Customer Reviews

Where Is God When It Hurts?

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book is not only about how God views our suffering, and how much we struggle with God in the midst of our suffering (although it does thoroughly discuss those things). The most interesting aspects of this book, in my opinion, were the stories and comments that Yancey makes on how Christians, though mostly good-intentioned, often respond to other people's pain in very unhelpful ways. There is an example of a woman who was very ill and then examples of a few different people who came to visit her and how their different approaches affected her. It shows you how to best try and comfort someone in great pain (although of course there isn't one universally right way to do it). One of Yancey's most interesting observations in this book is that the only cards made for sick people are "get well" cards--and how that shows what society's view is on sickness and how often times people are only considered valuable if they are well. Otherwise, they are considered invalids (as he points out, that word suggests that the person is considered "not valid"). This book should be read by everyone experiencing chronic pain, anyone who experiences any kind of pain, and anyone who ever expects to know anyone who experiences pain. Therefore, everyone should read this book, because pain continues to be a significant part of life.

Even if you are not a Christian, and even if you are not facing severe pain, this book is worth reading. It's worth reading because it will give you fascinating insights into the human body. It's worth reading because it will broaden your perspective after reading about people who have faced tremendous pain. And if for no other reason, it's worth reading because Philip Yancey is a great writer. His writing style is pithy, yet never brusque. He skillful balances journalistic fact, personal narrative, and theology in a way that few others can.

If you are struggling with physical or psychological pain, you will find a friend in Yancey. He approaches this topic respectfully, without simplistic answers and tears back a bit of the mystery surrounding the problem of pain in this world. I know I'll never come across a work that can answer all or even most of my questions, but I appreciate an author that will jump in the sticky battle for answers with a sharp eye for truth and a spirit sensitive to God's voice.

The beginning part of this book explores pain from a physical perspective. It touches on time that Yancy spent with Dr. Paul Brand who works with leprosy patients and investigates how pain is useful from a biological perspective. As the book moves on, Yancey's scope widens to address other aspects of pain and suggest some ways that God might be using pain.

However, at no time was I left with that troubling feeling that I sometimes get after someone quotes that verse about God using all things for our good. Yancey allows that it is much more complicated than that, at least from the perspective of this lifetime. Instead Yancey (much like C.S. Lewis) confronts these pat solutions and champions the cause of all of us who struggle to reconcile the seeming paradox of a compassionate God who is Lord over a pain-filled world.

This is the best book on pain and suffering out in the market (even better than C.S. Lewis's THE PROBLEM OF PAIN). Yancey's first chapter title describes our predicament well enough: 'A problem that won't go away'. This problem is as old as mankind, and in some ways, no one will ever write a better outline of this difficulty than can be found in the book of Job. Yancey's book, though, takes a fresh look at pain itself, and while it cannot answer all questions (no book can), it does give a thoughtful discussion that helps us to comprehend the crucial role of pain in our lives. This book is not an abstract speculative treatise, but a practical and helpful companion as we ask why there is such a thing as pain, is pain a message from God, how do people respond to suffering, how can we cope with pain, and how does religious faith help (or hinder). I give this book my highest recommendation.

This is THE most influential book I've ever read dealing with a subject that the religious experts have wrestled with in every age since the dawn of man. How do you deal with pain, suffering, and/or death? Why does God allow it? Why did He invent pain in the first place? These and other related questions are the hardest to answer when our non-christian friends and relatives start asking them, especially when they are suffering a painful devistating illness themselves. I was given this book at 17 years of age by an unknown saint who slipped it into my hospital room when I was going through the difficulties of a kidney transplant. My anger and bitterness toward God would surly have destroyed me had I allowed it to fester by setting this precious book aside. Thank God I didn't. I read it and my faith and love for Christ greatly increased instead of weakening. I have seen too many suffering patients take the angry, bitter road to destruction. Because of my experience with the book, I now give it out to my patients freely when they are faced with devastating pain or life threatening illness(es). I have found this book extremely valuable in opening up a hardened and locked down heart to Christ. The one who suffers can not understand why a loving, merciful creator would allow him or her to go through such suffering, or why He would allow the suffering of a close friend or relative. This book explores the issues head on with an eyes-wide-open approach to why pain exists in the first place and how we should deal with it. It is both scientific and spiritual. In my opinion, no other book short of the Bible has helped my walk with Christ as much!

My first husband dealt with chronic pain before he died at a young age. He himself had come to true peace with God and the path of pain he had to travel, but it made me question God. If *I* loved my husband so much that I would have taken his pain on myself, then why didn't God? Why didn't God just heal him and so many others like him. This is the best book I've ever found to address the issue of pain from a Christian perspective. There are no easy answers, but I think we are meant to walk in faith in God's goodness and love for us until we are face-to-face with God and have those answers. Someone once asked my husband if he would ask God why he'd endured so many years of pain in his lifetime, and he said, "Are you kidding? I'm going to be so happy to be with God I don't think I'll even think of asking that!" My husband believed in God's deep, abiding, eternal and intensely personal love. I believe this book will help you understand that part of God even better than you already do.

