Reviewing "The Question that Never Goes Away" by Philip Yancey

Why?

If there is a good, all-powerful, all-knowing God, WHY do bad things happen?

In a world that often feels like it’s spinning out of control, it’s easy to ask this question. And even when life seems to be going alright, the question never quite goes away.

In this sequel of his book Where is God When It Hurts? Philip Yancey addresses the question. “Addresses,” not “answers,” mind you. One of my favorite things about Yancey’s writing is that he is never afraid to ask questions, even when he doesn’t have a tidy answer wrapped up with a bow by the end of the book.

It’s amazing how much information and emotional resonance this book contains when it is really such a slim, small volume. Although far from an “uplifting” read—Yancey describes several tragic, deeply sorrowful events—I felt somehow encouraged after I finished this book. Almost any book by Yancey I would recommend to pretty much any reader, and this is no exception.

Although I think that different readers will take away different points from The Question that Never Goes Away, the thought that made its largest impact to me was something Yancey said about the account of Job in the Bible….

How does the Bible answer such laments? Usually with silence. Job, that unfortunate man who deserved suffering least yet endured it most, finally got his requested audience with God, who responded with his longest recorded speech. Oddly, though, while giving Job a tour of the natural world in magnificent poetry, God never addresses the Why? question.

I hadn’t thought of it that way before. We often don’t get answers as to why certain tragedies and hardships happen to us—and, let’s be honest, answers may seem like they would help, but when we do get answers they are hollow compared to our pain.

Later, Yancey says that “Words, no matter how well-intentioned, may heap more pain on an already sad situation.” (Looking back at the example of Job: His friends came to comfort him, sitting in silence for days. As soon as they opened their mouths, though, the real trouble started.)

No, God doesn’t necessarily give us an account of why He does or does not do things. Instead, He gives us something more meaningful, permanent, and helpful. 

He gives us Himself.