» View all Book Reviews WHERE IS GOD WHEN IT HURTS?, Philip Yancey BUY NOW Where is God when it hurts?  Why is there pain and suffering in this world?  How can a good God allow bad things to happen? Where is God when it won’t stop hurting? These are just a few of the questions that are addressed by noted author Philip Yancey in the book Where is God When it Hurts?  Yancey originally wrote this book in 1977 and then revised it 15 years later.  The original and revision are the outpouring of his lifelong exploration of the problem of pain.  Yancey is also the author of other well-known and beloved books such as The Jesus I Never Knew and What’s so Amazing About Grace? The book is broken into three main sections that address particular aspects of the problem of pain.  The three main topics addressed were the role of pain in life, God’s view, and how can we respond.  A few of the major themes you will find in the book are: Pain is beneficial—it serves as a warning system.  Without pain, we would also suffer.  Suffering is not part of God’s original design and He is not pleased by it.  God is able to redeem out of pain and suffering and asks for our trust of Him as creator and designer of this universe that this is so. God has experienced suffering in this world, too.  Jesus was God’s walking with us and suffering as we do—ultimately a sign of “I love you.” Our response to pain and suffering is important.  Too much focus on cause might take us away from how we respond.  It is for our benefit ultimately that we trust that the Lord works toward redemption and restoration. God’s love is often experienced through other people in the midst of pain and suffering. Please know that the above points only skim the surface of insights that can be gleaned from this book.  Moreover, while the book is largely theoretical and philosophical, there are practical thoughts to help understand and ultimately cope with pain and suffering.  But more so than directly coping, there are also helpful thoughts and practical suggestions of how to comfort others who are hurting. Yancey is masterful and complex in his exploration of the problem of pain.  His writing is generally grace-full, inquisitive and deep.  Yet it is also very readable and understandable.  He weaves stories of people with pain, the thoughts and quotes of famous writers/philosophers and others, examples from the Bible, and his own thoughts into the conclusions he draws.  As a result of his tendency to explore multiple angles of the issue, he does not leave one feeling that his explanations are too simplistic.  Yet, some readers may be frustrated without more directness in his thinking.  Ultimately, this will be a matter of personal choice for the person who reads the book.    This book will be most helpful for someone who wants to undertake a personal journey and exploration of the meaning/purpose of pain and suffering in this life and God’s role in it.  You do not have to just be someone in the throes of pain and suffering to benefit, but just someone who has questions about the subject.  Secondarily it could serve as a practical guide to coping with pain and suffering and/or knowing how to understand and care for others who experience chronic hurting. Written by: Dr. Brett Sparks, Licensed Psychologist, Certified Intensive Lead Therapist, National Institute of Marriage » View all Book Reviews