Book Recomendations
Due to a change in schedule, there will not be a fourth message on Suffering as I originally intended. It seems to me that the last message accomplished much of what I would have liked in a fourth sermon, so I feel like it is ok to move on. Even with a fourth message, the biblical ideas we have considered are hard to grasp and love. The best thing to do is to continue to wrestle with these issues in prayer, in Scripture, and with other godly, reliable guides. Below is a list of books that have helped me immensly in having peace about the issue of suffering, and I believe, strengthening my faith in our personal, all-good and all-powerful God who plans all things for the great good of conforming me to the image of His glorious Son, Jesus Christ. Several of these books are available as free, on-line books.
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More theological, intelectual:
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How Long, O Lord? by D.A. Carson. This book is not light reading, but does provide a strong biblical argument that God is all-powerful and all-good as he ordains evil and suffering. Carson writes that this book is "written by a Christian to help other Christians think about suffering and evil." He is not writing to unbelievers as an apolegetic, but unbelievers would certainly gain an understanding of the Bible's perspective on suffering and evil. Continues Carson, "one of the major causes of devastating grief and and confusion among Christians is that our expecations are false. We do not give the subject of evil and suffering the thought it deserves until we ourselves are confronted with tragedy. If by that point our beliefs--not well thought out but deeply ingrained--are largely out of step with the God who has disclosed himself in the Bible and supremely in Jesus, then the pain from the personal tragedy may be multiplied many times over as we begin to question the very foundations of our faith."
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The Invisible Hand: Do All Things Really Work for Good? by R.C. Sproul. Sproul writes in his usual, practical yet apologetic style anchored firmly in the Bible. In describing his book, Sproul writes, "Every woman who has delivered a stillborn baby knows the devestation it brings to the heart. Who can experience such a thing without crying to heaven and asking, 'Why?' It is normal to wonder where God is in such circumstances. It is where the rubber of human anguish meets the road of divine providence. This book is an effort to face those issues and questions that arise with regard to God's providence. It is designed to look at the question of providence, not only from a doctrinal viewpoint, but chiefly from an examination of concrete experiences in the flesh-and-blood people whose lives and struggles are recoreded for us in sacred Scripture. The Providence of God is our fortress, our shield, our very great reward. It is what provides courage and perseverence for His saints."
- Practical:
- Thinking Right When Things God Wrong by John C. Hutchison. Hutchison is professor of Bible exposition at Talbot School of Theology, and a former professor of mine. One thing is clear when you spend time with John, he is a theologian with a pastor's heart. This book provides invaluable counsel in how to prepare for and deal with hard, seemingly inexplicable circumstances. In this book, he provides a guide that helps Christians understand biblical passages about trials and suffering. What is particularly helpful in his treatment of this topic is his practical, yet biblical, advice that gives us the means to develop a thinking process that can prepare us for difficult times and minimize the shock and paralysis of soul-crushing events.
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Personal:
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Trusting God: Even When It Hurts by Jerry Bridges. This is a personal book, almost like reading a hurting man's diary as he deals with pain, disapointment, and evil in a pastoral way. Bridges asks. "Why is it easier to obey God than to trust him? Adversity is hard to endure, and can even be harder to understand. If God were really in control, why would He allow a tragic auto accident or a crucial job loss? How could He permit cancer in a loved one of the death of a child?" In an effort to strengthen his own trust in God during a time of adversity, Jerry Bridges began a lengthy Bible study on the topic of God's sovereignty. What he learned changed his life, and he now shares the fruit of that study with you in Trusting God.
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When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty by Joni Eareckson Tada and Steven Estes. From the back of the book: "If God is loving, why is there suffering? What's the difference between permitting something and ordaining it? When bad things happen, who's behind them--God or the devil? When suffering touches our lives, questions like these suddenly demand an answer. From our persepctive, suffering doesn't make much sense, especially when we believe in a loving and just God. After more than thirty years in a wheelchair, Joni Eareckson Tada's intiamate experience with suffering gives her a special understanding of God's intentions for us in our pain. In When God Weeps, she and lifelong friend Steven Estes probe beyond glib answers that fail us in our time of deepest deend. Instead, with firmness and compassion, they reveal a God big enough to understand our suffering, wise enough to allow it--and powerful enough to use it for a greater good than we can ever imagine."
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A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis. From the back of the book: "This book was written by Lewis after his wife's tragic death as a way of surviving the 'mad midnight moments.' A Grief Observed is C.S. Lewis's honest reflection of the fundamental issues of life, death, and faith in the midst of loss." Lewis writes, "Nothing will shake a man--or at any rate a man like me--out of his merely verbal thinking and his merely notional beleifs. He has to be knocked silly before he comes to his senses. Only torture will bring out the truth. Only under torture does he discover it himself." This book is of great help in training us how to hurt with those who are hurting and stand beside them as they heal.
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Free On-Line Resources:
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Beyond the Bounds edited by John Piper, Justin Taylor, and Paul Kjoss Helseth. Chapter three by
Mark R. Talbot was instrumental in helping me to grasp that the Bible teaches God is all-powerful, and all-good and ordains everything, even evil, yet man is held fully responsible for the evil he does. Chapter three is called, "
True Freedom: The Liberty that Scripture Portrays as Worth Having." Here's the link:
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/2397_Beyond_the_Bounds/
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Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, Steve Saint, Carl Ellis, David Powlison, Dustin Shramek, and Mark Talbot. This book was written after these people addressed a conference by the same title. I attended the conference and was greatly helped by each person. Having their thoughts in writting and, in some places, expanded beyond what they shared is a great wealth of help and wisdom. Here's the link:
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/2439_Suffering_and_the_Sovereignty_of_God/
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When the Darkness Will Not Lift by John Piper. About this book, Piper writes: "Even the most faithful, focused Christians can encounter periods of depression and spiritual darkness when joy seems to stay just out of reach. It can happen because of sin, satanic assault, distressing circumstances, or hereditary and other physical causes. This book, which is an expansion of a chapter in
When I Don't Desire God, aims to give some comfort and guidance to those experiencing spiritual darkness." Here's the link:
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/1929_When_the_Darkness_Will_Not_Lift/
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The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God by John Piper. Job lost everything: his wealth, his health, and his ten children. All swept away in one satanic storm. Reduced to a heap of flesh, ashes, and tears—rebuked by friends and jeered by strangers—righteous Job wrestled over the purpose and presence of God in the midst of unbearable pain. In this book, John Piper recounts the story of Job in beautiful, compassionate poetry and revels in God's sovereign and surprisingly joyful purposes in allowing exquisite suffering in the lives of his saints. A deeply moving book, especially for those experiencing great suffering and loss. Includes stunning photographic illustrations by Ric Ergenbright. You can also listen to Piper read the poem as you follow along. Here's the link:
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/2441_The_Misery_of_Job_and_the_Mercy_of_God/
There are many other books and articles and sermons that deal with this topic. Not all are helpful. Not all are biblical. I hope that in reading and considering the above works, you will be led to our Rock and Sure Harbor in storms and sunny days. Find out who these authors have read and read them. Best of all, read the Bible. Books like Lamentations, Job, Habakkuk, 1 and 2 Peter all deal with these issues. Read the Psalms too. I trust God will bring you understanding as you think about these things.