we suffer, we shouldn't ask the question why we suffer. Instead, we should ask with what purpose we suffer. What should we glean from that experience to grow.
The book also contains stories of people who were severely ill or disabled. Some of those stories are people beating the ordeal and growing despite it, some of the stories are about people the illness crippling their souls as well. I will admit that I cried in a few places, as some of the stories are truly touching. I suffer from chronic pain myself, so there were things in this book that truly helped me cope.
The book also looks at why pain is actually there, why it's needed (biologically). Yancey has convinced me that I'd rather have my toe hurt than eventually fall off without me knowing something is wrong with it. It's a good knowledge.
Anyhow, this was a good book. If you suffer from physical ailments and are Christian, this book will benefit you. Even if you're not Christian, it will still benefit you. If you are close to a friend who suffers and is Christian, then you absolutely need to read this, because it will help you learn how to be there for them. This book has a little bit of everything for everybody.
Read More Reviews On My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
July 19, 2022
Apie kančią ir prasmę.
„Kartą kalbėjome su dr. Polu Brandu apie krikščionis, kurie patyrę didelių kančių. Kai jis papasakojo keletą istorijų, paklausiau, ar skausmas pakreipė tuos žmones link Dievo, ar nuo Jo. Ilgokai pamąstęs, jis atsake, kad jų reakcijos buvo skirtingos. Vieni šliejosi arčiau Dievo, kiti su kartėliu traukėsi tolyn. Atrodo, kad pagrindinis skirtumas slypėjo tame, į ką jie nukreipė savo dėmesį. Tie, kurie pernelyg rūpinosi klausimais apie priežastį („Ką aš padariau, kad to nusipelniau? Ką Dievas bando man pasakyti? Ar esu baudžiamas?”), dažnai atsisuko prieš Dievą. O pergalingieji kentėtojai prisiėmė asmeninę atsakomybę už savo reakciją ir pasitikėjo Dievu nepaisydami nepatogumo.
Tuomet dr. Brandas papasakojo man apie vieną garsiausių savo pacienčių – Mariją Vergyz (Mary Verghese)*.
*Marijos istorija aprašyta Dorotis Klark Vilson (Dorothy Clarkc Wilson) knygoje Take My Hand.
Marija nesirgo raupsais, ji dirbo gydytoja-rezidente Brando raupsų ligoninėje Indijoje. Vieną dieną ji išvyko į iškyla automobiliu, kurį vairavo jaunas studentas, norintis parodyti savo drąsą. Nuvažiavęs kelias mylias paskui lėtą mokyklini autobusą, susierzinęs vairuotojas susiruošė lenkti ir nuspaudė akceleratoriaus pedalą iki galo. Priešais pamatęs kitą automobili, jis instinktyviai siekė stabdžių pedalo, bet netyčia spustelėjo akceleratorių. Automobilis nuslydo nuo tilto ir stačia krantine nudardėto žemyn.
Marija Vergyz, jauna perspektyvi gydytoja, gulėjo nujudėdama šlaito apačioje. Jos veidas buvo giliai perrėžtas nuo skruostikaulio iki smakro. Jos kojos kabėjo kaip du nenaudingi pagaliai
Keli kiti mėnesiai Marijai buvo beveik nepakeliami. Vasarą temperatūrai lauke pakilus virš 40 laipsnių, Marija gulėjo tvankiame ligoninės kambaryje įkalinta stuburo tempimo įtaise, apvilkta sintetine liemene ir sukaustyta plastmasiniame įtvare. Jai teko kęsti kankinančias terapijos valandas Kiekvieną savaite slaugytojos tikrino jos pojūčius ir kas kartą badant kojas ir nieko nejautė.
Pastebėjęs, kaip ji grimzta į neviltį, dr. Brandas apsilankė jos kambaryje. „Marija, – tarė jis, – manau, kad atėjo laikas pradėti galvoti apie tavo, kaip gydytojos, profesinę ateiti.“ Iš pradžių ji pamanė, kad daktaras juokauja, bet Brandas patikino, kad ji galės ypatingai užjausti ir suprasti kitus pacientus. Ji ilgai svarstė jo pasiūlymą abejodama, ar kada nors galės pakankamai vaidui savo kojas, kad galėtų dirbti gydytoja.
Pamažu Marija pradėjo dirbti su raupsais sergančiais pacientais. Ligoninės darbuotojai pastebėjo, kad pacientų savigaila, beviltiškumas ir niūri nuotaika išnykdavo, kai Marija Vergyz būdavo greta. Raupsuotieji pacientai šnibždėjosi tarpusavyje apie gydytoją invalido vežimėlyje (pirmąją Indijoje), kuri buvo neįgalesnė už juos ir kurios veidą darkė randas kaip ir jų. Neilgai trukus Marija Vergyz pradėjo asistuoti chirurginių operacijų metu – sėdimoje padėtyje tai buvo sunkus ir alinantis darbas.
Vieną dieną dr. Brandas susitiko Mariją, važiuojančią vežimėliu tarp ligoninės pastatų, ir paklausė, kaip ji jaučiasi. „Pradžioje jaučiausi tokia susipainiojusi ir sudaužyta, – atsakė ji, – bet dabar pradedu galvoti, kad gyvenime yra tam tikra tvarka.“
Marijai dar teks iškęsti daug nepakeliamų gydymo valandų ir sudėtingą chirurginę stuburo operaciją. Visą gyvenimą ji kentės nuo šlapimo nelaikymo ir nuolat kovos su pragulomis. Bet dabar ji jautė kibirkštėlę vilties. Ji pradėjo suprasti, kad negalia nebuvo jai Dievo siųsta bausmė, pasmerkusi kančiai ir vargui. Vietoj to, ji gali būti perkeista į didžiausią jos, kaip gydytojos, privalumą. Sėdėdama invalido vežimėlyje ir šypsodamasi perkreipta šypsena, Marija akimirksniu užmegzdavo ryšį su neįgaliais pacientais.
Galiausiai Marija išmoko vaikščioti su ramentais. Vėliau ji gavo stipendiją dirbti Niujorko fizinės medicinos ir reabilitacijos institute ir galiausiai pradėjo vadovauti naujai įsteigtam Fizioterapijos mokyklos skyriui Velore, Indijoje.
Marija yra puikus pavyzdys žmogaus, kuris nieko nelaimėjo klausdamas, kodėl įvyko tragedija. Bet kai ji atsigręžė į Dievą ir pradėjo klausti, kokiu tikslu, ji išmoko pasitikėti, kad Jis padarys kažką gražaus iš jos gyvenimo. Taip pasirinkusi Marija Vergyz tikriausiai pasiekė kur kas daugiau, nei būtų pasiekusi įprastai, jei nelaimingas atsilikimas nebūtų įvykęs.
Marija Vergyz labai skiriasi nuo mano pažįstamu žmonių, kurie dėl patirtų kančių nusigręžė nuo Dievo. Apie savo ligą jie dažnai kalba su perdėtu susirūpinimu tarsi apie vieninteli dalyką gyvenime. Jie leidžia laisvai lietis savigailai, kuri tūno kiekviename iš mūsų.“
„Kartą kalbėjome su dr. Polu Brandu apie krikščionis, kurie patyrę didelių kančių. Kai jis papasakojo keletą istorijų, paklausiau, ar skausmas pakreipė tuos žmones link Dievo, ar nuo Jo. Ilgokai pamąstęs, jis atsake, kad jų reakcijos buvo skirtingos. Vieni šliejosi arčiau Dievo, kiti su kartėliu traukėsi tolyn. Atrodo, kad pagrindinis skirtumas slypėjo tame, į ką jie nukreipė savo dėmesį. Tie, kurie pernelyg rūpinosi klausimais apie priežastį („Ką aš padariau, kad to nusipelniau? Ką Dievas bando man pasakyti? Ar esu baudžiamas?”), dažnai atsisuko prieš Dievą. O pergalingieji kentėtojai prisiėmė asmeninę atsakomybę už savo reakciją ir pasitikėjo Dievu nepaisydami nepatogumo.
Tuomet dr. Brandas papasakojo man apie vieną garsiausių savo pacienčių – Mariją Vergyz (Mary Verghese)*.
*Marijos istorija aprašyta Dorotis Klark Vilson (Dorothy Clarkc Wilson) knygoje Take My Hand.
Marija nesirgo raupsais, ji dirbo gydytoja-rezidente Brando raupsų ligoninėje Indijoje. Vieną dieną ji išvyko į iškyla automobiliu, kurį vairavo jaunas studentas, norintis parodyti savo drąsą. Nuvažiavęs kelias mylias paskui lėtą mokyklini autobusą, susierzinęs vairuotojas susiruošė lenkti ir nuspaudė akceleratoriaus pedalą iki galo. Priešais pamatęs kitą automobili, jis instinktyviai siekė stabdžių pedalo, bet netyčia spustelėjo akceleratorių. Automobilis nuslydo nuo tilto ir stačia krantine nudardėto žemyn.
Marija Vergyz, jauna perspektyvi gydytoja, gulėjo nujudėdama šlaito apačioje. Jos veidas buvo giliai perrėžtas nuo skruostikaulio iki smakro. Jos kojos kabėjo kaip du nenaudingi pagaliai
Keli kiti mėnesiai Marijai buvo beveik nepakeliami. Vasarą temperatūrai lauke pakilus virš 40 laipsnių, Marija gulėjo tvankiame ligoninės kambaryje įkalinta stuburo tempimo įtaise, apvilkta sintetine liemene ir sukaustyta plastmasiniame įtvare. Jai teko kęsti kankinančias terapijos valandas Kiekvieną savaite slaugytojos tikrino jos pojūčius ir kas kartą badant kojas ir nieko nejautė.
Pastebėjęs, kaip ji grimzta į neviltį, dr. Brandas apsilankė jos kambaryje. „Marija, – tarė jis, – manau, kad atėjo laikas pradėti galvoti apie tavo, kaip gydytojos, profesinę ateiti.“ Iš pradžių ji pamanė, kad daktaras juokauja, bet Brandas patikino, kad ji galės ypatingai užjausti ir suprasti kitus pacientus. Ji ilgai svarstė jo pasiūlymą abejodama, ar kada nors galės pakankamai vaidui savo kojas, kad galėtų dirbti gydytoja.
Pamažu Marija pradėjo dirbti su raupsais sergančiais pacientais. Ligoninės darbuotojai pastebėjo, kad pacientų savigaila, beviltiškumas ir niūri nuotaika išnykdavo, kai Marija Vergyz būdavo greta. Raupsuotieji pacientai šnibždėjosi tarpusavyje apie gydytoją invalido vežimėlyje (pirmąją Indijoje), kuri buvo neįgalesnė už juos ir kurios veidą darkė randas kaip ir jų. Neilgai trukus Marija Vergyz pradėjo asistuoti chirurginių operacijų metu – sėdimoje padėtyje tai buvo sunkus ir alinantis darbas.
Vieną dieną dr. Brandas susitiko Mariją, važiuojančią vežimėliu tarp ligoninės pastatų, ir paklausė, kaip ji jaučiasi. „Pradžioje jaučiausi tokia susipainiojusi ir sudaužyta, – atsakė ji, – bet dabar pradedu galvoti, kad gyvenime yra tam tikra tvarka.“
Marijai dar teks iškęsti daug nepakeliamų gydymo valandų ir sudėtingą chirurginę stuburo operaciją. Visą gyvenimą ji kentės nuo šlapimo nelaikymo ir nuolat kovos su pragulomis. Bet dabar ji jautė kibirkštėlę vilties. Ji pradėjo suprasti, kad negalia nebuvo jai Dievo siųsta bausmė, pasmerkusi kančiai ir vargui. Vietoj to, ji gali būti perkeista į didžiausią jos, kaip gydytojos, privalumą. Sėdėdama invalido vežimėlyje ir šypsodamasi perkreipta šypsena, Marija akimirksniu užmegzdavo ryšį su neįgaliais pacientais.
Galiausiai Marija išmoko vaikščioti su ramentais. Vėliau ji gavo stipendiją dirbti Niujorko fizinės medicinos ir reabilitacijos institute ir galiausiai pradėjo vadovauti naujai įsteigtam Fizioterapijos mokyklos skyriui Velore, Indijoje.
Marija yra puikus pavyzdys žmogaus, kuris nieko nelaimėjo klausdamas, kodėl įvyko tragedija. Bet kai ji atsigręžė į Dievą ir pradėjo klausti, kokiu tikslu, ji išmoko pasitikėti, kad Jis padarys kažką gražaus iš jos gyvenimo. Taip pasirinkusi Marija Vergyz tikriausiai pasiekė kur kas daugiau, nei būtų pasiekusi įprastai, jei nelaimingas atsilikimas nebūtų įvykęs.
Marija Vergyz labai skiriasi nuo mano pažįstamu žmonių, kurie dėl patirtų kančių nusigręžė nuo Dievo. Apie savo ligą jie dažnai kalba su perdėtu susirūpinimu tarsi apie vieninteli dalyką gyvenime. Jie leidžia laisvai lietis savigailai, kuri tūno kiekviename iš mūsų.“
December 14, 2009
I believe this book should be an absolute must-read for anyone who professes the Christian faith.
A sentence like that usually rings hollow to me, but honestly, there is nothing hollow about this book. I wish I could physically take the words from the pages and permanently implant them in my brain because there is so much truth to them.
The main point of the book is about suffering and pain and it attempts to address some of the common questions about the subject - why is there suffering, how do you deal with suffering people, what are the ramifications of suffering, how do we do even more damage to suffering people?
Yancey begins his book by explaining the benefits of physical pain by taking us on a journey through the lives of lepers who, because of their disease, no longer feel any pain - and the damage that occurs to them because they can't feel pain. From there the book delves into where is God in suffering, examples of suffering people, and then flourishes into an explanation of how God has suffered, the hope that we have in spite of our suffering, how we can use suffering to transform our lives, and why Christianity - of all the world religions - is particularly equipped to handle suffering.
Yancey limits his tome to just dealing with people in physical pain and suffering. He mentions mental anguish only in how it relates to the physical pain of people and how it causes them to question a loving God, and not as a subject in and of itself, but the lessons and advice that he draws from dealing with people in physical pain can certainly be brought to those that deal with emotional and mental pain and suffering.
What I loved most about this book is the reminder to Christians of the hope inherent in the resurrection that allows us to cope with suffering. That death is Not the end, and death doesn't need to be "accepted" - death is painful and hurts, but because of Jesus, it has been overcome, and because of Jesus we get to share in that victory. I also loved how Yancey reminds us that for a moment in time, God put on flesh in the person of Jesus and came to this earth, and suffered with us. Every time that Jesus encountered a suffering person, He not only healed them, but He also transformed them. And now we have the Holy Spirit, God within us, who hears our suffering groans and brings them to the feet of the Father and Son.
The other thing that I loved about this book is how it gives advice on how to help suffering people. You cannot go through life without encountering suffering people, and Christians, in particular, are called to be the body of Christ to these individuals. But how do we, imperfect people with even more imperfect words, help the suffering? It is a hard question that Yancey addresses with particular insight and I feel better equipped for it.
My only wish is that I had read this book a long time ago, for I've seen, lived with, and tried to walk through suffering with a lot of people. I just hope that going forward I will be able to overcome my own revulsion to pain and suffering and walk alongside those broken hearts and bodies, offering the real and true hope of Christ to those I have yet to encounter.
