Dr. Michelle Keener | Suffering, Faith & the Book of Job

What does Job teach us about suffering, trauma, and faith?

In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer welcomes Dr. Michelle Keener, Associate Research Fellow at the Kirby Laing Center for Public Theology and Director of Discipleship at her church in Las Vegas. Dr. Keener is the author of Comfort in the Ashes: Explorations in the Book of Job to Support Trauma Survivors, and together, they dive deep into:

📌 Key Topics:
✅ Why Job’s story is one of the most misunderstood books in the Bible
✅ How trauma studies help us understand Job’s suffering
✅ What Job’s friends got wrong—and how we often do the same
✅ Why God’s response to Job is NOT what we expect
✅ How churches can better support trauma survivors
✅ Discipleship beyond conversion: What we’re missing
✅ Balancing personal faith with Christian community

🎧 If you’ve ever wrestled with suffering, questioned God’s justice, or wondered how to support those in pain, this episode is for you.

🔗 Resources & Links:
📖 Get the Book: Comfort in the Ashes –ivpress.com (use IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount). 

🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: www.usefultogod.com

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