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When suffering, sickness and hardships come our way, we may start to question God and his goodness. How could a good God let something like this happen? Russell Berger joins Gary Wilkerson to share how he has learned to trust God and his goodness in the face of immense personal suffering.
Key Points from the Podcast
- Russell Berger discusses the spiritual and emotional difficulties his family has faced over the past 12 years as his wife’s health has declined due to an autoimmune disease.
- God can use suffering to spiritually transform us and deepen our dependence upon him.
- When things aren’t going how we had hoped it can be tempting to grumble, complain, doubt God’s goodness and turn away from him.
- God can use evil, suffering and sickness for his purposes and glory.
- Faith is not some spiritual force that you can wield and work up in order to get the things you want in this world, like wealth and health.
- It could be God’s will for someone to suffer faithfully in sickness or disease.
- Through the experience of suffering we can grow to understand God better.
- No matter what circumstances you face, you can trust and thank God, because he is faithful and good.
Bible Verses Referenced in the Podcast
Genesis 50:20, Exodus 33:15, Isaiah 53:5, 1 John 1:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, Matthew 18:15–20
Resources Mentioned in the Podcast
- The American Gospel Documentary
- Defend and Confirm Podcast [Facebook] [YouTube] [Podbean] [Apple]
- Katherine's Transplant Fund
- What Is a Healthy Church? By Mark Dever
- Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever
- Knowing God by J.I. Packer
- The Existence and Attributes of God by Stephen Charnock
About Russell Berger
Writer, husband, father, co-host of the Defend and Confirm Podcast and student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
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About Gary Wilkerson
Gary Wilkerson is the President of World Challenge, an international mission organization that was founded by his father, David Wilkerson. He is also the Founding Pastor of The Springs Church, which he launched in 2009 with a handful of people. He has traveled nationally and internationally at conferences and conducted mission ventures such as church planting, starting orphanages, clinics, feeding programs among the poorest of the poor and the most unreached people of the earth. Gary and his wife Kelly have four children and live in Colorado Springs, CO.