Walking with God...

May I recommend a book by Tim Keller. You can hardly go wrong choosing any of his books to read. This particular one is an in-depth treatise on pain and suffering called Walking with God through Pain and Suffering. It is an important work because no one is safe from life for “Life is tragic.”[p. 3] 

In part one Keller explains how people outside of Christianity have viewed suffering and what Christ brings to the conversation. In part two he describes how challenging suffering is for all believers. In part three he explains practically how we can walk with God through the pains of life. It is a well written, well organized book about this difficult and broad subject.

Keller summarizes Western society’s plight with pain in the first part of the book. Even though the Christian church has made a significant influence on the culture, Western societies are at their core secular. Therefore, even Christians are heavily slanted to understand the working of God from a standpoint not found in Scripture. Western persons “see ourselves as able to control our own destiny, able to discern for ourselves what is right and wrong, and we see God as obligated to arrange things for our benefit, especially if we live a good enough life according to our own chosen standards.”[p.57] The culture expects God to bend the world to meet righteous desires or at least those that are not sinful. Therefore, when pain comes the west is at a loss to see what God could be doing. 

Keller details a number of reasons that pain and suffering enter into lives of people. God could be chastening a person in rebellion to lead them to repentance. God could be exposing unconscious sin to bring it into the light. But God does not always let us see or understand the presence of pain. Keller states, “Christianity never claims to be able to offer a full explanation of all God’s reasons behind every instance of evil and suffering – it does have a final answer to it. That answer will be given at the end of history and all who hear it and see its fulfillment will find it completely satisfying, infinitely sufficient.”[p. 158] Therefore Christians have a hope that is assured through the worst of circumstances. When people cannot comprehend or see what God could be doing, Christ followers still know it will all be made right in eternity. 

Keller, while being thorough about how to navigate through suffering, highlights the importance of the unique peril each individual faces. Categories and lists help get a feel for the issues but can easily make a person overconfident in how to move forward.  Keller explains, “When it comes to suffering there are diversities of shape, temperaments, and pathways. There are multiple truths that the Bible teaches about suffering, and these different truths need to be applied in a different order depending on circumstance, stage and temperament. But there is also a diversity of expression of those truths and ideas.”[p. 219] Caution is in strict order while anyone attempts to exegete their own or someone else’s circumstances. But Keller is still able to gently equip the reader with multiple pieces of wisdom to navigate different trials. 

Keller traverses the story of Job to give encouragement and motivation to pray to God in the midst of struggles. When people are in the dark, it can feel impossible to look for the light. Job gives us a righteous example of how to prevail: “Through it all, Job never stopped praying. Yes, he complained, but he complained to God. He doubted, but he doubted to God. He screamed and yelled, but he did it in God’s presence. No matter how much in agony he was, he continued to address God. He kept seeking Him. And in the end, God said Job triumphed.”[p. 287] Keller gives much wisdom in not seeking a right way to approach God from Job’s example but highlighting Job’s zeal towards God. The frustration and anxiety that Job communicates is a treasure to the reader. Job is not chastised for his questions or his wounded heart. Prayer can be whatever someone is able to say at that time and is essential to successfully walking with God through trials. 

The book is best read before the world turns upside down. So go ahead and order it HERE and start reading. Then when trouble comes, you will find a friend in Keller to help you on your way.