A sentence like that usually rings hollow to me, but honestly, there is nothing hollow about this book. I wish I could physically take the words from the pages and permanently implant them in my brain because there is so much truth to them.
The main point of the book is about suffering and pain and it attempts to address some of the common questions about the subject - why is there suffering, how do you deal with suffering people, what are the ramifications of suffering, how do we do even more damage to suffering people?
Yancey begins his book by explaining the benefits of physical pain by taking us on a journey through the lives of lepers who, because of their disease, no longer feel any pain - and the damage that occurs to them because they can't feel pain. From there the book delves into where is God in suffering, examples of suffering people, and then flourishes into an explanation of how God has suffered, the hope that we have in spite of our suffering, how we can use suffering to transform our lives, and why Christianity - of all the world religions - is particularly equipped to handle suffering.
Yancey limits his tome to just dealing with people in physical pain and suffering. He mentions mental anguish only in how it relates to the physical pain of people and how it causes them to question a loving God, and not as a subject in and of itself, but the lessons and advice that he draws from dealing with people in physical pain can certainly be brought to those that deal with emotional and mental pain and suffering.
What I loved most about this book is the reminder to Christians of the hope inherent in the resurrection that allows us to cope with suffering. That death is Not the end, and death doesn't need to be "accepted" - death is painful and hurts, but because of Jesus, it has been overcome, and because of Jesus we get to share in that victory. I also loved how Yancey reminds us that for a moment in time, God put on flesh in the person of Jesus and came to this earth, and suffered with us. Every time that Jesus encountered a suffering person, He not only healed them, but He also transformed them. And now we have the Holy Spirit, God within us, who hears our suffering groans and brings them to the feet of the Father and Son.
The other thing that I loved about this book is how it gives advice on how to help suffering people. You cannot go through life without encountering suffering people, and Christians, in particular, are called to be the body of Christ to these individuals. But how do we, imperfect people with even more imperfect words, help the suffering? It is a hard question that Yancey addresses with particular insight and I feel better equipped for it.
My only wish is that I had read this book a long time ago, for I've seen, lived with, and tried to walk through suffering with a lot of people. I just hope that going forward I will be able to overcome my own revulsion to pain and suffering and walk alongside those broken hearts and bodies, offering the real and true hope of Christ to those I have yet to encounter.
January 30, 2013
This book is a gem! Yancey does a great job of using real life examples to show the true purpose and benefit of physical pain and emotional suffering. I think this book could be helpful for anyone going through physical, spiritual or emotional pain or for those that want to support someone in pain. Well researched, well written and well done!
June 6, 2013
Yancey makes some good points: we can't function very well in the world, as creatures, without pain, which warns us of injury or illness when it's physical, and helps bring us together in a caring community when it's emotional. We can't fully understand God's plans for us, and how pain, suffering, and distress are part of soul-making. Sometimes our ideas of healing and what should happen aren't what God has in mind for us. God suffers for us now, suffered for us in the person of Jesus, and walks with us in the presence of the Holy Spirit, even when (and perhaps especially when) we feel most alone and afraid. Those are all great and important points, and I'm reducing them, whereas Yancey expounds on them in carefully argued, heartfelt, never-condescending ways. But somehow I was left feeling like something was lacking. When I figure out what that was, I guess I'll write a book...
March 13, 2023
Мій улюблений автор.
Без солодкавої поверхневої віри копає в глибину і шукає Бога там, де Його давно ніхто не бачив, - у болі, стражданні, смерті.
І знаходить.
Без солодкавої поверхневої віри копає в глибину і шукає Бога там, де Його давно ніхто не бачив, - у болі, стражданні, смерті.
І знаходить.
May 15, 2020
Yancey wrote this book in his twenties and then conducted a major rewrite 15 years later. In that time, many people continued discoursing on the matter with him in that time, which prompted new material. The result is a thoughtful book on a challenging subject. Yancey opened his book with a quote by C.S. Lewis who was writing amid great pain:
Meanwhile, where is God? This is one of the most disquieting symptoms. When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him…if you remember yourself and turn to Him with gratitude and praise, you will be — or so it feels — welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence. You may as well turn away.
It is in that silence that Yancey steers his book, and I am grateful I read it in a time when the only struggle I’m facing is only that of quarantine instead of a time of personal pain. Yancey provides a helpful framework to understand pain and its purpose. Given the title, it’s no surprise that Yancey looks at pain from a spiritual perspective, but I think the framework is useful even for individuals who do not follow Christianity. Part of the reason I offer this opinion is based on the current developments during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is only in suffering and isolation that people tend to look at the larger issues of life and death or philosophy and theology—the big questions. Humans rarely question God in the midst of pleasure, so it is important to give thought and care when times provides an opportunity for contemplation.
As Yancey explored the issue of pain, he wanted to look at more than the philosophical question but start with the eyes of the sufferers. With this in mind, his book focuses on three parts: (1) the biological nature of pain; (2) the planet as a whole and how suffering fits in the bigger picture; and (3) how we should respond to people in pain.
Yancey notes that symptoms are different from the illness. Symptoms prompt reflection and questioning. Symptoms lead us to respond to the illness. When the symptom are painful, they are often the body’s way of working to prevent greater pain. Consider the pain sensors in skin—the first defense of the body from pressure, heat, cold, and disease.
Years ago, Yanchey met with Dr. Paul Brand, the pioneering physician who worked with those suffering nerve damage. Dr. Brand developed manmade systems that used sound and lights to signal that people were damaging their hands. The only warning system that worked was pain—an electronic pulse—that was out of reach from being shut off with an override. Humans need to listen to their pain and not shut off the warning system. As Dr. Brand put it, “pain is the great gift that nobody wants.”
Yancey offered a helpful juxtaposition of pleasure and pain because both sensations use the same nerve receptors. We live in a world that allows pain relief as a normal course of living: Tylenol to relieve headaches, allergy medicine to stop running noses, and Pepto-Bismol for upset stomachs. The absence of pain has an effect on pleasure. By eliminating pain, humans increasingly seek constant pleasure. Simple pleasures are less likely to be enjoyed; artificial and vicarious pleasures replace the real thing. Be it stimulant drugs or mere numbing daily activities of feeding the brain with entertaining television—both will numb the senses.
This point in the book was where Yancey turned away from the physical analysis of pain and more to the philosophical. I have collected some of the points I found interesting:
Augustine’s Confession note that the greatest pleasures often connect to suffering. He uses a seafarer who welcomes the calm seas after surviving a storm or a human who has recovered to full health after a time of sickness. Deprivation heightens joy.
Yancey also observes that pain protects us from damaging ourselves worse. Fear produces adrenaline that primes the body for action. One physician he interviewed said that everything worthwhile includes fear. Guilt prompts change in behavior—knowing right from wrong. The good connects to the bad. Yancey’s final example on this point was when Jesus said “he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” This paradoxical statement emphasizes the merit of living as a servant. When the applause of this earth is your desire, then life will include only fleeting satisfaction. But if living in service is your objective—a life that may be overlooked or even ridiculed—then such a life includes the promise of fulfillment and recognition in God’s kingdom.
This point on giving up your life served as the pivot for evaluating how people view earth: a hotel or a jail. It is easy to see the beautiful parts of the planet and see how it is good. But a single life reveals the ugly and broken nature of earth, which makes the vantage of permanence or temporal quite the significant difference.
Yancey used the modern fable, Watership Down, to highlight the point that the sole purpose of life is not to be comfortable. The tame rabbits in the story traded their acceptance of death to be fat, happy, and content. The wild rabbits noticed that traps and death hung over the land of the tame rabbits. We humans are the same. To live focused on self-satisfaction—hedonism or some form of it—ignores the pain of the world. Christianity does not ignore pain, and its people shouldn’t either. Pain should drive people to God in the way that C.S. Lewis describes it: “pain is the megaphone of God.” Suffering turns people to the hope of redemption and restoration.
When John Donne was bedridden and facing death from typhus, he heard the church bell ringing. At first, he thought his friends had arranged the bell’s ringing for him before soon realizing it was a neighbor who had died from the plague. The occasion inspired him to write, “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” His poem starts with the famous line that “no man is an island” and describes how each death lessens every other person. Each person is connected by death. This point sets up the concluding line, “the bell tolls for thee.” When Donne recovered, he realized that pain and suffering were the points in his life when he grew the most in character and closeness to God.
When Yancey leads group discussions on the subject of suffering, he often asks different people to evaluate the Bible’s explanation of cause when it comes to pain. Depending on what section you read, you could come up with a different result: God, Satan, evil, or foolish behavior. His conclusion is that there is not a unified construct of cause. On a related note, when God inflicts suffering in the Bible, it comes with a clear warming. Punishment can only be effective when the reason is clearly communicated. Further—see Paul’s painful infliction—there are examples when suffering comes without a clear reason for it.
Notice how Jesus used His miraculous healing to relieve pain and suffering. Yet He did so with reluctance at nearly every turn. It seems that intervening with the wiring of the world should not be a constant happening. When Jesus was asked about two tragedies in the Bible—Pontius Pilate killing Galileans worshipers and the tower in Siloam falling and killing 18 other Galileans—He asked, “do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Jesus confirms that bad things happen in this world irrespective of people and their sin. What matters is walking with God.
Yancey reminds us that happiness is not our earthly goal. He uses the example of a pampered child whose father pushes his daughter in a carriage all her days. Such a child would be so pampered she would become an invalid. Humans are incomplete creatures. We use and abuse the freedom we have. It is in our mistakes that we grow in character (or whither in character). If we lived in a world without general laws of nature—one that altered constantly to prevent harm or suffering—would have no need or opportunity for bravery or generosity because there would be no need for the trait because there would be no danger or need.
Continuing the idea, Yancey highlighted how often God’s people suffered: Job, Hosea, and even Jesus. Attributing suffering directly to God leads to a philosophy of fatalism—all suffering is punishment and inevitable. This runs counter to the Bible’s teaching. Look at Hebrews 11. The people of great faith includes some examples of people who prospered by earthly standards, but many lived poverty-filled and suffering lives. These were the people recognized by God. Death is inevitable for all, and the Bible emphasizes that it is not what we die out of but what we die into.
At the end his trials, Job asks, “Why, God?” God answers but only speaks of His expanse of power. He seems only to say, “stop whining; you have no idea of My grand design.” And Job accepts the answer completely. In the end, it was God’s presence that filled Job’s void of hurt. God did not answer why, He only responded by asking Job, “how will you respond to what you’ve experienced?” Yancey then transitions to the New Testament and 1 Peter 4:12: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” Suffering has value, and we are to rejoice in it. We’re not supposed to grin and bear it in an effort of self-sufficiency or masochism. The focus is on the end result of developing perseverance and character. Look at James 1: we do not rejoice in the pain itself but the opportunity for growth and transformation.
Yancey told the stories of two talented youths who became quadriplegics their youths: Brian Sternberg and Joni Eareckson Tada. Sternberg was a world-record pole vaulter and Eareckson who had been a trick horseback rider and lacrosse player. Sternberg lost his fame because of his paralysis, while Eareckson Tada gained it as a painter and speaker. Both became Christians after paralysis but with different perspectives. Sternberg prayed for healing his whole life, while Tada embraced how the injury focused her life on God’s grace. Despite these differences, both lived out John 9: neither of them sinned or had parents that sinned to cause their suffering. Both had circumstances “that the works of God might be displayed” in them.
Dr. Pierre Rentchnick researched 300 influential leaders in world history. His list included Alexander the Great, Napoleon, George Washington, and Adolph Hitler. The common thread he discovered prompted the title of his publication, “Do Orphans Lead the World?” Each of the leaders had been orphaned either literally or emotionally abandoned. Dr. Paul Tournier continued with this research to explore the effects of creative suffering. Tournier does not propose that suffering is a good thing. Instead, he noted that the right transforming agent applied at the right time during or after suffering can lead to incredible growth. What leads some to crumble can cause others to grow—the worst hardships can produce strength instead of brokenness.
Yancey looked at the special attention God gives to the poor during the sermon on the mount. He came across a list of the advantages to being poor written by a Catholic Sister named, Monika Hellwig. Yancey adapted the list for suffering:
1. Suffering is the great equalizer. It leads us to realize our need for redemption.
2. Suffering teaches interdependence with each other.
3. Sufferers learn not to put their security in that which can be taken away.
4. Suffering humbles the proud.
5. Suffering leads to little expectation of succeeding in competition. They expect much in cooperation.
6. Suffering helps distinguish between necessities and luxuries.
7. Suffering teaches patience born of acknowledged dependence.
8. Suffering teaches the difference between valid fears and exaggerated fears.
9. To suffering people, the gospel offers hope and comfort. It sounds sweet instead of a threat.
10. Those who suffer can respond to the call of the Gospel with total abandonment because they have little to lose.
People who live in comfort have a harder time seeing these benefits. The illusion of self-sufficiency causes people to miss out on the gift of grace.
Yancey quoted Fyodor Dostoyevsky and The House of the Dead: Or, Prison Life in Siberia when Dostoyevsky observe, “I went so far as to thank fate for the privilege of such loneliness, for only that could have caused me so severely to scrutinize my past, so searchingly to examine its inner and outer life.” This idea has been with me throughout quarantine—not that quarantine compares to a Siberian prison, but the idea is relevant.
After looking at Elie Wiesel’s Night, Yancey commented that the Bible should move us from asking, “why?” to the richer question: “to what end?” Surely God did not desire to see Jesus suffer on the cross. Yet He did. Good can come from tragedy, though this good is hard to see in the moment. Faith means believing in advance what good will come.
“We speak of fear as an emotion. But actually it operates more like a reflex action with immediate physiological effect. Muscles tense up and contract involuntarily, often increasing pressure on damages nerves and causing more pain...” Humans seem especially affected by fears. A person who fears needles, also feels more pain from a shot than a diabetic who uses shots on a daily basis.
Pain is supposed to teach us to listen. It is a tool for us to understand its source. Life will always include fear. Our choice is to fear God or to fear everything else. Is God a trustworthy physician? It is a critical question for people to consider.
Availability is the best offering we can make to those who are suffering. Our words and insight do not offer nearly as much as being with someone. Further, someone who is suffering will likely want the same type of relationship and friendship that existed before sickness or suffering. Everything else has changed, so the familiarity is comforting. Further, strangers are unlikely to become friends in sickness; people return—or try to return—to the relationships they had before.
I too often give the refrain that it is a shortcoming of our society that we too seldom ask the big questions or spend time wrestling with philosophy. So it is perhaps no surprise that I found it interesting to read a book on pain, its purpose, and the ways we think about pain. As I mentioned above, I think Yancey’s book is valuable for anyone who has wrangled with how to think about suffering. The book seemed particularly timely while in quarantine, but I think its relevancy is true at all times. I recommend Where is God When It Hurts? and will look to read other books by Philip Yancey.
Meanwhile, where is God? This is one of the most disquieting symptoms. When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him…if you remember yourself and turn to Him with gratitude and praise, you will be — or so it feels — welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence. You may as well turn away.