I agree with the other reviewer that said this is the best book dealing with pain and suffering. It begins with discussing how vital pain is to our lives, and describes the hell a painless world would be. Then it tackles the practical issues of how we deal with pain, focusing not on the "Why" of pain, but "To what end?" Finally, it offers terrific advice for those who are trying to help those that are suffering. With passionate sentences and very illustrative examples, Philip Yancey presents many of the answers to the questions that we all have, and some we have never even thought of.

In conclusion, this book is a must read for everyone, even if you have a fairly pain-free life. Also, it is theologically sound, unlike the highly acclaimed but offensive "When Bad Things Happen To Good People" by Harold Kushner.

I appreciate that Yancey tackles the tough theological issues with the approach of a journalist. He speaks in plain english, doesn't cut corners and his books have been instrumental in allowing me to keep my faith during difficult times.
In this work Yancey first illustrates why pain is not always bad and the purpose it serves. Then he takes us on journeys that make even the strongest stomach turn. Reading about the horrors of a concentration camp was difficult enough, and Yancey even goes further in describing some of the tragedies that have produced quadripalegics. Some of the book is VERY difficult reading, not from an intellectual stand-point but from a human one. Hearing about the suffering of some of these people I actually had to stop for minutes at a time before I could continue.

Yet the book is also inspiring. To hear of faith actually existing at all in these horror stories is unbelievable (and Yancey is quick to point out, Faith doesn't endure through all of these anecdotes) and Yancey provides insight into what Christians can do when they are faced with horrific circumstances and also what we can do when our friends/family are.

I have read 6 of Yancey's books and honestly I would give 5 stars to all of them, but this is probably is best. To me what distinguishes Yancey is the fact that while many of the themes in his book overlap, his stories and illustrations rarely do. It's rare a non-fiction writer can produce more than 2 books anymore without basically re-hashing the same content--I have NEVER felt this way with Yancey. I always feel stronger spiritually after reading his books--and this book is certainly no exception.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book for anyone interested in or struggling with pain of any kind in their lives or in the lives of loved ones! I have been walking with the Lord for over 20 years, and in all that time I have never heard, until I read this book, such a helpful and clear significant presentation of how to cope with this (timely and critical) issue of pain in our lives.

Don't be fooled by the author's starting discussion of the physiology of pain. His exploration of the topic has GREATLY helped me to face some horrendous mental, spiritual, and emotional pains in my own life. Now I am more willing and able to trust God to help me THROUGH the difficulties of life, to help me move on with thanksgiving and praise for each small and large blessing that comes each moment. Thank God that His Holy Spirit has moved Philip Yancey to write this book!

I am often amazed by the differences in how Christians view pain and suffering. Is my pain simply God inflicting punishment for some unconfessed sin? Is it the result of my lack of faith? Does God expect me to be thankful for my suffering? Is it all part of God's plan? What do we say as Christians when people ask us how a loving, all-powerful God could allow such nasty things to happen to people?

I certainly didn't know, and picked up this book with hopes of finding some answers. Dividing the book into three sections, Yancey explores why there is pain, how people respond to pain, and how we can cope with pain.

Part 1 aptly points out the necessity of pain - to build our trust in God, to keep us safe and to act as a stepping stone to pleasure. It shows how pain can either drive me away from God or draw me closer to Him.

In Part 2 we are introduced to some people who have suffered far beyond what the average person could expect to suffer in their lifetime. We see how they view their suffering, and how it has affected their Christian walk.

Part 3 equips us to see the "big picture" of pain, and to understand, as the title suggests, where God is when we hurt. Understanding the pain and how it relates to our relationship with God may not lessen the pain, but it does help cast a hope and vision that will allow us to endure. And when it hurts, that can make all the difference.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

What frustrated me was that Philip Yancy didn't even even try to answer the question "Why does God allow suffering?" Maybe there is no answer that we can discern, but we can try. At least he helps us find meaning in our suffering, which is definitely a step in the right direction. He also explains the value of physical pain--he probably could have extended the analogy to psychological pain; if we didn't feel psychological pain, we would just go about doing whatever we felt like to other people without thought of the consequences.

I also appreciated the detail Mr. Yancy went into to discuss how people can approach those in pain, realizing there is no one right way, but there are certainly wrong ways! God does not send us pain because we are "bad," or to send judgement on us! I would definitely recommend this book for someone in pain, particularly physical pain, such as cancer or a chronic illness, as well as to their loved ones.