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Suffering and Problem of Pain
Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God allow suffering and evil? These are questions central to the Christian faith, and questions that have not gone unexplored in the cannon of Christian philosophy. Job, Augustine, C.S. Lewis, and others have contributed to the ongoing dialogue surrounding this issue. For some, stories of personal suffering, persecution, and martyrdom provide a rallying point and reminder of the pain Christ faced at the cross and the price of our sin; others suggest suffering is a character-building endeavor. One thing is sure: suffering is an important element of the Christian faith. As the apostle Paul wrote: “ I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things” (Philippians 3:8, NIV).
All Articles
The Strangest Enemy I’ll Ever Meet
Scripture speaks of death as an enemy Christ conquers—and the door through which we see God face to face.
There’s No Shame in Talking About Pregnancy Loss
Eli and Hannah’s conversation in 1 Samuel holds wisdom for Christians on how to care for people who have lost babies or experience infertility.
Testimony
Was It Really God’s Perfect Plan to Amputate My Foot?
A tragic accident jump-started my relationship with God. It also made me question his goodness.
The Russell Moore Show
Philip Yancey on the Problem of Pain and Suffering
A renowned thinker and writer reflects on his own pain and suffering in light of the book of Job.
I Lost Three Babies in a Year. No One Knew What to Say.
Christian misconceptions around miscarriage are not new, but need to change.
Review
Dwelling on Heaven Isn’t Escapist
As a new book suggests, keeping eternity in view is a practical way to live faithfully on earth.
All the Light It Hurts to See
Scripture tells us God’s glory is blinding. Chronic migraines helped me see for myself.
In Defense of Colloquial Theology
Don’t insult my grandma’s hermeneutics. Her theology may not have come from seminary, but it came from suffering and trust.
The Author Who Pulled Me out of the Doomscroll
Fantasy novelist Guy Gavriel Kay, who helped compile Tolkien’s Silmarillion, grapples with the juxtaposition of love and suffering in Written on the Dark.
Review
To Lead Others to Christ, Get Comfortable with Their Sorrow
In an era defined by failed quests for happiness, our evangelism can offer a consoling presence.