It is in that silence that Yancey steers his book, and I am grateful I read it in a time when the only struggle I’m facing is only that of quarantine instead of a time of personal pain. Yancey provides a helpful framework to understand pain and its purpose. Given the title, it’s no surprise that Yancey looks at pain from a spiritual perspective, but I think the framework is useful even for individuals who do not follow Christianity. Part of the reason I offer this opinion is based on the current developments during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is only in suffering and isolation that people tend to look at the larger issues of life and death or philosophy and theology—the big questions. Humans rarely question God in the midst of pleasure, so it is important to give thought and care when times provides an opportunity for contemplation.
As Yancey explored the issue of pain, he wanted to look at more than the philosophical question but start with the eyes of the sufferers. With this in mind, his book focuses on three parts: (1) the biological nature of pain; (2) the planet as a whole and how suffering fits in the bigger picture; and (3) how we should respond to people in pain.
Yancey notes that symptoms are different from the illness. Symptoms prompt reflection and questioning. Symptoms lead us to respond to the illness. When the symptom are painful, they are often the body’s way of working to prevent greater pain. Consider the pain sensors in skin—the first defense of the body from pressure, heat, cold, and disease.
Years ago, Yanchey met with Dr. Paul Brand, the pioneering physician who worked with those suffering nerve damage. Dr. Brand developed manmade systems that used sound and lights to signal that people were damaging their hands. The only warning system that worked was pain—an electronic pulse—that was out of reach from being shut off with an override. Humans need to listen to their pain and not shut off the warning system. As Dr. Brand put it, “pain is the great gift that nobody wants.”
Yancey offered a helpful juxtaposition of pleasure and pain because both sensations use the same nerve receptors. We live in a world that allows pain relief as a normal course of living: Tylenol to relieve headaches, allergy medicine to stop running noses, and Pepto-Bismol for upset stomachs. The absence of pain has an effect on pleasure. By eliminating pain, humans increasingly seek constant pleasure. Simple pleasures are less likely to be enjoyed; artificial and vicarious pleasures replace the real thing. Be it stimulant drugs or mere numbing daily activities of feeding the brain with entertaining television—both will numb the senses.
This point in the book was where Yancey turned away from the physical analysis of pain and more to the philosophical. I have collected some of the points I found interesting:
Augustine’s Confession note that the greatest pleasures often connect to suffering. He uses a seafarer who welcomes the calm seas after surviving a storm or a human who has recovered to full health after a time of sickness. Deprivation heightens joy.
Yancey also observes that pain protects us from damaging ourselves worse. Fear produces adrenaline that primes the body for action. One physician he interviewed said that everything worthwhile includes fear. Guilt prompts change in behavior—knowing right from wrong. The good connects to the bad. Yancey’s final example on this point was when Jesus said “he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” This paradoxical statement emphasizes the merit of living as a servant. When the applause of this earth is your desire, then life will include only fleeting satisfaction. But if living in service is your objective—a life that may be overlooked or even ridiculed—then such a life includes the promise of fulfillment and recognition in God’s kingdom.
This point on giving up your life served as the pivot for evaluating how people view earth: a hotel or a jail. It is easy to see the beautiful parts of the planet and see how it is good. But a single life reveals the ugly and broken nature of earth, which makes the vantage of permanence or temporal quite the significant difference.
Yancey used the modern fable, Watership Down, to highlight the point that the sole purpose of life is not to be comfortable. The tame rabbits in the story traded their acceptance of death to be fat, happy, and content. The wild rabbits noticed that traps and death hung over the land of the tame rabbits. We humans are the same. To live focused on self-satisfaction—hedonism or some form of it—ignores the pain of the world. Christianity does not ignore pain, and its people shouldn’t either. Pain should drive people to God in the way that C.S. Lewis describes it: “pain is the megaphone of God.” Suffering turns people to the hope of redemption and restoration.
When John Donne was bedridden and facing death from typhus, he heard the church bell ringing. At first, he thought his friends had arranged the bell’s ringing for him before soon realizing it was a neighbor who had died from the plague. The occasion inspired him to write, “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” His poem starts with the famous line that “no man is an island” and describes how each death lessens every other person. Each person is connected by death. This point sets up the concluding line, “the bell tolls for thee.” When Donne recovered, he realized that pain and suffering were the points in his life when he grew the most in character and closeness to God.
When Yancey leads group discussions on the subject of suffering, he often asks different people to evaluate the Bible’s explanation of cause when it comes to pain. Depending on what section you read, you could come up with a different result: God, Satan, evil, or foolish behavior. His conclusion is that there is not a unified construct of cause. On a related note, when God inflicts suffering in the Bible, it comes with a clear warming. Punishment can only be effective when the reason is clearly communicated. Further—see Paul’s painful infliction—there are examples when suffering comes without a clear reason for it.
Notice how Jesus used His miraculous healing to relieve pain and suffering. Yet He did so with reluctance at nearly every turn. It seems that intervening with the wiring of the world should not be a constant happening. When Jesus was asked about two tragedies in the Bible—Pontius Pilate killing Galileans worshipers and the tower in Siloam falling and killing 18 other Galileans—He asked, “do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Jesus confirms that bad things happen in this world irrespective of people and their sin. What matters is walking with God.
Yancey reminds us that happiness is not our earthly goal. He uses the example of a pampered child whose father pushes his daughter in a carriage all her days. Such a child would be so pampered she would become an invalid. Humans are incomplete creatures. We use and abuse the freedom we have. It is in our mistakes that we grow in character (or whither in character). If we lived in a world without general laws of nature—one that altered constantly to prevent harm or suffering—would have no need or opportunity for bravery or generosity because there would be no need for the trait because there would be no danger or need.
Continuing the idea, Yancey highlighted how often God’s people suffered: Job, Hosea, and even Jesus. Attributing suffering directly to God leads to a philosophy of fatalism—all suffering is punishment and inevitable. This runs counter to the Bible’s teaching. Look at Hebrews 11. The people of great faith includes some examples of people who prospered by earthly standards, but many lived poverty-filled and suffering lives. These were the people recognized by God. Death is inevitable for all, and the Bible emphasizes that it is not what we die out of but what we die into.
At the end his trials, Job asks, “Why, God?” God answers but only speaks of His expanse of power. He seems only to say, “stop whining; you have no idea of My grand design.” And Job accepts the answer completely. In the end, it was God’s presence that filled Job’s void of hurt. God did not answer why, He only responded by asking Job, “how will you respond to what you’ve experienced?” Yancey then transitions to the New Testament and 1 Peter 4:12: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” Suffering has value, and we are to rejoice in it. We’re not supposed to grin and bear it in an effort of self-sufficiency or masochism. The focus is on the end result of developing perseverance and character. Look at James 1: we do not rejoice in the pain itself but the opportunity for growth and transformation.
Yancey told the stories of two talented youths who became quadriplegics their youths: Brian Sternberg and Joni Eareckson Tada. Sternberg was a world-record pole vaulter and Eareckson who had been a trick horseback rider and lacrosse player. Sternberg lost his fame because of his paralysis, while Eareckson Tada gained it as a painter and speaker. Both became Christians after paralysis but with different perspectives. Sternberg prayed for healing his whole life, while Tada embraced how the injury focused her life on God’s grace. Despite these differences, both lived out John 9: neither of them sinned or had parents that sinned to cause their suffering. Both had circumstances “that the works of God might be displayed” in them.
Dr. Pierre Rentchnick researched 300 influential leaders in world history. His list included Alexander the Great, Napoleon, George Washington, and Adolph Hitler. The common thread he discovered prompted the title of his publication, “Do Orphans Lead the World?” Each of the leaders had been orphaned either literally or emotionally abandoned. Dr. Paul Tournier continued with this research to explore the effects of creative suffering. Tournier does not propose that suffering is a good thing. Instead, he noted that the right transforming agent applied at the right time during or after suffering can lead to incredible growth. What leads some to crumble can cause others to grow—the worst hardships can produce strength instead of brokenness.
Yancey looked at the special attention God gives to the poor during the sermon on the mount. He came across a list of the advantages to being poor written by a Catholic Sister named, Monika Hellwig. Yancey adapted the list for suffering:
1. Suffering is the great equalizer. It leads us to realize our need for redemption.
2. Suffering teaches interdependence with each other.
3. Sufferers learn not to put their security in that which can be taken away.
4. Suffering humbles the proud.
5. Suffering leads to little expectation of succeeding in competition. They expect much in cooperation.
6. Suffering helps distinguish between necessities and luxuries.
7. Suffering teaches patience born of acknowledged dependence.
8. Suffering teaches the difference between valid fears and exaggerated fears.
9. To suffering people, the gospel offers hope and comfort. It sounds sweet instead of a threat.
10. Those who suffer can respond to the call of the Gospel with total abandonment because they have little to lose.
People who live in comfort have a harder time seeing these benefits. The illusion of self-sufficiency causes people to miss out on the gift of grace.
Yancey quoted Fyodor Dostoyevsky and The House of the Dead: Or, Prison Life in Siberia when Dostoyevsky observe, “I went so far as to thank fate for the privilege of such loneliness, for only that could have caused me so severely to scrutinize my past, so searchingly to examine its inner and outer life.” This idea has been with me throughout quarantine—not that quarantine compares to a Siberian prison, but the idea is relevant.
After looking at Elie Wiesel’s Night, Yancey commented that the Bible should move us from asking, “why?” to the richer question: “to what end?” Surely God did not desire to see Jesus suffer on the cross. Yet He did. Good can come from tragedy, though this good is hard to see in the moment. Faith means believing in advance what good will come.
“We speak of fear as an emotion. But actually it operates more like a reflex action with immediate physiological effect. Muscles tense up and contract involuntarily, often increasing pressure on damages nerves and causing more pain...” Humans seem especially affected by fears. A person who fears needles, also feels more pain from a shot than a diabetic who uses shots on a daily basis.
Pain is supposed to teach us to listen. It is a tool for us to understand its source. Life will always include fear. Our choice is to fear God or to fear everything else. Is God a trustworthy physician? It is a critical question for people to consider.
Availability is the best offering we can make to those who are suffering. Our words and insight do not offer nearly as much as being with someone. Further, someone who is suffering will likely want the same type of relationship and friendship that existed before sickness or suffering. Everything else has changed, so the familiarity is comforting. Further, strangers are unlikely to become friends in sickness; people return—or try to return—to the relationships they had before.
I too often give the refrain that it is a shortcoming of our society that we too seldom ask the big questions or spend time wrestling with philosophy. So it is perhaps no surprise that I found it interesting to read a book on pain, its purpose, and the ways we think about pain. As I mentioned above, I think Yancey’s book is valuable for anyone who has wrangled with how to think about suffering. The book seemed particularly timely while in quarantine, but I think its relevancy is true at all times. I recommend Where is God When It Hurts? and will look to read other books by Philip Yancey.
December 10, 2012
Book Review: Where is God When It Hurts
I've been trying to work through an extremely tall stack of books lately In the past six months, I think I've completed one full book. And it was a novel. I've been in a season in my life where there has been little to no routine and I've not been able to focus on completing one book all the way through unless the book has been incredibly compelling. I've started at least twenty books in the past six months. That is probably a low estimate. I've tried theology, novels, historical, technical, inspirational, devotional; you name it. And so many friends have sent me books as we've weathered this storm with little Allie. I've even had an author send me his book to review here on this blog. Which I intend to do once I get back into the rhythm of reading like I used to.
Guys like Bob Franquiz and Dan Plourde challenge me. "Leaders are readers," Dan always says. So in 2008, I've resolved to finish each book I've started, first, to keep reading the writers that inspire, second, and third, to read in my field, that is missions.
One writer that inspires me is Philip Yancey. I've blogged about him plenty of times. I've even blogged about the book pictured above. I started reading this book back in May when we were in the middle of the crisis of my life. I think it was a good thing for me to read through it and process it slowly.
There is no better book on the subject of human suffering than Yancey's Where is God When it hurts. I've read C.S. Lewis' Problem of Pain, and it's good, don't get me wrong, but it's not as accessible or readable as Yancey's writing on the subject.
I have not read something by Yancey that didn't challenge or stretch the way I think about my Christianity. As I've worked through the worst crisis of my life, Yancey has helped me move my focus from myself to God and His plan. Basically, this book adjusted and corrected my thinking. God is working through more than just the moment I'm living in right now.
***
Why?
I have to share with you all what I read in this Yancy book I've been reading. I don't read as much as I used to, so it's taking forever to get through this book. But it's all good.
"What is the point of their lives? Do their lives have any meaning?" asked Dr. Jürgen Trogisch, a pediatrician who works among the severely mentally handicapped. He could treat the externals, but what was going on inside, within such damaged brains?
For many years Dr. Trogisch could not answer the question of meaning. He performed his medical tasks anyway, but he had no answer. Then he ran an introductory course to train new helpers for the center, and at the end of the one-year training period, he asked the young helpers to fill out a survey. Among the questions was this one, "What changes have taken place in your life since you became totally involved with disabled people?" Here is a sampling of their answers:
For the first time in my life I feel I am doing something really significant.
I feel I can now do things wouldn't have thought myself capable of before.
During my time here I have won the affection of Sabine. Having had the opportunity to involve myself with a disabled person, I no longer think of her as disabled at all.
I am more responsive now to human suffering and it arouses in me the desire to help.
It's made me question what is really important in life.
Work has assumed a new meaning and purpose. I feel I'm needed now.
I've learned to be patient and to appreciate even the slightest sign of progress.
In observing the disabled, I've discovered myself.
I've become more tolerant. My own little problems don't seem so important any longer, and I've learned to accept myself with all my inadequacies. Above all I've learned to appreciate the little pleasures in life, and especially I thank God that he has shown me that love can achieve more that hate or force.
I wish I had written these myself. The bottom three are definitely an expression of what I've learned over the past several months living through this thing with Ali.
Read this book. This quote can be found on pages 205 & 206.
http://mondokblog.blogspot.com/2007/0...
I've been trying to work through an extremely tall stack of books lately In the past six months, I think I've completed one full book. And it was a novel. I've been in a season in my life where there has been little to no routine and I've not been able to focus on completing one book all the way through unless the book has been incredibly compelling. I've started at least twenty books in the past six months. That is probably a low estimate. I've tried theology, novels, historical, technical, inspirational, devotional; you name it. And so many friends have sent me books as we've weathered this storm with little Allie. I've even had an author send me his book to review here on this blog. Which I intend to do once I get back into the rhythm of reading like I used to.
Guys like Bob Franquiz and Dan Plourde challenge me. "Leaders are readers," Dan always says. So in 2008, I've resolved to finish each book I've started, first, to keep reading the writers that inspire, second, and third, to read in my field, that is missions.
One writer that inspires me is Philip Yancey. I've blogged about him plenty of times. I've even blogged about the book pictured above. I started reading this book back in May when we were in the middle of the crisis of my life. I think it was a good thing for me to read through it and process it slowly.
There is no better book on the subject of human suffering than Yancey's Where is God When it hurts. I've read C.S. Lewis' Problem of Pain, and it's good, don't get me wrong, but it's not as accessible or readable as Yancey's writing on the subject.
I have not read something by Yancey that didn't challenge or stretch the way I think about my Christianity. As I've worked through the worst crisis of my life, Yancey has helped me move my focus from myself to God and His plan. Basically, this book adjusted and corrected my thinking. God is working through more than just the moment I'm living in right now.
***
Why?
I have to share with you all what I read in this Yancy book I've been reading. I don't read as much as I used to, so it's taking forever to get through this book. But it's all good.
