Review of the Book “When God Weeps: Why our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty”

“When God Weeps” is a book that challenges our understanding and tests our interpretation of a very unwelcome friend who visits everyone’s life at some point in time, albeit in different ways…suffering. This is a book to be read in prayer and with an open heart so that God can do His work in our lives during times of difficulty. Joni Eareckson Tada and Steve Estes help us to know the God who can give meaning to our suffering, because He is the God who allows it. He is the God who has “called all Christians to suffer,” and the God who has a plan that is bigger and wiser for us…the plan of rescuing us from our sins (p.56) and transforming us to be more like His Son Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:7-8) (p.115).

The purpose of this book is help us know the God who weeps over our pain, the God who comes to our side and enters our sorrow, and the God who has a reason that motivates Him to allow us to suffer (p.12). The book shows us that the way to deal with suffering is not “by trying desperately to remove it (p.19)”, but by trusting God in the middle of it. This book also answers the “why” that everyone asks in time of suffering; the answer is given, not from a human perspective, but in a much deeper way, giving us spiritual lenses to see the purpose of suffering through the eyes of God and His Word. Christ our hope of glory is the answer to those “whys” (p.168). The theology present in the book is clear and easy to understand, and leads us to appreciate its practicality and importance. It reminds us of our need to deepen our relationship with—and our knowledge of—the only person who can give meaning to suffering, and to help us deal with it in the best way…with hope.

The book explores the character of a Triune God: His attributes of sovereignty, mercy, goodness, compassion and love are described in a way that helps us to understand that the Father and the Son are involved with, and care about, our situation (p.39). Moreover, the book states that “exposing sin is more important for God than relieving human suffering (p.82),” and therefore God allows sorrow and suffering—although He dislikes it—because the result is better and bigger than we can imagine. One of the things that really challenged me is that God wants to use the church and every believer to relieve suffering through our sacrificial service (p.111). Suffering unites the church.

Joni gives us a definition of suffering, she says that “suffering is having what you don’t want and wanting what you don’t have (p.173).” She also helps us to understand how our suffering has meaning. God can use it so we can be an example in the way we deal with it (p.99); God can use it for the sake of those who are close to us, or for His own glory.

As a sovereign God, our Lord has plans for us that involve trial and pain specifically designed for each of us. At the end we will see the results of it, and gladly we will admit that everything was for our good, and His glory (Rom 8:28). The whole purpose of our suffering is to rescue us from our sin and to help us grow closer to God, to have communion with Him, and to trust in Him. Throughout the process, He is working on our character so that we become more like Christ. The point is, Christ suffered. At the cross He paid the penalty for our sin, and we all have the call of God to participate in His sufferings (Phi 3:10; 1 Pet 4:12-13) (p.135). Through our suffering God invites us to fix our eyes on Christ, to allow Him to be in the center of our suffering, to have intimacy with Him, and to learn the contentment of Paul (p.178) that can only be found in Jesus.

The authors invite us to have a perspective of the future while we are in our suffering, because it will help us to see the end and the joy we will experience for all eternity (p.200). The use of biblical verses related to suffering—and the way in which the authors invite us to use the Psalms to express our concerns, worries, and frustrations before the Lord—is remarkable. Although some people could think it is too irreverent, the authors did a great job of showing us that God wanted the psalms to be in the Bible to serve as an example for us.

At the end of the book, the big picture of suffering is revealed, with the conclusion that God permits suffering in this earth to help us remember the literal Hell “we are being saved from (p.197).” The appendixes at the end are a great resource for those who are suffering, as well as for those who may have to deal with a suffering person in any moment of life.

In summary, God hates suffering, but He allows it to achieve in us salvation, a hatred for sin, a real hope, and a relationship with him and one of the main goals…to foster our Christlikeness.

Anyone can enjoy having this book as a resource to use when those unexpected and “unwelcome” friends of suffering and sorrow knock at the door. Thanks!!!

Blessings,

By Monica Carvajal