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Philip Yancey on the Problem of Pain and Suffering

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Sep 3, 2025

Guest

Philip Yancey

Philip Yancey, bestselling author of influential books exploring grace and suffering, shares his personal journey through pain, including the loss of his father and living with cancer and Parkinson's. He discusses the complexities of suffering and why simplistic answers fall short. Yancey highlights the importance of lament as a critical part of faith, and critiques common perceptions of divine judgment. With insights from the Book of Job, he emphasizes that genuine faith often emerges from grappling with life's hardest questions.

42:35

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INSIGHT

Job Validates Honest Lament

The Book of Job models raw lament and shows God honors honest questioning more than polished theology.
God listens to those who lament rather than to friends who offer tidy answers.

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ADVICE

Prepare To Comfort, Not Demand Miracles

Don't expect God to micromanage every injustice; he chose a world with human freedom and responsibility.
Prepare now to comfort and serve others rather than waiting for divine fixes.

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ADVICE

Be The Church's Comforting Presence

Do comfort others using the compassion God has shown you so you can become a channel of divine comfort.
Actively practice comforting so you can help people in any trouble with the comfort you received from God.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Understanding Suffering Through Job

02:53 • 25min

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Confronting the Notion of God's Judgment Through Grace

27:41 • 6min

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Faith, Nature, and the Quest for Authenticity

33:11 • 6min

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Literary Choices for Isolation

39:00 • 2min

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Embracing Hope and Community in Christian Conversations

40:39 • 2min

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#303

• Mentioned in 56 episodes

Book of Job

Stephen Mitchell

The Book of Job is an Old Testament book that explores themes of suffering, faith, and the nature of God. It tells the story of Job, a righteous man who endures immense suffering despite his piety. The book features dialogues between Job and his friends, who attempt to explain his suffering, and between Job and God. It raises profound questions about the relationship between God and humanity, the problem of evil, and the meaning of life. The Book of Job is considered a literary masterpiece, known for its poetic language and philosophical depth. It remains a source of reflection and inspiration for readers grappling with the complexities of faith and suffering.

#99

• Mentioned in 120 episodes

The Brothers Karamazov

Larissa Volokhonsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Richard Pevear

Set in 19th-century Russia, 'The Brothers Karamazov' is a novel that delves into the lives of the Karamazov family, focusing on the three brothers—Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha—and their complex relationships with their father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov. The novel is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry, faith, doubt, and reason. It examines the human psyche, moral dilemmas, and the search for meaning in a world fraught with suffering and uncertainty. The story revolves around the murder of Fyodor Pavlovich and the subsequent trial of Dmitri, accused of the crime, while exploring deeper themes of Russian life, social and spiritual striving, and the clash between faith and reason.

#83

• Mentioned in 132 episodes

War and Peace

Leo Tolstoy

Set during the Napoleonic Wars, 'War and Peace' follows the lives of several Russian aristocratic families, including the Bezukhovs, the Rostovs, and the Bolkonskys. The novel spans from 1805 to 1820 and is known for its realistic detail and psychological analysis. It explores the impact of Napoleon's invasion of Russia on the characters and society, delving into themes of love, family, war, and personal growth. The novel includes historical events such as the Battle of Austerlitz, the Treaties of Tilsit, and the French invasion of Russia, intertwining historical and fictional elements.

#650

• Mentioned in 32 episodes

The Idiot

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky between 1867 and 1869, 'The Idiot' follows the story of Prince Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin, a young man with a pure and innocent heart, often mistaken for an 'idiot' due to his simplicity and goodness. The novel examines how this 'positively beautiful man' navigates a world filled with corruption, moral decay, and complex human relationships. Myshkin's interactions with characters like Nastasya Filippovna and Aglaia Epanchina highlight themes of love, suffering, sacrifice, and the clash between idealistic values and the harsh realities of society. The novel ultimately leads to Myshkin's mental breakdown and his inability to cope with the world around him.

#53416

Where Is God When It Hurts?

Philip Yancey

In *Where Is God When It Hurts? *, Philip Yancey addresses the age-old question of why a loving God allows suffering. Using examples from the Bible and his own experiences, Yancey delves into the nature of pain, whether it is a message from God, and how people should respond to suffering. The book helps readers understand and cope with pain, emphasizing God's presence and comfort in times of hardship. It has been a Gold Medallion Book Award Winner and has sold over a million copies, making it an inspirational classic for more than thirty years.

#14241

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

What's So Amazing About Grace?

Philip Yancey

In 'What's So Amazing About Grace? ', Philip Yancey delves into the concept of grace, arguing that it is the most powerful force in the universe and our only hope for love and forgiveness. The book includes Bible stories, anecdotes from Yancey's life, and accounts of historical events to illustrate the unconditional nature of God's grace. Yancey challenges the notion that many local churches ignore grace in their quest to exterminate immorality and instead offers grace as the greatest gift the Christian Church can give to the world. He also explores how grace can be a healing force in the lives of individuals and nations, and how it can help Christians contend graciously with moral issues.

#6777

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

The Jesus I Never Knew

Philip Yancey

In *The Jesus I Never Knew*, Philip Yancey conducts an enlightening biblical and historical investigation into the real Jesus. The book is divided into three sections: 'Who He Was,' 'Why He Came,' and 'What He Left Behind. ' Yancey explores Jesus' birth, background, temptation, mission, miracles, death, and resurrection, and discusses how different people and cultures view Jesus. He aims to recreate Jesus as he really was, beyond the traditions of Christianity, and to make Jesus come alive in a new way for modern readers.

You may know Philip Yancey as the bestselling author of What’s So Amazing About Grace?, Where Is God When It Hurts?, and The Jesus I Never Knew. We’ve even had him on the show a few times to talk about these books and more. For decades, his writing has guided Christians who are wrestling with disappointment, doubt, and suffering. But in recent years, his own life has required deeper study into such things.

In this episode, Philip Yancey joins Russell Moore for an honest conversation about suffering, lament, and the God who meets us in our pain. Yancey opens up about his own story, from the trauma of losing his father to living with cancer and Parkinson’s. He reflects on how those experiences have shaped his faith and why simplistic religious answers so often do more harm than good.

Together, they talk about what the Book of Job does—and doesn’t—say about suffering, and why Jesus didn’t “solve” pain during his earthly ministry. Yancey explains why lament is not only permitted but essential, and what it means for the church to be a place of comfort rather than clichés.Plus: what surprising things led him to see the graciousness of God before writing the book(s) on it.

If you’ve been sitting in the silence of God, or are grappling with the problem of pain in your own life, you may find comfort in this conversation.

Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include:

Where Is God When It Hurts? by Philip Yancey
What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey
The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

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