"What is the point of their lives? Do their lives have any meaning?" asked Dr. Jürgen Trogisch, a pediatrician who works among the severely mentally handicapped. He could treat the externals, but what was going on inside, within such damaged brains?
For many years Dr. Trogisch could not answer the question of meaning. He performed his medical tasks anyway, but he had no answer. Then he ran an introductory course to train new helpers for the center, and at the end of the one-year training period, he asked the young helpers to fill out a survey. Among the questions was this one, "What changes have taken place in your life since you became totally involved with disabled people?" Here is a sampling of their answers:
For the first time in my life I feel I am doing something really significant.
I feel I can now do things wouldn't have thought myself capable of before.
During my time here I have won the affection of Sabine. Having had the opportunity to involve myself with a disabled person, I no longer think of her as disabled at all.
I am more responsive now to human suffering and it arouses in me the desire to help.
It's made me question what is really important in life.
Work has assumed a new meaning and purpose. I feel I'm needed now.
I've learned to be patient and to appreciate even the slightest sign of progress.
In observing the disabled, I've discovered myself.
I've become more tolerant. My own little problems don't seem so important any longer, and I've learned to accept myself with all my inadequacies. Above all I've learned to appreciate the little pleasures in life, and especially I thank God that he has shown me that love can achieve more that hate or force.
I wish I had written these myself. The bottom three are definitely an expression of what I've learned over the past several months living through this thing with Ali.
Read this book. This quote can be found on pages 205 & 206.
http://mondokblog.blogspot.com/2007/0...
May 2, 2021
Puiki knyga! 4/5*
Knyga apie tai, kodėl skauda, kaip "sužeistajam" tai išgyventi. Daug istorijų apie žmones, kurie susitaikė su fiziniu, emociniu skausmu. Yra istorijų, kurie bando su tuo gyvent, arba kuriem tai nepakeliama. Lėtinės ligos, mirtinos ligos, traumos, avarijos, vėžys, nelaimingi atsitikimai, netektys - viskas, ko nenori nei vienas žmogus...
Būčiau norėjus šią knygą perskaityti anksčiau. Nes labai gerai žinoti patarimų (ir ne teorinių), kaip elgtis, ką kalbėti žmogui, kuriam skauda.
Kodėl duodu 4 žvaigždutes iš 5? Nes buvo nemažai intarpų iš Biblijos, nemažai nagrinėjama Jėzaus kelionės, mokymai, pavyzdžiai. Man to buvo kiek per daug, bet tai tikrai nesutrukdė man atrasti knygos esmę 🙃
O ji yra: kaip padėti skausmą patiriančiam žmogui?
Atsakymas: būti šalia ❤
Knyga apie tai, kodėl skauda, kaip "sužeistajam" tai išgyventi. Daug istorijų apie žmones, kurie susitaikė su fiziniu, emociniu skausmu. Yra istorijų, kurie bando su tuo gyvent, arba kuriem tai nepakeliama. Lėtinės ligos, mirtinos ligos, traumos, avarijos, vėžys, nelaimingi atsitikimai, netektys - viskas, ko nenori nei vienas žmogus...
Būčiau norėjus šią knygą perskaityti anksčiau. Nes labai gerai žinoti patarimų (ir ne teorinių), kaip elgtis, ką kalbėti žmogui, kuriam skauda.
Kodėl duodu 4 žvaigždutes iš 5? Nes buvo nemažai intarpų iš Biblijos, nemažai nagrinėjama Jėzaus kelionės, mokymai, pavyzdžiai. Man to buvo kiek per daug, bet tai tikrai nesutrukdė man atrasti knygos esmę 🙃
O ji yra: kaip padėti skausmą patiriančiam žmogui?
Atsakymas: būti šalia ❤
January 26, 2014
Ugh. Watching an intelligent man take a disturbing, unappreciated trait (what is pain, how does it work), discuss the benefits it holds (it's a warning system, look at all the ills when it breaks down)...then tie himself in knots trying to fit it into a narrative where the explanations already demonstrated have done their job and try to ascribe an author to it (but what does God MEAN by pain?)
Profoundly sad, particularly as when he weans himself off the dogma, Yancey actually give some decent insights into how our own inhibitions about suffering make us poorer at providing solace to the suffering.
Profoundly sad, particularly as when he weans himself off the dogma, Yancey actually give some decent insights into how our own inhibitions about suffering make us poorer at providing solace to the suffering.
August 31, 2013
كتب دوني التأمل رقم ١٧ في كتابه عن معني اجراس الكنائس وهي من اجمل الفقرات التي كتبت في الادب الانجليزي ( لا ترسل احداً لكي تعرف لمن تدق الاجراس انها تدق من اجلك انت ) لقد ادرك انه بالرغم من ان الاجراس تدق لموت شخص اخر الا انها تذكرك بما تحاول ان تنساه او تتناساه هو اننا جميعاًسنموت ٨٩
وفي فترة ثلاثة قرون قبل مجئ سي اس لويس استخدم دوني عبارة مختلفة عن الالم بوق الله ، لكي يعبر عن نفس الفكرة قدرة الالم علي اختراق الدفاعات والروتين اليومي فقال :" يا الهي انني احتاج الي رعدك فموسيقاك لن تخدمك " وبالنسبة له اصبحت الاجراس التي تدق مقدمة لصدي موته فبالنسبة للشخص الميت كانت فترة وانتهت الحياة وبالنسبة ل دون - المتمسك بالحياة - كانت علامة استفهام نافذة هل هو علي استعداد للقاء الله ؟ ٩٠
لا توجداية اشارة الي تلذذ الانسان بالاضطهاد والالم وعبارة افرحوا في الالم لا تعني بأنه علي المؤمنين ان يسلكوا بفرح حتي في المأساة والالم بينما هم يشعرون انهم يريدون ان يبكوا ولكن هدف الكتاب هو القاء الضوء علي النتيجة النهائية والثمار التي يصنعها الله من خلال المعاناة في حياتنا ولكي يصل الي هذه النتيجة فأنه يحتاج اولاً الي التزامنا بالثقة فيه ويظهر هذا في فرحنا اثناء الالم والتجربة ١٣٤
اين الله في وقت الالم ؟ انه في داخلنا وليس في التجارب التي تؤلمنا ليساعد علي تحويل السئ الي الصالح ويمكننا ان نقول بكل تأكيد انه بإمكان الله ان يخرج من الآكل أُكلاً ١٣٦
انني لا اطلب صحة ولا مرضاً ولا حياة ولا موتاً بل ان تنظم وترتب صحتي ومرضي وحياتي وموتي لمجدك فأنت وحدك الذي يعلم ما هو مناسب لي انت السيد صاحب السلطان افعل معي بحسب ارادتك اعطني او خذ مني ولكن اخضع ارادتي لإرادتك يارب انني اعرف شيئاً واحداً من الصالح ان نتبعك ومن الخطأ ان نسئ اليك وبعيداً عن ذلك فأنا لا اعرف الصالح من الطالح في اي شئ ولا اعرف ما هو نافع لي الصحة ام المرض الثروة ام الفقر ولا اي شئ اخر في الحياة فهذا التمييز فوق قدرة البشر او الملائكة وهو مخبأ بين اسرار عنايتك الالهية التي اعبدها ولا اسعي لكي اسبر غورها او افهمها جيداً - صلاة بليز بسكال ١٣٩
ليس لدي اي شئ اخر إلا الله وتدريجياً شعرت بأن هذا يكفي جداً وغمرني الايمان بإمكانية العلاقة الشخصية مع الله نفس الاله الذي خلق الكون يحيا في حياتي وربما يجعلني جذابة وذات قيمة وعرفت انن�� لا استطيع ان افعل شيئاً بدونه ١٦٨
وستظل الآلام البشرية بلا معني ما لم نحصل علي نوع من التأكيد ان الله يتعاطف مع آلامنا وبإمكانه ان يشفينا ١٩٤
وفي لحظة الالم يصعب علينا ان نتخيل الشئ الصالح الذي قد ينجم عن الالم ١٩٤
يمكن الانسان ان يتحمل التعذيب لو عرف اجابة لماذا في حياته ١٩٦
الله لم ينقذني ولم يخفف من معاناتي ولكن بكل بساطة اكد لي انه حي ويعلم انني هذا ١٩٨
ويقول جان فانييه ان الناس المجروحين الذين كسرهم المرض والمعاناة يطلبون شيئاً واحداً : قلباً محباً مملوءاً بالامل والرجاء من اجلهم ٢٠٧
فلا يوجد ما هو اكثر قيمة للمتألم من الحضور الشخصي معه والذي يبعث الراحة والطمأنينة والامان ودعني اقول الكلمات التالية بكل حذر انني اؤمن اننا نحن كاعضاء في جسد المسيح مدعوون ان نُظهر المحبة عندما يبدوا ان الله لا يُظهر ذلك ٢٢١
واحياناً كانت تسلك ضد طبيعتها اذ بدأت ان تُجبر نفسها علي القيام بأنشطة تحتاج الي تركيز كامل واكتشفت ان اللهو او الاثقال بأمور غير التي اعتادت عليها هي افضل سلاح ضد الالم ٢٣٤
وقد تحدث جون دون عن المعاناة وكأنها نوع من كنز في سبيكة ولأنه لم يتحول الي عملات فلا تساعدنا هذه السبيكة علي ان ندفع تكاليف معيشتنا علي هذه الارض ٢٤٤
لا احد يسطيع ان يظل حياً اذا لم يجد احداً في انتظاره وكل من يعود من رحلة مرهقة وطويلة يبحث عن شخص ينتظره بالمحطه او بالمطار فكل شخص يريد ان يشارك آلامه وأفراحه مع شخص ينتظره بالمنزل حين يعود ٢٤٨
ومعني الأمل ببساطة ، التصديق بأن امراً طيباً في انتظارك مستقبلاً ٢٥٥
والرجاء الحقيقي هو امر صحيح اذ يسمح للشخصىبأن يؤمن انه حتي ان سقط وحدثت امور سيئة فلم ينته الطريق بعد ويمكن ان يقف ثانية ويواصل المسير ٢٥٦
ويثق المؤمن انه مهما ازدادت الامور سوءاً في الوقت الحاضر فأن وراءها شئ صالح ٢٥٩
الله يبكي معنا لكي نضحك معه في يوماً ما جورجين مولتمان ٢٦٧
ويقول الكتاب انه اجتاز في كل تجاربنا فجرّب الوحدة والتعب والجوع وجربه الشيطان واحاط ب المتطفلون واضطهده الاعداء الاقوياء ٢٧٠
واجتاز في كل التجارب الانسانية من التواترات الاسرية التافهه ومتاعب العمل الشاق والحاجة الي المال ورعب الام والذل والهزيمة واليأس واخيراً الموت لقد اخذ صورة انسان وقام بنفس الدور ٢٧١
كيف استجاب الله وهو علي الارض لمن كان متألماً ؟ عندما التقي بشخص متألم تحركت مشاعره بكل عواطف المحبة وبعمق نحو مثل هذا الشخص فلم يقل ولا مرة واحدة "تحمل جوعك ، او احتمل احزانك " ٢٧٢
الحب دافئ كالدموع سي اس لويس ٢٧٣
انه لأمر جيد ان نعيش ايامنا بروح القيامة عندما نواجه الظلام والاوقات المزعجة ٢٧٧
ومع ان الرب يسوع لا يزيل آلامنا دائماً لكنه يجعل لها معني بالنسبة لنا اذ يمتصها في آلامه هو ٢٧٩
ويجب ان ندرك ان الآلام التي نلاقيها هي جوح شرف وكرامة سوف نكافأ عنها يوماً ما ٢٨٠
ان معرفتي للمسيح لا تُشعرني بحاجتي للصراخ في البرية لأقول اين انت يا الله هل مازلت تهتم بي؟ فوجود المعاناة لا يعني ان الله قد نسيني بل علي العكس فبإرتباطه بنا ونحن علي الارض اعطانا الله برهاناً قوياً وتاريخياً بأنه يسمع لاناتنا بل ويشاركنا اياها وعندماا نحتمل التجارب يقف بجانبنا كالرابع الشبيه بإبن الآلهه في اتون النار ٢٨١
ان جراحة الحياة تؤلم ومع ذلك فهي تساعدني لكي اعرف ان الجراح نفسه - الجراح الجريح - شعر بكل طعنة ألم وك اسي وحزن ٢٨٣
يعلن رومية ٨ الاخبار السارة عن اننا لسنا بحاجة لأن نعبر بالكلام عما نريده اننا نحتاج فقط لأن نئن ٢٨٦
ولدي روح الله مصادر حساسة اكثر قوة من تلك التي لأكثر الامهات حكمة ٢٨٦
والالم هو الوسيلة التي تجبرني لكي اتوقف عما اعمله وانتبه الي العضو المصاب ٢٨٨
الكثير من مآسي العالم تُعّزي الي انانية شخص لا يهتم عندما يعاني الآخر ٢٨٩
الحزن يتلاشي مثلما يذوب الجليد في شهر مايو كما و انه لم يكن هناك جليد علي الاطلاق جورج هيربيرت - الوردة ٢٩٧
فبعد ثلاثة ايام في قبر مظلم قام يسوع حياً من الاموات هل يمكن ان يحدث هذا؟ الاخبار مفرحة للغاية حتي انها لم تُصدق ٢٩٧
هل اعتقدت مره ان الله لا يسمع ؟ وان صحات ألمك تضيع في الهواء ؟ الله ليس بأصم هو حزين مثلك تماماً بالازمات التي تحدث في العالم وتذكر ان ابن الله مات هنا في هذا العالم دع التاريخ يأتي لنهايته ودع السيمفونية البشرية تعزف اخر لحن نشاز قبل ان تتحول الي ترنيمة ٣٠٩
وانتهي غضبي تجاه الالم لسبب واحد : لقد عر��ت الله لقد اعطاني الفرح والحب والسعادة والصلاح لقد تمتعت بكل ذلك علي غير المتوقع وسط اضطرابي في عالم ناقص ولكنها كانت كافية لتقنعني ان الله يستحق ثقتي فيه فمعرفته تستحق احتمال كل شئ وأي شئ ٣١٠
انه يحول الألم مستخدماً اياه ليعلمنا ويقوينا اذا سمحنا لهذا الالم ان يوجهنا ويعيدنا الي الله وبتحفظ شديد يراقب هذا الكوكب المتمرد وفي رحمته يسمح للجنس البشري ليستمر في حياته طبقاً للطريقة التي رسمها كل شخص لذاته انه يتركنا نصيح كما فعل ايوب في غضب ضده ونلومه من اجل عالم نحن الذين افسدناه انه يتحالف مع الفقراء والذين يعانون ويؤسس لهم مملكة ، انه يتنازل لكي يهزم و��و يعد بمعونة غير عادية لينعش الروح وحتي اذا استمرت آلامنا
لقدارتبط بنا وجرح ونزف وصاح وعاني احب واحترم وشرف الذين يعانون بمشاركتهم آلامهم
هو معنا الآن يخدمنا من خلال روحه فينا ومن خلال اعضاء جسده التي امرها بإحتمالنا واراحة آلامنا من اجل الرأس الذي هو المسيح
انه ينتظر ليجمع جيوش البر والصلاح ويوماً ما سوف يطلقهم وسيري العالم لحظة اخيرة مرعبة من المعاناة قبل حدوث الانتصار الكامل ثم يخلق الله لنا عالماً جديداً ولن يكون هناك ألم فيما بعد ٣١١
وفي فترة ثلاثة قرون قبل مجئ سي اس لويس استخدم دوني عبارة مختلفة عن الالم بوق الله ، لكي يعبر عن نفس الفكرة قدرة الالم علي اختراق الدفاعات والروتين اليومي فقال :" يا الهي انني احتاج الي رعدك فموسيقاك لن تخدمك " وبالنسبة له اصبحت الاجراس التي تدق مقدمة لصدي موته فبالنسبة للشخص الميت كانت فترة وانتهت الحياة وبالنسبة ل دون - المتمسك بالحياة - كانت علامة استفهام نافذة هل هو علي استعداد للقاء الله ؟ ٩٠
لا توجداية اشارة الي تلذذ الانسان بالاضطهاد والالم وعبارة افرحوا في الالم لا تعني بأنه علي المؤمنين ان يسلكوا بفرح حتي في المأساة والالم بينما هم يشعرون انهم يريدون ان يبكوا ولكن هدف الكتاب هو القاء الضوء علي النتيجة النهائية والثمار التي يصنعها الله من خلال المعاناة في حياتنا ولكي يصل الي هذه النتيجة فأنه يحتاج اولاً الي التزامنا بالثقة فيه ويظهر هذا في فرحنا اثناء الالم والتجربة ١٣٤
