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The Question that Never Goes Away: Why?
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About the author
Philip Yancey
299 books2,390 followersA native of Atlanta, Georgia, Philip Yancey earned graduate degrees in Communications and English from Wheaton College Graduate School and the University of Chicago. He joined the staff of Campus Life Magazine in 1971, and worked there as Editor and then Publisher. He looks on those years with gratitude, because teenagers are demanding readers, and writing for them taught him a lasting principle: The reader is in control!
In 1978 Philip Yancey became a full-time writer, initially working as a journalist for such varied publications as Reader’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, National Wildlife, Christian Century and The Reformed Journal. For several years he contributed a monthly column to Christianity Today magazine, where he also served as Editor at Large.
In 2021 Philip released two new books: A Companion in Crisis and his long-awaited memoir, Where the Light Fell. Other favorites included in his more than twenty-five titles are: Where Is God When It Hurts, The Student Bible, and Disappointment with God. Philip's books have won thirteen Gold Medallion Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, have sold more than seventeen million copies, and have been published in over 50 languages. Christian bookstore managers selected The Jesus I Never Knew as the 1996 Book of the Year, and in 1998 What’s So Amazing About Grace? won the same award. His other recent books are Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God’s Image; Vanishing Grace: Bringing Good News to a Deeply Divided World; The Question that Never Goes Away; What Good Is God?; Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?; Soul Survivor; and Reaching for the Invisible God. In 2009 a daily reader was published, compiled from excerpts of his work: Grace Notes.
The Yanceys lived in downtown Chicago for many years before moving to a very different environment in Colorado. Together they enjoy mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, and all the other delights of the Rocky Mountains.
Visit Philip online:
https://www.philipyancey.com
https://www.facebook.com/PhilipYancey
Catch his monthly blog:
https://bit.ly/PhilipYanceyBlog
In 1978 Philip Yancey became a full-time writer, initially working as a journalist for such varied publications as Reader’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, National Wildlife, Christian Century and The Reformed Journal. For several years he contributed a monthly column to Christianity Today magazine, where he also served as Editor at Large.
In 2021 Philip released two new books: A Companion in Crisis and his long-awaited memoir, Where the Light Fell. Other favorites included in his more than twenty-five titles are: Where Is God When It Hurts, The Student Bible, and Disappointment with God. Philip's books have won thirteen Gold Medallion Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, have sold more than seventeen million copies, and have been published in over 50 languages. Christian bookstore managers selected The Jesus I Never Knew as the 1996 Book of the Year, and in 1998 What’s So Amazing About Grace? won the same award. His other recent books are Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God’s Image; Vanishing Grace: Bringing Good News to a Deeply Divided World; The Question that Never Goes Away; What Good Is God?; Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?; Soul Survivor; and Reaching for the Invisible God. In 2009 a daily reader was published, compiled from excerpts of his work: Grace Notes.
The Yanceys lived in downtown Chicago for many years before moving to a very different environment in Colorado. Together they enjoy mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, and all the other delights of the Rocky Mountains.
Visit Philip online:
https://www.philipyancey.com
https://www.facebook.com/PhilipYancey
Catch his monthly blog:
https://bit.ly/PhilipYanceyBlog
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 16, 2025
It’s hard to review a Philip Yancey book and not give it five stars. however, this one didn’t hit me personally quite on the emotional or intellectual level as some of his others.
Where is God in suffering, and why does he allow it if He is sovereign?
This age-old questions is an ancient question because it is nearly impossible to answer. This book didn’t offer clear answers either, but I do know, because of this book and through personal experience, that God is with us in suffering, and that we as the church have comfort to give the world. If we can enter into suffering, and be present in the grief, it makes God’s love and care visible. This book cemented my desire to be aware of those in pain around me, and to walk towards them rather than shy away.
Several quotes:
“If the church does its job, people don’t torment themselves, wondering where God is. They know the answer. God becomes visible through people who live out the mission that Paul expressed so well: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort that we ourselves received from God.”
“My belief is that when you’re telling the truth, you’re close to God. If you say to God, “I am exhausted and depressed with beyond words and I don’t like you at all right now, and I recoil from most people who believe in you,” that might be the most honest thing you’ve ever said. If you told me you had said to God, “It is all hopeless, and I don’t have a clue if you exist, but I could use a hand,” it would almost bring tears to my eyes, tears of pride in you for the courage it takes to get real - really real. It would make me want to sit next to you at the dinner table.”
“Grieve freely. Cry out when you need help. Accept that some people will say insensitive things. don’t shut out your spouse or family. Take care of yourselves. Breathe in, breathe out.”
“Christ is God saying, “I am here.” Because of Jesus, we have the assurance that whatever disturbs us, disturbs God more. Whatever grief we feel, God feels more. And whatever we long for, God longs for more.”
Where is God in suffering, and why does he allow it if He is sovereign?
This age-old questions is an ancient question because it is nearly impossible to answer. This book didn’t offer clear answers either, but I do know, because of this book and through personal experience, that God is with us in suffering, and that we as the church have comfort to give the world. If we can enter into suffering, and be present in the grief, it makes God’s love and care visible. This book cemented my desire to be aware of those in pain around me, and to walk towards them rather than shy away.
Several quotes:
“If the church does its job, people don’t torment themselves, wondering where God is. They know the answer. God becomes visible through people who live out the mission that Paul expressed so well: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort that we ourselves received from God.”
“My belief is that when you’re telling the truth, you’re close to God. If you say to God, “I am exhausted and depressed with beyond words and I don’t like you at all right now, and I recoil from most people who believe in you,” that might be the most honest thing you’ve ever said. If you told me you had said to God, “It is all hopeless, and I don’t have a clue if you exist, but I could use a hand,” it would almost bring tears to my eyes, tears of pride in you for the courage it takes to get real - really real. It would make me want to sit next to you at the dinner table.”
“Grieve freely. Cry out when you need help. Accept that some people will say insensitive things. don’t shut out your spouse or family. Take care of yourselves. Breathe in, breathe out.”
“Christ is God saying, “I am here.” Because of Jesus, we have the assurance that whatever disturbs us, disturbs God more. Whatever grief we feel, God feels more. And whatever we long for, God longs for more.”
February 5, 2025
“If the church does its job, people don’t torment themselves, wondering where God is. They know the answer. God becomes visible through people who live at the mission that Paul’s expresses…”
“When God seems absent, sometimes it’s up to us to show his presence.”
“ in some, I avoid trying to answer the Why altogether. - the only way I know to respond with comfort and healing, as Jesus did, is to fully embrace the mother‘s grief, and to assure her that God feels more grieved than she does.”
“When God seems absent, sometimes it’s up to us to show his presence.”
“ in some, I avoid trying to answer the Why altogether. - the only way I know to respond with comfort and healing, as Jesus did, is to fully embrace the mother‘s grief, and to assure her that God feels more grieved than she does.”
December 29, 2023
Read Yancey's Disappointment With God instead of this. The material was 90% the same but I preferred the other book over this one.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews