Book Notes: Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller

When I was given this book at Christmastime, I looked forward to storming through another Keller book which I assumed would be enjoyable, uplifting, encouraging and stimulating. The events I blogged about in January, however have made working my way through this book, and this subject, a slow, troublesome and rather profound experience.

Keller wrote this book, not simply because he is a pastor of a church - and so someone to whom sufferers turn; but because his wife was repeatedly hospitalised for abdominal surgery and he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. This book is the distillation of all that he has learned as he has both suffered and helped the suffering; and is the fruit of many years of seeking to harness all the resources of Christian theology, faith and spirituality to face this massive dilemma of the human condition.

The book looks from two perspectives at entering the 'inevitable furnace of suffering', the first section of the book is more theoretical; engaging theologically and philosophically at the problem of evil and suffering. Keller describes this as written for those 'looking in' to the furnace, seeking a Christian response to the problem of suffering. His approach does not endorse any one of the popular apologetics, arguing that these go beyond the Bible which leaves many questions as mysteries, but seeks to chart a coherent view of suffering in a Christian worldview. In this frame, suffering and evil are neither the result of blind fate, hopeless chance or karmic revenge, nor is the experience the result of the spite of a malevolent or abandoning God; but are temporary evils which a loving God mysteriously allows. However, these Keller is keen to establish, are evils which God uses for the good of those who trust Him, and experiences which can be profoundly harnessed for our eternal good. These chapters are each concluded with some personal stories written by various sufferers whose deeply moving experiences exemplify the points made in the chapters.

Here's Keller introducing the book:

Keller's introduction to the book advises anyone currently enduring suffering to skip this first section which looks abstractly at the problem - and to turn to the latter half of the book. Here, rather than asking "Why does God allow suffering?", the question in view is: "How can I get through today?" and is written directly to the sufferer. This section is less demanding reading, but is a very personal and rather moving devotional theology designed to equip the sufferer to grow through the experience of pain. The series of reflections on the ancient biblical story of Job are very helpful indeed as is his study on the dimensions of 'walking with God' through it: weeping, praying, thanking, hoping, loving and trusting. Here, his emphasis is outworking the philosophy he works out in part one, in simple terms of everyday Christian spirituality. Suffering in this context is not to be dismissed, minimised or denied - but faced. It is not 'unspiritual' to grieve, or to weep; only to do so without turning to God like the Psalmists did. Christian faith does not seek to generate an otherworldy or gnostic detachment from the physical realities of life and death; but to enfuse the experience with faith and hope.

Tellingly, Keller's main focus is on encountering Jesus Christ in the crucible of suffering. For him, knowing, seeing, encountering and adoring Him is the great prize of human life; and suffering presents a vital opportunity for this kind of spiritual growth (like Job) simply because it strips away all the other blessings of life which can become at best distractions and at worst idols.

Joni Earickson Tada writes:  Forgive me, but I’m always a bit skeptical about the latest book on suffering and God. I’m not a cynic or a disparager; it’s just the subject has so consumed me for the last 46 years of quadriplegia, that everything I read makes me wonder, Is there anything new or explained differently about affliction and the Almighty that can help—I mean really help—me through my suffering? ...... And so, when I pick up a hefty manuscript written by a popular pastor/theologian—even if it is Timothy Keller—I muse, Will these pages actually reach people where they hurt—in the gut and in the heart? Well, "Walking with God through Pain and Suffering" comes pretty close. It's a good review, which you can read here

A90 Trails

From Kinnoull Hill

Funky Fungus

Kinnoull Hill

Signs of Spring

It must be Spring, the deer have returned to the western side of Kinnoull Hill and onto Barnhill.

Portstewart by Night

"Not Small, Far Away!"

At Mussenden Temple

Downhill House

The ruins of Downhill House sit high above the cliffs of the North Coast of Northern Ireland. Once the focus of a vast estate covering vast acres of of the North, it collapsed in a financial crisis after WWII. Most of the great house was sold off, many items apparently being taken to America.

Magilligan Martello

To prevent Napoleon invading Ireland up the Foyle Estuary.

Panning

At Downhill Beach

(click on image to enlarge)

A murky day gave way to an incredible sunset.

Ah, young love!

Gortmore

Windyhill

If you are going to build one of these, the "Windyhill" seems like an apt location...

Seaside Album II, at Castlerock

Seaside Album from Castlerock Beach

Beinn Dorain in Winter

Unusually this post features a photo of me, rather than one taken by me (above). I'm on the right looking Southwards towards the summit of Beinn Dorain, admiring the significant cornices on the ridge.

Anyone who has driven Northwards from Glasgow to Glen Coe will recognise Beinn Dorain. As the A82 runs from Tyndrum into Glen Orchy it fills the view ahead, towering above the West Highland Railway line, like a giant cone, which in summer looks like this:

My previous ascent of this peak took place on a warm, cloudy, rainy, day on which my slogging over Dorain and the adjacent Beinn an Dothaidh was rewarded with precisely nothing in terms of views. Yesterday's climb was quite different, and a first for me - a Winter Munro ascent, over snow and ice, in high winds but with magical views over all the surrounding mountains. My family had bought me a pair of crampons for my birthday in February, and I had been keen to give them a try, only lacking some suitably experienced people to walk with in these unfamiliar conditions. This all changed last week with an unexpected phone call and invitation to join a couple of friends on one of their regular Winter walks.

Looking down to Bridge of Orchy Station and Hotel from the Coire an Dothaidh

The track begins at the Bridge of Orchy Station, where an underpass takes pedestrians between platforms and provides access to the far side of the line - where the track continues Eastwards and upwards into Coire an Dothaidh. In summer, I had continued to the cairn marked on the 1:25000 OS map at the head of the col before turning Southwards onto Dorain's main ridge; but seeing this in deep snow, we turned right 'early', and approaching the ride up a little valley, meeting the 'path' at around 900m.

The snow-blasted summit cairn.

The valley also provided some shelter from the wind which was powering into us from the NE, and really began to hit us once we made the Am Fiachlach ridge itself. It was here that I saw for myself, many sights which I had only previously read about, or see photos of. White spirals of snow being whipped up into 'twisters' by the ferocious winds glinting in the sunshine in front of blue skies; previous walkers boot-marks standing like little towers above the rest of the snow, great cornices leaning madly over precipitous cliff-edges beckoning the foolhardy into their avalanching grip; and the sight of countless peaks in snow - viewing not from the floor of the glens - but from above: all this was breathtaking. 

It was also absolutely freezing! While the air temperature was below freezing point, the wind-chill factor reduced this to nearer -8'C. I discovered that some of my hillwalking gear wasn't really up to the job. Some of my stuff (from the discount end of the market, it has to be said), did not perform as well as expected or marketed in these more extreme conditions. Of particular concern were my hat and gloves which while they provided sufficient protection for safety purposes certainly didn't satisfy the desire for comfort.

The crampons were a different matter. Having never walked in them before, I was amazed at how effective they were. I probably delayed putting them on for too long, hoping they would not be required; however strapping them onto my boots on the ridge, increased my range considerably. The funny part was that on the way down, as soon as I took them off - I took one step and fell straight over as my un-spiked boots slid away from under me.

I'm looking for an excuse for another Winter walk soon; but some new pieces of equipment will be needed first.

(Final photo also taken by one of my walking companions)

Kinnoull Buzard