اين الله في وقت الالم ؟ انه في داخلنا وليس في التجارب التي تؤلمنا ليساعد علي تحويل السئ الي الصالح ويمكننا ان نقول بكل تأكيد انه بإمكان الله ان يخرج من الآكل أُكلاً ١٣٦
انني لا اطلب صحة ولا مرضاً ولا حياة ولا موتاً بل ان تنظم وترتب صحتي ومرضي وحياتي وموتي لمجدك فأنت وحدك الذي يعلم ما هو مناسب لي انت السيد صاحب السلطان افعل معي بحسب ارادتك اعطني او خذ مني ولكن اخضع ارادتي لإرادتك يارب انني اعرف شيئاً واحداً من الصالح ان نتبعك ومن الخطأ ان نسئ اليك وبعيداً عن ذلك فأنا لا اعرف الصالح من الطالح في اي شئ ولا اعرف ما هو نافع لي الصحة ام المرض الثروة ام الفقر ولا اي شئ اخر في الحياة فهذا التمييز فوق قدرة البشر او الملائكة وهو مخبأ بين اسرار عنايتك الالهية التي اعبدها ولا اسعي لكي اسبر غورها او افهمها جيداً - صلاة بليز بسكال ١٣٩
ليس لدي اي شئ اخر إلا الله وتدريجياً شعرت بأن هذا يكفي جداً وغمرني الايمان بإمكانية العلاقة الشخصية مع الله نفس الاله الذي خلق الكون يحيا في حياتي وربما يجعلني جذابة وذات قيمة وعرفت انن�� لا استطيع ان افعل شيئاً بدونه ١٦٨
وستظل الآلام البشرية بلا معني ما لم نحصل علي نوع من التأكيد ان الله يتعاطف مع آلامنا وبإمكانه ان يشفينا ١٩٤
وفي لحظة الالم يصعب علينا ان نتخيل الشئ الصالح الذي قد ينجم عن الالم ١٩٤
يمكن الانسان ان يتحمل التعذيب لو عرف اجابة لماذا في حياته ١٩٦
الله لم ينقذني ولم يخفف من معاناتي ولكن بكل بساطة اكد لي انه حي ويعلم انني هذا ١٩٨
ويقول جان فانييه ان الناس المجروحين الذين كسرهم المرض والمعاناة يطلبون شيئاً واحداً : قلباً محباً مملوءاً بالامل والرجاء من اجلهم ٢٠٧
فلا يوجد ما هو اكثر قيمة للمتألم من الحضور الشخصي معه والذي يبعث الراحة والطمأنينة والامان ودعني اقول الكلمات التالية بكل حذر انني اؤمن اننا نحن كاعضاء في جسد المسيح مدعوون ان نُظهر المحبة عندما يبدوا ان الله لا يُظهر ذلك ٢٢١
واحياناً كانت تسلك ضد طبيعتها اذ بدأت ان تُجبر نفسها علي القيام بأنشطة تحتاج الي تركيز كامل واكتشفت ان اللهو او الاثقال بأمور غير التي اعتادت عليها هي افضل سلاح ضد الالم ٢٣٤
وقد تحدث جون دون عن المعاناة وكأنها نوع من كنز في سبيكة ولأنه لم يتحول الي عملات فلا تساعدنا هذه السبيكة علي ان ندفع تكاليف معيشتنا علي هذه الارض ٢٤٤
لا احد يسطيع ان يظل حياً اذا لم يجد احداً في انتظاره وكل من يعود من رحلة مرهقة وطويلة يبحث عن شخص ينتظره بالمحطه او بالمطار فكل شخص يريد ان يشارك آلامه وأفراحه مع شخص ينتظره بالمنزل حين يعود ٢٤٨
ومعني الأمل ببساطة ، التصديق بأن امراً طيباً في انتظارك مستقبلاً ٢٥٥
والرجاء الحقيقي هو امر صحيح اذ يسمح للشخصىبأن يؤمن انه حتي ان سقط وحدثت امور سيئة فلم ينته الطريق بعد ويمكن ان يقف ثانية ويواصل المسير ٢٥٦
ويثق المؤمن انه مهما ازدادت الامور سوءاً في الوقت الحاضر فأن وراءها شئ صالح ٢٥٩
الله يبكي معنا لكي نضحك معه في يوماً ما جورجين مولتمان ٢٦٧
ويقول الكتاب انه اجتاز في كل تجاربنا فجرّب الوحدة والتعب والجوع وجربه الشيطان واحاط ب المتطفلون واضطهده الاعداء الاقوياء ٢٧٠
واجتاز في كل التجارب الانسانية من التواترات الاسرية التافهه ومتاعب العمل الشاق والحاجة الي المال ورعب الام والذل والهزيمة واليأس واخيراً الموت لقد اخذ صورة انسان وقام بنفس الدور ٢٧١
كيف استجاب الله وهو علي الارض لمن كان متألماً ؟ عندما التقي بشخص متألم تحركت مشاعره بكل عواطف المحبة وبعمق نحو مثل هذا الشخص فلم يقل ولا مرة واحدة "تحمل جوعك ، او احتمل احزانك " ٢٧٢
الحب دافئ كالدموع سي اس لويس ٢٧٣
انه لأمر جيد ان نعيش ايامنا بروح القيامة عندما نواجه الظلام والاوقات المزعجة ٢٧٧
ومع ان الرب يسوع لا يزيل آلامنا دائماً لكنه يجعل لها معني بالنسبة لنا اذ يمتصها في آلامه هو ٢٧٩
ويجب ان ندرك ان الآلام التي نلاقيها هي جوح شرف وكرامة سوف نكافأ عنها يوماً ما ٢٨٠
ان معرفتي للمسيح لا تُشعرني بحاجتي للصراخ في البرية لأقول اين انت يا الله هل مازلت تهتم بي؟ فوجود المعاناة لا يعني ان الله قد نسيني بل علي العكس فبإرتباطه بنا ونحن علي الارض اعطانا الله برهاناً قوياً وتاريخياً بأنه يسمع لاناتنا بل ويشاركنا اياها وعندماا نحتمل التجارب يقف بجانبنا كالرابع الشبيه بإبن الآلهه في اتون النار ٢٨١
ان جراحة الحياة تؤلم ومع ذلك فهي تساعدني لكي اعرف ان الجراح نفسه - الجراح الجريح - شعر بكل طعنة ألم وك اسي وحزن ٢٨٣
يعلن رومية ٨ الاخبار السارة عن اننا لسنا بحاجة لأن نعبر بالكلام عما نريده اننا نحتاج فقط لأن نئن ٢٨٦
ولدي روح الله مصادر حساسة اكثر قوة من تلك التي لأكثر الامهات حكمة ٢٨٦
والالم هو الوسيلة التي تجبرني لكي اتوقف عما اعمله وانتبه الي العضو المصاب ٢٨٨
الكثير من مآسي العالم تُعّزي الي انانية شخص لا يهتم عندما يعاني الآخر ٢٨٩
الحزن يتلاشي مثلما يذوب الجليد في شهر مايو كما و انه لم يكن هناك جليد علي الاطلاق جورج هيربيرت - الوردة ٢٩٧
فبعد ثلاثة ايام في قبر مظلم قام يسوع حياً من الاموات هل يمكن ان يحدث هذا؟ الاخبار مفرحة للغاية حتي انها لم تُصدق ٢٩٧
هل اعتقدت مره ان الله لا يسمع ؟ وان صحات ألمك تضيع في الهواء ؟ الله ليس بأصم هو حزين مثلك تماماً بالازمات التي تحدث في العالم وتذكر ان ابن الله مات هنا في هذا العالم دع التاريخ يأتي لنهايته ودع السيمفونية البشرية تعزف اخر لحن نشاز قبل ان تتحول الي ترنيمة ٣٠٩
وانتهي غضبي تجاه الالم لسبب واحد : لقد عر��ت الله لقد اعطاني الفرح والحب والسعادة والصلاح لقد تمتعت بكل ذلك علي غير المتوقع وسط اضطرابي في عالم ناقص ولكنها كانت كافية لتقنعني ان الله يستحق ثقتي فيه فمعرفته تستحق احتمال كل شئ وأي شئ ٣١٠
انه يحول الألم مستخدماً اياه ليعلمنا ويقوينا اذا سمحنا لهذا الالم ان يوجهنا ويعيدنا الي الله وبتحفظ شديد يراقب هذا الكوكب المتمرد وفي رحمته يسمح للجنس البشري ليستمر في حياته طبقاً للطريقة التي رسمها كل شخص لذاته انه يتركنا نصيح كما فعل ايوب في غضب ضده ونلومه من اجل عالم نحن الذين افسدناه انه يتحالف مع الفقراء والذين يعانون ويؤسس لهم مملكة ، انه يتنازل لكي يهزم و��و يعد بمعونة غير عادية لينعش الروح وحتي اذا استمرت آلامنا
لقدارتبط بنا وجرح ونزف وصاح وعاني احب واحترم وشرف الذين يعانون بمشاركتهم آلامهم
هو معنا الآن يخدمنا من خلال روحه فينا ومن خلال اعضاء جسده التي امرها بإحتمالنا واراحة آلامنا من اجل الرأس الذي هو المسيح
انه ينتظر ليجمع جيوش البر والصلاح ويوماً ما سوف يطلقهم وسيري العالم لحظة اخيرة مرعبة من المعاناة قبل حدوث الانتصار الكامل ثم يخلق الله لنا عالماً جديداً ولن يكون هناك ألم فيما بعد ٣١١
September 22, 2012
This book was written more than 40 years ago and is still in print. It's nearly impossible for a book to do that, and is an indication of its importance.
I saw somewhere that this is the revised edition. My copy is the original edition, though I expect the core of the book to be much the same as this edition.
The book, while not long, has three sections: 1) Why is there such a thing as pain? 2) How people respond to pain, and 3) How can we cope with pain?
The first section is the most surprising and intriguing. Yancey explores the idea that pain is actually a blessing. He bases this on the work of Dr. Brand, who worked with leprosy victims, people who cannot feel pain and damage themselves.
The second section shows some responses to extreme struggles. Yancey's primary focus settles on Joni Eareckson (now Jon Eareckson Tada), a well-known quadriplegic, and he often returns to survivors of the holocaust during Word War II as well.
Finally, Yancey looks at how to respond to pain, since it is a given that we will all experience it sooner or later.
I found this book much more meaningful this time, more so than when I was half my age. It fills a need to understand pain now as much as it did when it was first written.
I saw somewhere that this is the revised edition. My copy is the original edition, though I expect the core of the book to be much the same as this edition.
The book, while not long, has three sections: 1) Why is there such a thing as pain? 2) How people respond to pain, and 3) How can we cope with pain?
The first section is the most surprising and intriguing. Yancey explores the idea that pain is actually a blessing. He bases this on the work of Dr. Brand, who worked with leprosy victims, people who cannot feel pain and damage themselves.
The second section shows some responses to extreme struggles. Yancey's primary focus settles on Joni Eareckson (now Jon Eareckson Tada), a well-known quadriplegic, and he often returns to survivors of the holocaust during Word War II as well.
Finally, Yancey looks at how to respond to pain, since it is a given that we will all experience it sooner or later.
I found this book much more meaningful this time, more so than when I was half my age. It fills a need to understand pain now as much as it did when it was first written.
December 25, 2018
This is my 4th Yancey book, and I think it's my favorite. He really wrestles with the question that is also the title of the book. There are no straightforward, one-size-fits-all answers. If God did not directly address that when he spoke to Job, we should be extremely cautious in putting words in God's mouth. It didn't serve Job's friends well to do that. Yancey addresses the problem of pain in the physical sense as well as emotional (i.e. grief from loss of loved one, failed relationship, etc.), but doesn't tackle issues like depression. That would be another book to write. I also like how he isn't afraid to call out highly insensitive, unbiblical responses that only hurt more like "you must have sinned and God caused this to happen", "you'd be healed if you had more faith", or "it's God's will".
My only complaint is the format of the edition I have. It may have been in error, but the right side of the pages seems like it was cut off so the words go all the way up to the outer edges of the pages so it was a minor inconvenience. The content itself, however, was phenomenal.
My only complaint is the format of the edition I have. It may have been in error, but the right side of the pages seems like it was cut off so the words go all the way up to the outer edges of the pages so it was a minor inconvenience. The content itself, however, was phenomenal.
June 24, 2023
This book was really good! It takes on one of the hardest topics and doesn’t back down. One story that he continued to use was Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane when even the son of God empathizes with us asking “is there any other way”. I’ve learned this story is really important to the concept of suffering it reminds us that our groans of sorrow in suffering to Christ don’t go unheard. God not only heard our groans but lowered himself allowing him to empathize with our suffering and take it to the fullest extent. This book exceeded my expectations and has been a topic that as I continue to wrestle with I feel more equipped and confident in my faith. I would recommend this book to anyone out there!
February 22, 2016
Yancey never gives easy answers to tough questions. He never glosses over what you are feeling. This book was a powerful book about the age old question "How can a loving God allow this?"
Yancey gives both practical and biblical answers and advice a style which has bad him on of my parents favorite authors. If you are looking for an honest look at this hard question, pick up this book.
Yancey gives both practical and biblical answers and advice a style which has bad him on of my parents favorite authors. If you are looking for an honest look at this hard question, pick up this book.
January 29, 2008
I was like, "FINALLY! Someone with real feelings." Some people act like super Christians. It was refreshing to see a person write from the perspective of a questioning and afraid Christian. It really is okay to wonder sometimes.
February 18, 2012
This is one of the most powerful books I have been impacted by. I read it shortly after experiencing one of the most devastating losses in my life. I recommend this for anybody who has been, or is, hurting for some interesting perspectives on God's role/place in our lives.
March 15, 2020
Great book whether you’re in a painful place or not, we all will experience pain caused by different circumstances in his life.
October 7, 2020
On the topic of suffering, this has been a favorite book since the 80’s. Yancey helped me experience the suffering of those who people the chapters, so I read it multiple times in my younger years.
