Berding, Kenneth and Keith Krell. God’s Purposes in Our Pain. 10 Ways God Uses Suffering for Our
Good. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2026.
What is the telos of suffering, its end or goal—that is, God’s forward–looking purposes for allowing
suffering in your life or someone’s close to you? Authors Berding and Krell focus on ten of God’s
purposes for suffering taken from Paul’s book of Second Corinthians. The authors do not look backward
to causes or reasons believers suffer, nor do they address sources of a particular suffering. Rather, they
lay out forward– looking, common purposes that God has to allow suffering in His children’s lives.
The authors want this book to be for all Christians. “Everyone without exception suffers… Suffering
eventually affects us all… This book is for all Christians who suffer” (10).
It is a short book of 126 pages which could be read in an afternoon. But it’s not a book to be read
quickly. Each chapter, develops a text from 2 Corinthians about one of God’s purposes for suffering and
should be read with reflection. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions which would lend to
insightful personal journaling or helpful group discussion.
The ten chapters that develop God’s purposes for suffering are:
- Be Prepared to Strengthen Others Who Suffer—we receive divine help in order to help others
2 Cor. 1:3–5 - Trust in God Who Raises the Dead—we learn to trust in God and stop trusting in ourselves
2 Cor. 1:8–11 - Display Jesus, Not Ourselves—others see the life of Jesus displayed in us
2 Cor. 4:7–11 - Glorify God for His Abundant Grace—God will receive much glory through our suffering
2 Cor. 4:15 - Yearn for the Future—suffering in this life causes us to long for heaven
2 Cor. 4:16–5:10 - Repentance When Repentance Is Needed—God may use suffering to bring us to repentance
2 Cor. 7:8–10 - Support Each Other During Times of Hardship— believers deepen close bonds of support
2 Cor. 8:13–15 - Experience God’s Provision—we personally see God make all grace abound in our need
2 Cor. 9:8–11 - Counteract Conceit— suffering may be used to remove our pride and keep us humble
2 Cor. 12:7 - Welcome Weakness for Spiritual Strength— Christ’s power will strengthen us in weakness
2 Cor. 12:8–10
Each chapter is beautifully balanced, giving insightful explanations of the text as well as good
examples and illustrations. There is much practical wisdom in each chapter that avoids platitudes and
cliches. I appreciated how the writers asked the reader ‘you’ questions. It made the book very personal,
as if these men were counseling you personally. “Are you suffering today? How’s your trust? Are you
trusting at all” (26)?
The authors want this book to be for all Christians. Do they deliver on their goal? The answer is ‘yes’.
These 10 principles are true for all believers in all cultures and circumstances. We need to have our
minds prepared to think biblically in order to process our painful circumstances. These truths bring
courage and comfort to us all in whatever trials we face.
The authors want this book to be for all Christians. Do they deliver on their goal? Even though the
answer is ‘yes,’ I wish there had been more. For one, the authors don’t address the mystery of God’s
purposes. We may never see how God is using suffering to work out His purposes in us or in others. God
may bring suffering into our lives not in a fatalistic or arbitrary way, but nonetheless, His reasons may be
hidden from us, perhaps hidden all our life. Even if we don’t see the purpose for suffering, we are to
submit to His will, knowing His wise purposes will work for our good and for His glory in His time and
design. I may never see His purpose, and that’s still okay. The book closes with “God is doing a good
work through our suffering—corresponding to His holy, righteous, and wise purposes—even though we
often don’t know in the moment why we are suffering.” (141) That sentence should have been the theme
of a whole chapter.
Secondly, the book needed a chapter on how to apply these truths about God’s purposes to our heart in its
pain and confusion. Instead of the appendix on a biblical overview of texts on suffering, I wished there
had been a chapter on counseling to show how to apply these truths to the heart and how to respond in
faith. The book’s focus is on telling us the what—what is God’s purpose in suffering. I wish there had
been a chapter devoted to the how—how to believe and apply these truths to a heart in suffering.
The authors have served the church well in giving us this book and helping us to better understand that
all things work together for good to those who love God. (Romans 8:28).
Review by Ronald E. Pearce
pastor emeritus, Church of the Covenant OPC
Hackettstown, NJ