Last week, one of the other pastors at my church taught through an overview of the book of Job. Among other themes, Job deals with suffering in the life of God’s people and how we respond. The book has important lessons for God’s people as all of us have suffered, are suffering now, or will experience suffering in the future. As a follow-up to that lesson, that pastor suggested a resource list for this theme of keeping our faith and living in hope despite suffering. Below is a list of fifty resources that deal with different aspects of suffering and directions for understanding and responding well.
If you’re currently in the midst of suffering, it may be better to deal with those things which aim at the heart—finding comfort in God and practical ways to stay focused on him (including the songs!).
If you are in a season of preparing for suffering, try focusing on those resources which are aimed at the head—teaching a theology of suffering or how to help others in their difficulty.
Wherever you decide to start (or bookmark for later!), we hope these will be used to keep you from despair and hopelessness when you’re in the furnace of affliction.
Songs
Michael Card, The Hidden Face of God (album)
Bernard of Clairvaux, trans. by James W. Alexander, “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”
Ada Habershon and Matthew Merker, “He Will Hold Me Fast”
Thomas Kelly, “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted”
Matt Papa and Matt Boswell, “Almost Home”
Horatio Gates Spafford, “It Is Well with My Soul”
Traditional, “Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)?”
Civilla D. Martin and Charles H. Gabriel, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow”
Articles
Luke Anwarti, “An Afghan Christian on Suffering”
Benjamin L. Merkle, “Victory Through Suffering: The True Meaning of Philippians 4:13”
David Powlison, “An Open Letter to the Suffering Christian”
Mark Talbot, “What the Apostle Paul Teaches Us about Suffering”
Paul David Tripp, “4 Reasons for Hope in Suffering”
Ed Welch, “What Not to Say to Those Who Are Suffering”
Kristen Wetherell , “4 Sources of Endurance in Suffering”
Testimonies
Crossway, Songs of Suffering: A Short Film Featuring Joni Eareckson Tada
Crossway, Learning to Kiss the Wave: Dave Furman’s Story
Desiring God, John Piper Interviews John Knight: Disability and the Sovereignty of God
Sermons
Jerram Barrs, “Comfort in Suffering”
Joel R Beeke, “Learning Submission through Suffering”
D.A. Carson, “Making Sense of Our Suffering (Part 1)”
D.A. Carson, “Making Sense of Our Suffering (Part 2)”
D.A. Carson, “Making Sense of Our Suffering (Part 3)”
D.A. Carson, “Gospel Reflections on Trials And Tribulations”
Ed Welch, “What Every Christian should Know about Suffering”
Books
Michael Card, A Sacred Sorrow: Reaching Out to God in the Lost Language of Lament
D. A. Carson, How Long, O Lord?: Reflections on Suffering and Evil (second edition)
Scott Christensen, Defeating Evil: How God Glorifies Himself in a Dark World
Scott Christensen, What about Evil? A Defense of God’s Sovereign Glory
Connie Dever, He Will Hold Me Fast: A Journey with Grace through Cancer
Ligon Duncan, When Pain Is Real and God Seems Silent
Sinclair B. Ferguson, Deserted by God?
John Flavel, Facing Grief: Counsel for Mourners
Nancy Guthrie, What Grieving People Wish You Knew
Deborah Howard, Where Is God in All of This?
Timothy Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering
Wayne Mack, “It’s Not Fair!” Finding Hope When Times Are Tough
Chad Meister and James K. Dew, Jr., eds., God and the Problem of Evil: Five Views
John Newton, The Amazing Works of John Newton
Helen Thorne, 5 Things to Pray for a Suffering Friend
Vaneetha Randall Risner, The Scar that Have Shaped Me
Philip Graham Ryken, When Trouble Comes
Mark Vroegop. Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament
Thomas Watson, All Things for Good
Greg Welty, Why Is There Evil in the World (And So Much of It?)
Note: a version of this post also appeared on the Providence Bible Fellowship blog.
MAGNIFY CHRIST 