March 14, 2017
Sorry, I appear to have moved back onto theology books but this is a fantastic book of theology. It has won the Gold Medallion award and has been a best-seller for over fifty years, and this edition is the revised edition by the author so he could explore issues that had arisen during this time. Philip Yancey uses this book as an opportunity to discuss pain - physical, emotional and spiritual - in such a way as to help both the reader and himself to understand why we suffer from pain and how we can cope with either our own pain or the pain of others. This probably won’t be a book for everyone, and you do need to be interested in the questions which the book is asking for it to appeal to you in the slightest.
===Structure===
Phillip Yancey has split the book into five parts and a discussion guide at the end. The first section is asking why pain exists when nobody wants it, the experiences of leprosy with the inability to feel pain, and the fine line between pain and ecstasy. The second sections asks whether pain is a message from God, looking at suffering through the world and the philos0phy behind it. It explores how much of suffering is based on the abuse of human freedom, what God could be trying to tell us and explores the idea that we have arms too short to box with God. The third section explores how people respond to suffering and this is a section based entirely on the stories of people who have gone through extreme accidents and suffering which shows their personal experiences. The fourth part is an exploration of how we can cope with pain including the borders of recovery and the emotions we can find ourselves going through including fear, helplessness, meaning and hope. And the fifth section is concerned with how faith can help those people who are suffering. The final section is a discussion guide meant for groups with tips on how to lead a discussion group as well as specific questions relating to each chapter in the book.
===Content===
'''Part One - Why is there such a thing as pain'''
The Gift Nobody Wants - In this chapter Phillip Yancey is exploring why we physically experience pain and how it is a necessary thing to warn us that something is wrong with our bodies. He notes that despite how protective this complex network of pain sensor is, it is by far the most unappreciated bodily system. However, Yancey is suggesting that pain is not the one mistake that God made, but is instead the complete opposite, it bears the mark of creative genius. This is a scientific look at the reasons behind pain, and how it is necessary because humans ignore all other warnings no matter how many times we are warned.
Painless Hell - Here Phillip Yancey explores the disease of leprosy and how it can easily be used to show what a mess we find ourselves in when we cannot feel the gift of pain. Because leprosy works as an anaesthetic, the leprosy patients unwittingly expose themselves to terrible abuse including burning themselves and cutting themselves to the bone. He then goes through the individual cases of several patients at the Carville walk in centre, and comes to the conclusion that pain gives us freedom because those without it need 'the gift of pain' to do the simplest of things without hurting themselves. This is a look at pain which few of us will ever have seen, and I think we can be truly grateful for that. But it is a very interesting view considering how little we usually know about the topic.
Agony and Ecstasy - Phillip Yancey suggests that pain and joy are both joined very closely together and because we dull our sense of pain by taking drugs immediately, we find it harder to truly experience joy. He illustrates this by describing two graphs, one with a peak at each end and a trough in the middle, suggesting pain and pleasure go at either ends and with quiet normal living in the middle. With this graph the aim would be to face firmly towards happiness. The second graph is the one which Phillip Yancey finds more realistic and that is a graph with a single peak and a surrounding plain, the peak would be Life with a capital L - the place where happiness and pain meet. The surrounding plain would be sleep, apathy or death.
'''Part Two - Is pain a message from God?'''
The Groaning Planet - 'Nature is our fallen sister, not our mother. And earth, though God's showplace, is a good creation that has been bent.' In this chapter Phillip Yancey accepts that pain encompasses more than just the responses of nerve cells because pain is individual and can grind the soul into despair and hopelessness. To understand pain we must step away from the microscope and look into the face of agonised human beings. Much of our suffering on our planet comes from human freedom, which in turn leads to abuse. We can easily say that God is responsible for the suffering of the world, but giving a child a pair of ice skates knowing that he may fall, is very different from knocking him down on the ice. Phillip Yancey is more or less saying that we have a choice; we can trust in God or we can blame God rather than ourselves. Suffering is the megaphone of God.
What is God Trying to tell us - The most difficult time to even consider that God might be trying to warn you of something or tell you something is either when children die or when someone close to you does. And you are left wondering why you survived when they died. Many people will not have thought about God in years, but when faced with suffering many of us lash out in anger towards God. It has been said that suffering is easier to deal with as an atheist because then it is just chance, but if you believe in a world ruled by an all powerful God then it makes things more difficult. Phillip Yancey uses biblical quotes to show this in a different perspectives and to suggest different ways to look at what the Bible says. What we need to remember is that Jesus always used his powers to heal, not to punish.
Why are we here? - In this chapter Phillip Yancey reflects on the book of Job and how like him many people who are 'righteous' seem to suffer undeservedly. The Book of Job will always be a difficult one, but Phillip Yancey uses it to argue human freedom and God's will for us to love him no matter what. He uses Christian philosophy such as life being a 'vale of soul-making' to explore that pain and suffering are the only ways to gain generosity, kindness, courage and fortitude because anyone can be brave when there is nothing to fear. This is often a difficult idea for us to accept but Yancey portrays it very sensitively.
Arms too short to box with God - This chapter also focuses on the Book of Job, but instead of asking why Job suffered such hardship it is exploring God's response to Job's complaints. He was aggressive rather than comforting and side-stepped 35 chapters of debate on the problem of pain. God overwhelms Job with questions about his power and how Job could do none of what God has done. He doesn't explain. He explodes. Yancey is also suggesting that suffering is a way to bring us to God, suffering has a purpose because it changes us and builds perseverance and character.
'''Part Three - How people respond to suffering'''
After the Fall/On my feet dancing - In this section Phillip Yancey looks at specific people - Brain Sternberg and Joni Eareckson Tada, who both suffered life changing injuries and who both dealt with it differently. He explores the depression, the way other people responded and how they themselves dealt with their condition. This is another very interesting view on problems which hopefully we will never have to face, and it show the strength and the frailty of human beings with an amazing tenderness.
Other Witnesses - Phillip Yancey here looks at different people who see suffering in both their personal and professional lives and explores their views on it. One of the analogies used by a doctor is that of a nutcracker, and that unforeseen calamities can break through the outer shell of personal security but it need not destroy us. It is then the job of doctors, priests, and friends to ensure that this nutcracker does not destroy us. This is kind of a look at how we can help those in extreme suffering as it is often very easy to make things ten times worse.
'''Part Four - How can we cope with pain?'''
Frontiers of Recovery - Yancey covers different people's responses to pain and suffering in this chapter. He also explores what we can do to help, and what we can say or do even though there is never a completely correct option. In the rest of this section he explores the frontiers of fear, helplessness, meaning and hope which are the areas which every suffering person will have to battle. Fear and helplessness are universal responses to suffering, both to the person who is in pain and those who are close to them. The fear of what is happening and the knowledge that you can not do anything about it can be one of the worst things to go through. Meaning is something that is very important for people to find; a purpose to life, even if the only meaning that can be found is the fact that someone cares about them. And finally hope, which Phillip Yancey singles out as one of the most significant factors for coping with pain. It is an illusive quality, but however pointless it may appear at any given moment in time it is necessary. Optimism and wishful thinking may be a denial of reality, but the belief that something good lies ahead is essential. At the very worst, the Christian hope of the resurrection can be very calming and a massive relief to people.
'''Part Five - How does faith help?'''
Seeing for himself - This chapter talks about our automatic reaction that God doesn't care because he can see our suffering but does nothing to intervene on our behalf. But what Yancey is reminding us of is that God did intervene in the form of Jesus, and whatever reasons he may have had for making us subject to sorrows and death, he had the honesty and courage to take his own medicine. Jesus died on the cross at our hands and he did it willingly to save us from our sins. Although this does not remove pain from our lives it does show that God does not idly sit by and watch us suffer, he became one of us. Yancey also explores the other help that Christianity offers and he ends the chapter by exploring the hope of resurrection.
===My response===
This is a well written, detailed and thorough examination about the issue of pain and suffering. Why we have pain and suffering, why we need it, what we can do about it, how we cope with pain and how faith can help, or for that matter hinder, people in extreme suffering. It is thoughtful, provoking and interesting, and Yancey uses religion calmly and without trying to convert or insult. As a religious book based on the subject of pain it could have been so full of religious references as to be more or less useless to anyone who is not directly looking for a Christian perspective and who knows the ins and outs of the arguments already. Instead he has set the book out so that it can be a useful resource for anyone whether religious or not as it covers the issues scientifically as well as spiritually and doesn't work on the principle that if you are reading the book you must be Christian. The range of issues he covers is quite amazing and he always covers them sensitively and without preaching. He fully understands and accepts that he doesn't know the answers and he cannot speak for everyone, but he has researched the issues thoroughly and has written this book with the true purpose of helping people.
It is however very in depth and can be a bit of a struggle to get through at points. This is not a book which you can pick up and read through in one sitting, it is just too in depth and too detailed. Well, you might be able to but I definitely wouldn’t, my head would have imploded which would have been rather messy and pointless. I tended to read it in short sittings, probably a chapter or even a section of a chapter at a time and I found that this worked very well. But, because of how it is written this book is also very comforting and helpful whether you are going through issues, have been through issues which you have never fully resolved or are watching people you love struggle.
===Conclusion===
A brilliant book which I would well recommend to anyone. Phillip Yancey is a fantastic and sensitive writer and he writes without ever slipping into the lecturing style that will quickly bore the reader.
===Boring Stuff===
Price: From 47p on Amazon plus £2.80 postage.
ISBN: 978-0310214373
Publisher: Zondervan; Revised edition edition (1 Mar 1997)
Pages: 320
This review has been published previously on Dooyoo and has been slightly updated.
===Structure===
Phillip Yancey has split the book into five parts and a discussion guide at the end. The first section is asking why pain exists when nobody wants it, the experiences of leprosy with the inability to feel pain, and the fine line between pain and ecstasy. The second sections asks whether pain is a message from God, looking at suffering through the world and the philos0phy behind it. It explores how much of suffering is based on the abuse of human freedom, what God could be trying to tell us and explores the idea that we have arms too short to box with God. The third section explores how people respond to suffering and this is a section based entirely on the stories of people who have gone through extreme accidents and suffering which shows their personal experiences. The fourth part is an exploration of how we can cope with pain including the borders of recovery and the emotions we can find ourselves going through including fear, helplessness, meaning and hope. And the fifth section is concerned with how faith can help those people who are suffering. The final section is a discussion guide meant for groups with tips on how to lead a discussion group as well as specific questions relating to each chapter in the book.
===Content===
'''Part One - Why is there such a thing as pain'''
The Gift Nobody Wants - In this chapter Phillip Yancey is exploring why we physically experience pain and how it is a necessary thing to warn us that something is wrong with our bodies. He notes that despite how protective this complex network of pain sensor is, it is by far the most unappreciated bodily system. However, Yancey is suggesting that pain is not the one mistake that God made, but is instead the complete opposite, it bears the mark of creative genius. This is a scientific look at the reasons behind pain, and how it is necessary because humans ignore all other warnings no matter how many times we are warned.
Painless Hell - Here Phillip Yancey explores the disease of leprosy and how it can easily be used to show what a mess we find ourselves in when we cannot feel the gift of pain. Because leprosy works as an anaesthetic, the leprosy patients unwittingly expose themselves to terrible abuse including burning themselves and cutting themselves to the bone. He then goes through the individual cases of several patients at the Carville walk in centre, and comes to the conclusion that pain gives us freedom because those without it need 'the gift of pain' to do the simplest of things without hurting themselves. This is a look at pain which few of us will ever have seen, and I think we can be truly grateful for that. But it is a very interesting view considering how little we usually know about the topic.
Agony and Ecstasy - Phillip Yancey suggests that pain and joy are both joined very closely together and because we dull our sense of pain by taking drugs immediately, we find it harder to truly experience joy. He illustrates this by describing two graphs, one with a peak at each end and a trough in the middle, suggesting pain and pleasure go at either ends and with quiet normal living in the middle. With this graph the aim would be to face firmly towards happiness. The second graph is the one which Phillip Yancey finds more realistic and that is a graph with a single peak and a surrounding plain, the peak would be Life with a capital L - the place where happiness and pain meet. The surrounding plain would be sleep, apathy or death.
'''Part Two - Is pain a message from God?'''
The Groaning Planet - 'Nature is our fallen sister, not our mother. And earth, though God's showplace, is a good creation that has been bent.' In this chapter Phillip Yancey accepts that pain encompasses more than just the responses of nerve cells because pain is individual and can grind the soul into despair and hopelessness. To understand pain we must step away from the microscope and look into the face of agonised human beings. Much of our suffering on our planet comes from human freedom, which in turn leads to abuse. We can easily say that God is responsible for the suffering of the world, but giving a child a pair of ice skates knowing that he may fall, is very different from knocking him down on the ice. Phillip Yancey is more or less saying that we have a choice; we can trust in God or we can blame God rather than ourselves. Suffering is the megaphone of God.
What is God Trying to tell us - The most difficult time to even consider that God might be trying to warn you of something or tell you something is either when children die or when someone close to you does. And you are left wondering why you survived when they died. Many people will not have thought about God in years, but when faced with suffering many of us lash out in anger towards God. It has been said that suffering is easier to deal with as an atheist because then it is just chance, but if you believe in a world ruled by an all powerful God then it makes things more difficult. Phillip Yancey uses biblical quotes to show this in a different perspectives and to suggest different ways to look at what the Bible says. What we need to remember is that Jesus always used his powers to heal, not to punish.
Why are we here? - In this chapter Phillip Yancey reflects on the book of Job and how like him many people who are 'righteous' seem to suffer undeservedly. The Book of Job will always be a difficult one, but Phillip Yancey uses it to argue human freedom and God's will for us to love him no matter what. He uses Christian philosophy such as life being a 'vale of soul-making' to explore that pain and suffering are the only ways to gain generosity, kindness, courage and fortitude because anyone can be brave when there is nothing to fear. This is often a difficult idea for us to accept but Yancey portrays it very sensitively.
Arms too short to box with God - This chapter also focuses on the Book of Job, but instead of asking why Job suffered such hardship it is exploring God's response to Job's complaints. He was aggressive rather than comforting and side-stepped 35 chapters of debate on the problem of pain. God overwhelms Job with questions about his power and how Job could do none of what God has done. He doesn't explain. He explodes. Yancey is also suggesting that suffering is a way to bring us to God, suffering has a purpose because it changes us and builds perseverance and character.
'''Part Three - How people respond to suffering'''
After the Fall/On my feet dancing - In this section Phillip Yancey looks at specific people - Brain Sternberg and Joni Eareckson Tada, who both suffered life changing injuries and who both dealt with it differently. He explores the depression, the way other people responded and how they themselves dealt with their condition. This is another very interesting view on problems which hopefully we will never have to face, and it show the strength and the frailty of human beings with an amazing tenderness.
Other Witnesses - Phillip Yancey here looks at different people who see suffering in both their personal and professional lives and explores their views on it. One of the analogies used by a doctor is that of a nutcracker, and that unforeseen calamities can break through the outer shell of personal security but it need not destroy us. It is then the job of doctors, priests, and friends to ensure that this nutcracker does not destroy us. This is kind of a look at how we can help those in extreme suffering as it is often very easy to make things ten times worse.
'''Part Four - How can we cope with pain?'''
