In this session we wrestle with the some of the most difficult intellectual questions: why does an all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful God allow suffering? With special guest, 24-7 Prayer leader Alain Emerson.

Bible passages from the session: Mark 15:33-34, John 14:12, Genesis 17:17-22, Ephesians 6:10-17

Key points:

–Our unanswered prayers can be attributed to God’s world, God’s will or God’s war

–Miracles have to be the exception rather than the rule because our world is infinitely complicated

–The will of God is often far darker and more painful than we imagine for reasons we can’t immediately understand

–Spiritual warfare is real. Sometimes we need to stop fighting against God, and start fighting with him against the enemy of our souls

–“There is hope, but that hope will not invalidate your pain…” – Alain Emerson

Discussion Questions:

Q. What did you find most helpful, inspiring or challenging in what Pete Greig, Gemma Hunt and Alain Emerson shared?

Q. If you could ask God one “Why?” question, what would it be?

Q. On the cross Jesus asks God “Why have you forsaken me?” Would anyone be willing to describe a time that you felt abandoned or deserted by God when you needed him most?

Closing prayer

Today we’ve tried to understand better the things we can, and to trust better when we can’t understand. Let’s finish now with a prayer of relinquishment written by George Macdonald. It’s not an easy prayer but you may like to open your hands as a sign of surrender.

Afresh I seek thee, lead me—once more I pray— Even should it be against my will, thy way.

Let me not feel thee foreign any hour,

Or shrink from thee as an estranged power.

Through doubt, through faith, through bliss, through stark dismay,

Through sunshine, wind, or snow, or fog, or shower, Draw me to thee who art my only day.

– by George Macdonald (2). Taken from God on Mute, by Pete Greig, chapter 9