Frontiers of Recovery - Yancey covers different people's responses to pain and suffering in this chapter. He also explores what we can do to help, and what we can say or do even though there is never a completely correct option. In the rest of this section he explores the frontiers of fear, helplessness, meaning and hope which are the areas which every suffering person will have to battle. Fear and helplessness are universal responses to suffering, both to the person who is in pain and those who are close to them. The fear of what is happening and the knowledge that you can not do anything about it can be one of the worst things to go through. Meaning is something that is very important for people to find; a purpose to life, even if the only meaning that can be found is the fact that someone cares about them. And finally hope, which Phillip Yancey singles out as one of the most significant factors for coping with pain. It is an illusive quality, but however pointless it may appear at any given moment in time it is necessary. Optimism and wishful thinking may be a denial of reality, but the belief that something good lies ahead is essential. At the very worst, the Christian hope of the resurrection can be very calming and a massive relief to people.
'''Part Five - How does faith help?'''
Seeing for himself - This chapter talks about our automatic reaction that God doesn't care because he can see our suffering but does nothing to intervene on our behalf. But what Yancey is reminding us of is that God did intervene in the form of Jesus, and whatever reasons he may have had for making us subject to sorrows and death, he had the honesty and courage to take his own medicine. Jesus died on the cross at our hands and he did it willingly to save us from our sins. Although this does not remove pain from our lives it does show that God does not idly sit by and watch us suffer, he became one of us. Yancey also explores the other help that Christianity offers and he ends the chapter by exploring the hope of resurrection.
===My response===
This is a well written, detailed and thorough examination about the issue of pain and suffering. Why we have pain and suffering, why we need it, what we can do about it, how we cope with pain and how faith can help, or for that matter hinder, people in extreme suffering. It is thoughtful, provoking and interesting, and Yancey uses religion calmly and without trying to convert or insult. As a religious book based on the subject of pain it could have been so full of religious references as to be more or less useless to anyone who is not directly looking for a Christian perspective and who knows the ins and outs of the arguments already. Instead he has set the book out so that it can be a useful resource for anyone whether religious or not as it covers the issues scientifically as well as spiritually and doesn't work on the principle that if you are reading the book you must be Christian. The range of issues he covers is quite amazing and he always covers them sensitively and without preaching. He fully understands and accepts that he doesn't know the answers and he cannot speak for everyone, but he has researched the issues thoroughly and has written this book with the true purpose of helping people.
It is however very in depth and can be a bit of a struggle to get through at points. This is not a book which you can pick up and read through in one sitting, it is just too in depth and too detailed. Well, you might be able to but I definitely wouldn’t, my head would have imploded which would have been rather messy and pointless. I tended to read it in short sittings, probably a chapter or even a section of a chapter at a time and I found that this worked very well. But, because of how it is written this book is also very comforting and helpful whether you are going through issues, have been through issues which you have never fully resolved or are watching people you love struggle.
===Conclusion===
A brilliant book which I would well recommend to anyone. Phillip Yancey is a fantastic and sensitive writer and he writes without ever slipping into the lecturing style that will quickly bore the reader.
===Boring Stuff===
Price: From 47p on Amazon plus £2.80 postage.
ISBN: 978-0310214373
Publisher: Zondervan; Revised edition edition (1 Mar 1997)
Pages: 320
This review has been published previously on Dooyoo and has been slightly updated.
July 10, 2015
A theological exploration of pain
14 January 2014
Disappointment with God seemed to have covered a lot of ground that this book ended up covering and I noted that at the beginning of the other book Yancey had made a comment that he had decided to write Disappointment with God to tackle the issue of, for want of a better word, bad luck in general beyond the issue of physical pain. However as I was reading this book I began to realise that you cannot actually separate the two, and whether it be physical pain (or disability, such as somebody losing the use of their arms and legs; or chronic pain, such as somebody with cancer suffers) or emotional pain, such as the loss of a job, a wife, or general defamation of character, the principles are the same, and that is the question of 'if God is a good God, why is it that my life basically sucks?'.
One thing that came out of this book is that people who ask that question and run around trying to elicit pity because of the short straw that apparently they have drawn generally suffer from defeatism and are very self focused. I can say that because I have been there and I have behaved like that (and still do in some cases). The problem is that one of the ways we tackle people like that is by giving them a metaphorical slap across the face and telling them to wake up and smell the coffee, however that does not always work, and the people that we do this too end up resenting us more for doing that (and I know that because, once again, I was one of those people).
This book does not seek to solve the problem of pain and suffering (just in the same way that Disappointment with God does not seek to solve it either) however what it does do is that it explores the world in which we live and tries to create a context for us to understand where we currently stand. First of all we must remember that we are living in a fallen world, one that has rebelled against God's rule, and in doing so is facing the consequences. I am not saying that we are individually being punished, but rather that we as a race have chosen to live our lives separate from God, and as such we are facing the consequences of that decision. Secondly, this state of being is only temporary, and while in our minds the seventy odd years that we have to live in this world may seem like an eternity, we need to keep our minds focused on the ultimate goal ahead, which in many ways we are looking at only through a lens of faith because we cannot actually see the exact nature of that goal, but can only go by what has been revealed to us in our limited understanding of the multiverse as a whole.
The other context that Yancey defines an understanding of pain. Many of us do not realise this but pain is a warning system that tells us that something is wrong. For instance if we put our hand too close to a flame we get a sensation that tells us that this is bad. If we step on glass and cut our foot, we get pain to tell us that something is wrong and we must do something about it. Take away that pain and we are in a lot of trouble. In fact Yancey goes and visits a leper colony to explore what it is like to live in a world without pain, and the results are not pretty. If we do not experience pain then we do not know that we have stepped on that piece of glass, and the wound goes untreated, becomes infected, and we end up losing our entire leg.
The second aspect is what one can call 'the fine line between pleasure and pain'. In many cases what at one point is pain can at another point be incredibly pleasurable. For instance stroking a bed of nails could cause pain, however stroking the fur of a cat could be quite pleasurable (if it does not turn around and attack you that is). What Yancey is showing us here is that the pain receptors also act as pleasure receptors and to remove the pain receptors (such as is the case with lepers) means that we also lose the ability to experience pleasure. The other aspect is the saying 'no pain no gain' or 'that which does not kill me only makes me stronger'. It is the mantra of many a sporting team, where to reach the ultimate goal of victory (whether it be that one game, or it be the championships) one must go through immense amounts of pain, such as exhaustion, injuries, and general wear and tear. While I do have some issues with the modern nature of competitive sport, the actual concept of sport, and of struggling through the match to achieve that goal of victory (or even for some people, simply finishing the race – winning the race is never going to be a possibility) is a noble goal. The thing is to reach that point, that joy, that ecstasy, of completing the race, one must push oneself through barriers of pain to get there.
Yancey also spends some time looking at people who have had a rather nasty turn in their life (both of them being quadraplegics, and both of them developing the condition where they have nobody to blame but themselves). Now, what Yancey shows us is that they could have spent their time wallowing in their misery, kicking and blaming themselves (or others) for their misfortune, or hiding away in nursing homes waiting to die. However they have not done that, but rather, and while it is an immense struggle to do so, they have said that they are in this condition, and wallowing in self pity is not going to do anything about it. Now, I am sure we could think of hundreds of people spend their time wallowing in self pity, and we could simply write off these other two as feel good stories that one would expect to come out of Reader's Digest (does that still exist?) however there is a lot that these people can tell us, and there is a lot that we can learn from them. To simply write them off as your average Reader's Digest feel good story (or motivational story) is to push you into the realm of the self-pity seeker.
There is one person that I can actually tell you about in that situation, and that is my brother. When he was born he was born weeks premature in the car on the way to the hospital. When my parents finally got to the hospital he was put in the oxygen tent and the doctors stuffed up the oxygen settings resulting in him suffering irreparable brain damage. Now my parents could have sued the doctors for negligence, but they didn't (which surprises me, but that was their choice, a choice that I would have made differently because of my understanding of the legal and compensation system). Instead they simply accepted the fact that one of their children was going to be special, and got on with their life. I must admit that it wasn't easy, for me at least, since being the oldest, and normal (if there is such a thing as normal) I was basically left to my own devices and required to make my own way in the world where most of the attention fell on to my brother and my sister. However if you were to meet my brother, while there is an understanding that he is different, there is also the fact that be basically doesn't care. He is who he is and he accepts who he is, and he goes through life as such. You rarely see him complain (unless of course he is pushed to his limits, and I must admit that there are people out there that will complain at the drop of a hat, and my brother is not one of them). He knows that there will be no cure for his condition, and he knows that he is stuck with it for life, so instead of wallowing in self pity, he simply gets up and enjoys the life that has been given to him.
In the end I guess that that is the basic moral of this book, and that is that yes, there is pain and suffering in this world, and yes, we are going to be affected by it, and yes, life is unfair, however God also understands this, and if we look at the incarnation of Jesus Christ we can see him going through all of the same experiences that we have gone through. Was God ever paralysed? Yes, as he hung on that cross. Was God ever mocked and ridiculed? Yes, as he hung on that cross. Was God ever deserted by his friends? Ever cut down by so called experts? Ever rejected by his family? The answers to all those questions is yes, so while it seems at times that God is distant, it is still the case that he can empathise with us because he has been through all of that as well.
14 January 2014
Disappointment with God seemed to have covered a lot of ground that this book ended up covering and I noted that at the beginning of the other book Yancey had made a comment that he had decided to write Disappointment with God to tackle the issue of, for want of a better word, bad luck in general beyond the issue of physical pain. However as I was reading this book I began to realise that you cannot actually separate the two, and whether it be physical pain (or disability, such as somebody losing the use of their arms and legs; or chronic pain, such as somebody with cancer suffers) or emotional pain, such as the loss of a job, a wife, or general defamation of character, the principles are the same, and that is the question of 'if God is a good God, why is it that my life basically sucks?'.
One thing that came out of this book is that people who ask that question and run around trying to elicit pity because of the short straw that apparently they have drawn generally suffer from defeatism and are very self focused. I can say that because I have been there and I have behaved like that (and still do in some cases). The problem is that one of the ways we tackle people like that is by giving them a metaphorical slap across the face and telling them to wake up and smell the coffee, however that does not always work, and the people that we do this too end up resenting us more for doing that (and I know that because, once again, I was one of those people).
This book does not seek to solve the problem of pain and suffering (just in the same way that Disappointment with God does not seek to solve it either) however what it does do is that it explores the world in which we live and tries to create a context for us to understand where we currently stand. First of all we must remember that we are living in a fallen world, one that has rebelled against God's rule, and in doing so is facing the consequences. I am not saying that we are individually being punished, but rather that we as a race have chosen to live our lives separate from God, and as such we are facing the consequences of that decision. Secondly, this state of being is only temporary, and while in our minds the seventy odd years that we have to live in this world may seem like an eternity, we need to keep our minds focused on the ultimate goal ahead, which in many ways we are looking at only through a lens of faith because we cannot actually see the exact nature of that goal, but can only go by what has been revealed to us in our limited understanding of the multiverse as a whole.
The other context that Yancey defines an understanding of pain. Many of us do not realise this but pain is a warning system that tells us that something is wrong. For instance if we put our hand too close to a flame we get a sensation that tells us that this is bad. If we step on glass and cut our foot, we get pain to tell us that something is wrong and we must do something about it. Take away that pain and we are in a lot of trouble. In fact Yancey goes and visits a leper colony to explore what it is like to live in a world without pain, and the results are not pretty. If we do not experience pain then we do not know that we have stepped on that piece of glass, and the wound goes untreated, becomes infected, and we end up losing our entire leg.
The second aspect is what one can call 'the fine line between pleasure and pain'. In many cases what at one point is pain can at another point be incredibly pleasurable. For instance stroking a bed of nails could cause pain, however stroking the fur of a cat could be quite pleasurable (if it does not turn around and attack you that is). What Yancey is showing us here is that the pain receptors also act as pleasure receptors and to remove the pain receptors (such as is the case with lepers) means that we also lose the ability to experience pleasure. The other aspect is the saying 'no pain no gain' or 'that which does not kill me only makes me stronger'. It is the mantra of many a sporting team, where to reach the ultimate goal of victory (whether it be that one game, or it be the championships) one must go through immense amounts of pain, such as exhaustion, injuries, and general wear and tear. While I do have some issues with the modern nature of competitive sport, the actual concept of sport, and of struggling through the match to achieve that goal of victory (or even for some people, simply finishing the race – winning the race is never going to be a possibility) is a noble goal. The thing is to reach that point, that joy, that ecstasy, of completing the race, one must push oneself through barriers of pain to get there.
Yancey also spends some time looking at people who have had a rather nasty turn in their life (both of them being quadraplegics, and both of them developing the condition where they have nobody to blame but themselves). Now, what Yancey shows us is that they could have spent their time wallowing in their misery, kicking and blaming themselves (or others) for their misfortune, or hiding away in nursing homes waiting to die. However they have not done that, but rather, and while it is an immense struggle to do so, they have said that they are in this condition, and wallowing in self pity is not going to do anything about it. Now, I am sure we could think of hundreds of people spend their time wallowing in self pity, and we could simply write off these other two as feel good stories that one would expect to come out of Reader's Digest (does that still exist?) however there is a lot that these people can tell us, and there is a lot that we can learn from them. To simply write them off as your average Reader's Digest feel good story (or motivational story) is to push you into the realm of the self-pity seeker.
There is one person that I can actually tell you about in that situation, and that is my brother. When he was born he was born weeks premature in the car on the way to the hospital. When my parents finally got to the hospital he was put in the oxygen tent and the doctors stuffed up the oxygen settings resulting in him suffering irreparable brain damage. Now my parents could have sued the doctors for negligence, but they didn't (which surprises me, but that was their choice, a choice that I would have made differently because of my understanding of the legal and compensation system). Instead they simply accepted the fact that one of their children was going to be special, and got on with their life. I must admit that it wasn't easy, for me at least, since being the oldest, and normal (if there is such a thing as normal) I was basically left to my own devices and required to make my own way in the world where most of the attention fell on to my brother and my sister. However if you were to meet my brother, while there is an understanding that he is different, there is also the fact that be basically doesn't care. He is who he is and he accepts who he is, and he goes through life as such. You rarely see him complain (unless of course he is pushed to his limits, and I must admit that there are people out there that will complain at the drop of a hat, and my brother is not one of them). He knows that there will be no cure for his condition, and he knows that he is stuck with it for life, so instead of wallowing in self pity, he simply gets up and enjoys the life that has been given to him.
In the end I guess that that is the basic moral of this book, and that is that yes, there is pain and suffering in this world, and yes, we are going to be affected by it, and yes, life is unfair, however God also understands this, and if we look at the incarnation of Jesus Christ we can see him going through all of the same experiences that we have gone through. Was God ever paralysed? Yes, as he hung on that cross. Was God ever mocked and ridiculed? Yes, as he hung on that cross. Was God ever deserted by his friends? Ever cut down by so called experts? Ever rejected by his family? The answers to all those questions is yes, so while it seems at times that God is distant, it is still the case that he can empathise with us because he has been through all of that as well.
June 9, 2012
Do you like classical music? I do. A couple of years ago, I was blessed enough to be able to attend Jose Carreras’ final concert -- my friend who was related to the concert gave me a ticket. It was a cold and rainy night. Limousines and dressed up people showed up quietly, like attending a serious ceremony. In the concert hall, it felt like right before a worship service at a Presbyterian Church because everyone was very quiet and solemnly expecting the Master’s appearance. When I opened the program, I was surprised and shocked because almost all the songs which Jose Carreras was going to sing were about hopeless love and sadness. Perfect matches to the weather and atmosphere at that day.
If I am correct, it was right after Massenet’s “Tu ca nun chiagne.” For the first time in my life, I start to bursting into tears at a concert, because not only his technique and live skills were beautiful and better than audio, but also, there were something inside of his spirit and heart crying out and reaching me. I dropped tears like a crazy K-Pop fan (Girls’ Generation, Kara, Big Bang, 2PM, whatever your pick is) after each song was sung. When I looked around, almost everyone was crying too. I guess that was because we were deeply touched by the beauty of the sadness of the songs. And, also, that was because we all could guess that the Master’s fight against deadly disease, leukemia, and his beautiful but hopeless love story were probably related to the song choices.
For me, this book is like the concert that I mentioned above. Yancey brings out a long list of sad stories of human lives in serious atmosphere, shares each of those with us, and asks the LORD where HE was when it hurt. When each chapter ends, I come to cry with others, and ask Yancey to tell us more about where HE was when it hurt. He uses his typical prose and ways of approach -- interviews, researches, studies, etc. -- to tell us answers about the question he started. In this book, he is like an arbitrator -- as Moses did, as Habakkuk did, as Jeremiah did, as Jonah did, and, above all, as Jesus Christ did, Yancey stands between the GOD and us, appeals to the GOD as a defender of us, and conveys HIS answers to us as a messenger of HIM.
This book is very meaningful to me because Yancey asks us to ask questions to the GOD. In fact, questioning and appealing (complaining, I should say) to the GOD about misfortunes are very important subjects in the entire Bible. It was the theme of the book of Job, the most of Psalms, and many other books in the Bible. Like Yancey says in his other book, “Prayer,” the GOD actually encourages us to ask HIM and argue with HIM, unlike many Churches teach in these days. Also, Yancey talks about how pain works good for us and how we can fight against chronicle pains by having presence of people who care. Although it will not resolve our sufferings, it certainly can help us go through the difficult time. It is great to know the GOD’s purpose of pain, sometimes we feel it is too much though.
Life is not easy. Christians’ have no exception. We don’t need to talk about 500,000 children who many of them are Christians and who need foods right now at the Eastern Africa or Christians who are being persecuted for their beliefs in north Korea. Everyday, just like non-Christians, Christians die for deadly disease, experience miserable car accidents, lose their jobs, and get divorced (according to Yancey, there are not much differences in divorce rate between Christians and non-Christians). Christians suffer from depression and other psychological disorders. And, Christians’ children die for unknown diseases. If the GOD is almighty as the Bible says and if the Bible is true, we come to ask a question that where HE was when it hurt. In terms of that perspective, I think Yancey’s questions and approach are what we really need at least once in our lifetime. And, Yancey’s explanation -- because Jesus Christ suffered and died, HE truly can understand us and be with us when we hurt -- is a great comfort to us.
Let me conclude this review with a testimony. This book followed me during my trip to Spain. One of my friends, who was suffering from serious problems in his life, kept complaining about the GOD and asking me where HE was when he was hurting. I tried my best to defend the GOD by using the contents of this book. However, in front of the gabs between what the Bible says and his reality, my efforts did not work. All the exotic beauty of Spain was covered with his grief and anger toward the GOD and became meaningless. For him, it seemed like Gaudi had moved to an Amish town at somewhere in Ohio to become an Amish mechanic, and Picasso had moved to Chim Sai Choi, Hong Kong to become an assistant professor of a college of Art. Chagall was just a name of an alcohol. To make the matter worse, he lost his very expensive camera without a case (as a photograph mania, the camera meant so much to him). When we all gave up and arrived at a Church, a guide, who absolutely had no ideas about what was going on, introduced us a prayers’ room. She said if we prayed for anything we lost in the room, we could receive it back. He barely prayed for it, but did not believe it. One month later, the camera he had lost was founded, delivered all the way from Spain to his country, where was the other side of the earth, without any problems.
We have pains. We suffer. We have doubts. We feel insecure. We are afraid. However, Yancey tells us that the GOD knows everything and HE is with us when we hurt. And HE listens to our sighs, just like the Bible says. Since presence of someone who can be with us during tough time is very important, having the LORD as a companion and being able to cry together mean so much to all of us.
This book led me to Yancey’s another great work, “What’s so amazing about grace.” And this book also has changed my questions to the LORD; “Where is GOD when I hurt others?”
I highly recommend this book.
If I am correct, it was right after Massenet’s “Tu ca nun chiagne.” For the first time in my life, I start to bursting into tears at a concert, because not only his technique and live skills were beautiful and better than audio, but also, there were something inside of his spirit and heart crying out and reaching me. I dropped tears like a crazy K-Pop fan (Girls’ Generation, Kara, Big Bang, 2PM, whatever your pick is) after each song was sung. When I looked around, almost everyone was crying too. I guess that was because we were deeply touched by the beauty of the sadness of the songs. And, also, that was because we all could guess that the Master’s fight against deadly disease, leukemia, and his beautiful but hopeless love story were probably related to the song choices.
For me, this book is like the concert that I mentioned above. Yancey brings out a long list of sad stories of human lives in serious atmosphere, shares each of those with us, and asks the LORD where HE was when it hurt. When each chapter ends, I come to cry with others, and ask Yancey to tell us more about where HE was when it hurt. He uses his typical prose and ways of approach -- interviews, researches, studies, etc. -- to tell us answers about the question he started. In this book, he is like an arbitrator -- as Moses did, as Habakkuk did, as Jeremiah did, as Jonah did, and, above all, as Jesus Christ did, Yancey stands between the GOD and us, appeals to the GOD as a defender of us, and conveys HIS answers to us as a messenger of HIM.
This book is very meaningful to me because Yancey asks us to ask questions to the GOD. In fact, questioning and appealing (complaining, I should say) to the GOD about misfortunes are very important subjects in the entire Bible. It was the theme of the book of Job, the most of Psalms, and many other books in the Bible. Like Yancey says in his other book, “Prayer,” the GOD actually encourages us to ask HIM and argue with HIM, unlike many Churches teach in these days. Also, Yancey talks about how pain works good for us and how we can fight against chronicle pains by having presence of people who care. Although it will not resolve our sufferings, it certainly can help us go through the difficult time. It is great to know the GOD’s purpose of pain, sometimes we feel it is too much though.
Life is not easy. Christians’ have no exception. We don’t need to talk about 500,000 children who many of them are Christians and who need foods right now at the Eastern Africa or Christians who are being persecuted for their beliefs in north Korea. Everyday, just like non-Christians, Christians die for deadly disease, experience miserable car accidents, lose their jobs, and get divorced (according to Yancey, there are not much differences in divorce rate between Christians and non-Christians). Christians suffer from depression and other psychological disorders. And, Christians’ children die for unknown diseases. If the GOD is almighty as the Bible says and if the Bible is true, we come to ask a question that where HE was when it hurt. In terms of that perspective, I think Yancey’s questions and approach are what we really need at least once in our lifetime. And, Yancey’s explanation -- because Jesus Christ suffered and died, HE truly can understand us and be with us when we hurt -- is a great comfort to us.
Let me conclude this review with a testimony. This book followed me during my trip to Spain. One of my friends, who was suffering from serious problems in his life, kept complaining about the GOD and asking me where HE was when he was hurting. I tried my best to defend the GOD by using the contents of this book. However, in front of the gabs between what the Bible says and his reality, my efforts did not work. All the exotic beauty of Spain was covered with his grief and anger toward the GOD and became meaningless. For him, it seemed like Gaudi had moved to an Amish town at somewhere in Ohio to become an Amish mechanic, and Picasso had moved to Chim Sai Choi, Hong Kong to become an assistant professor of a college of Art. Chagall was just a name of an alcohol. To make the matter worse, he lost his very expensive camera without a case (as a photograph mania, the camera meant so much to him). When we all gave up and arrived at a Church, a guide, who absolutely had no ideas about what was going on, introduced us a prayers’ room. She said if we prayed for anything we lost in the room, we could receive it back. He barely prayed for it, but did not believe it. One month later, the camera he had lost was founded, delivered all the way from Spain to his country, where was the other side of the earth, without any problems.
We have pains. We suffer. We have doubts. We feel insecure. We are afraid. However, Yancey tells us that the GOD knows everything and HE is with us when we hurt. And HE listens to our sighs, just like the Bible says. Since presence of someone who can be with us during tough time is very important, having the LORD as a companion and being able to cry together mean so much to all of us.
This book led me to Yancey’s another great work, “What’s so amazing about grace.” And this book also has changed my questions to the LORD; “Where is GOD when I hurt others?”
I highly recommend this book.
March 24, 2020
(لدي ما أقوله حول هذا الكتاب الذي سرقت عنوانه عندما قرأت (مشكلة الشر ووجود الله
لكنني الآن مشتت الذهن ومنهك القوى.. لكنني سأكتب عنه
حتما سأفعل.
لكنني الآن مشتت الذهن ومنهك القوى.. لكنني سأكتب عنه
حتما سأفعل.
July 19, 2020
I might be more detailed in this later so there might be a modification to this, but this really was a good book. I don't even recall who told me about this one (I'll have to look on Twitter), but I didn't know what to expect. And I didn't know a lot about things that the book presented to me as well (for example, I didn't know all of what it described about what leprosy does to a person)...but this one was a refreshing read. I like how Mr. Yancey seems to not be trying to answer where the Bible doesn't (of course Job is mentioned a lot), but tries his best to "present the possibles" when it comes to pain and suffering in the Christian life. With emphasis on that as well: I've read two books recently that come from a general...non-denominational Christian perspective. One (to me) seemed to fall pretty flat on its' face (and what's worse was that it wasn't even discussing something as "weighty" as hurt/pain/death)...this one does much better in holding to the tenants of our faith in its' discussions about these subjects (it even throws in a little juxtaposing the Christian faith to other perspectives as well). I'm glad I took the time to read this book, especially at this point in my life...because as this world is corrupted in sin, I'm sure I'll probably be coming back to it again at some point...
June 6, 2021
I suppose I am officially a Yancey fan since I have read several of his books and seem to like them all. This one talked a lot more about pain in the beginning. In fact, I got a science lesson on what parts of the body can endure the most pain and why, which was quite fascinating.
He also went into detail about leprosy by giving detailed accounts by those who suffer from the affliction. I didn't know much about the disease, so it too was interesting to learn more about. Eventually, he discussed the horrors of the holocaust and the suffering so many endured. I like books that cover this era, and he brought up one I will need to look into.
I don't know that he adequately answered the question of the title, as he gave the same sort of answer one would expect: God is there with those who suffer, he too suffered by sending his son, yada, yada. Thus, I didn't find the title and its answer nearly as captivating as the stories from people who have suffered horrific ailments and found a way to turn their pain into something good. This message is nothing new, but hearing the individual stories helped bring the message to life. Sharing these personal account is, perhaps, what Yancey does best and is why I will continue to check out more of his works.
He also went into detail about leprosy by giving detailed accounts by those who suffer from the affliction. I didn't know much about the disease, so it too was interesting to learn more about. Eventually, he discussed the horrors of the holocaust and the suffering so many endured. I like books that cover this era, and he brought up one I will need to look into.
I don't know that he adequately answered the question of the title, as he gave the same sort of answer one would expect: God is there with those who suffer, he too suffered by sending his son, yada, yada. Thus, I didn't find the title and its answer nearly as captivating as the stories from people who have suffered horrific ailments and found a way to turn their pain into something good. This message is nothing new, but hearing the individual stories helped bring the message to life. Sharing these personal account is, perhaps, what Yancey does best and is why I will continue to check out more of his works.
January 5, 2014
I read this book a while ago, but the one thing that I remember from it is that pain serves as a warning sign to us human beings that something is wrong with this world- of course we all know that. But what exactly is wrong with humanity? That takes us to the core principles of Christianity- God sending His only, beloved Son Jesus to earth to redeem us from our sins, to right all wrongs (including ours) so we can have hope in eternity with Him.
Just like when you have a bruise somewhere on your body, pain "protects" you from further harm, telling you to seek help and try to soothe that wound. While this may sound incredulous, imagine us not bring able to feel pain at all- for instance, if you put your hand on a hot stove and after burning your hand for a while you still don't feel anything. That would be pretty dangerous because before you know it, you would've lost your hand completely.
Where is God when it hurts? He is here and He has always been and forever will be. Just seek Him out. Don't give up.
Just like when you have a bruise somewhere on your body, pain "protects" you from further harm, telling you to seek help and try to soothe that wound. While this may sound incredulous, imagine us not bring able to feel pain at all- for instance, if you put your hand on a hot stove and after burning your hand for a while you still don't feel anything. That would be pretty dangerous because before you know it, you would've lost your hand completely.
Where is God when it hurts? He is here and He has always been and forever will be. Just seek Him out. Don't give up.
January 27, 2014
If you are in pain and trial, and looking for answer to "why? I do not deserve all of that, " this book can give you answers. Unfortunately, not to your specific question. The answer for that, according to the author, is that God never answered Job when he asked same question, but only lectured him about His wisdom (page 100 and next few pages). However, you will find answers about the benefits of pain (signals of malfunction, personal growth,.. etc)
The author is very verbose. The book could be skimmed significantly without losing its point. Same criticism is valid for his other books. He also copies verbatim from his other books.
The author is very verbose. The book could be skimmed significantly without losing its point. Same criticism is valid for his other books. He also copies verbatim from his other books.
April 18, 2024
Read the book 'Where is God when it hurts?' by Philip Yancey long time back. Sadly Christian authors project God as some cruel hitler like personality awaiting to punish us for our sins. To my knowledge, God is purest form of love; then how can He punish His own children?
July 16, 2023
Am so very thankful for this book. My approach to pain and suffering has shifted. Yancey points out many questions that we have pertaining to pain, like why God allows pain, is He trying to teach us something, and how can we cope with pain? The answers he suggests are thought provoking and faith-strengthening. Through this book I have learned to be honest with God in my pain, to even be thankful for my wounds; for in them I am brought closer to Him, I am reminded of Jesus' own suffering, and most of all, of the hope that is promised in clinging to God.
Pain and suffering is the result of a fallen world, brought unto the most unsuspecting and undeserving. We may never understand why God allows this, and there isn't always immediate meaning in pain. But God makes Himself known, and He has come close, and perhaps the pain is what allows us to know Him more intimately. And perhaps that's the matter of utmost importance: not working out the reason for pain, but to know Him who knows and loves us and greives together with us. And to see Him turn the pain around, the way He turned Jesus' death around!!
My only reservation from this book is that some of his medical anecdotes were a bit lengthy; some of the writing is a bit long-winded too. But maybe that's necessary for some haha.
Pain and suffering is the result of a fallen world, brought unto the most unsuspecting and undeserving. We may never understand why God allows this, and there isn't always immediate meaning in pain. But God makes Himself known, and He has come close, and perhaps the pain is what allows us to know Him more intimately. And perhaps that's the matter of utmost importance: not working out the reason for pain, but to know Him who knows and loves us and greives together with us. And to see Him turn the pain around, the way He turned Jesus' death around!!
My only reservation from this book is that some of his medical anecdotes were a bit lengthy; some of the writing is a bit long-winded too. But maybe that's necessary for some haha.
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