Belief Quote by Philip Yancey
““Where is God when it hurts? We know one answer because God came to earth and showed us. You need only follow Jesus around and note how he responded to the tragedies of his day: large-scale tragedies such as an act of government terrorism in the temple or a tower collapsing on eighteen innocent bystanders; as well as small tragedies, such as a widow who has lost her only son or even a Roman soldier whose servant has fallen ill. At moments like these Jesus never delivered sermons about judgment or the need to accept God’s mysterious providence. Instead he responded with compassion – a word from Latin which simply means, “to suffer with” – and comfort and healings. God stands on the side of those who suffer. (pp.27-28/What Good Is God?)””
About This Quote
Source Book: What Good Is God? by Philip Yancey, 2008
Jesus responded to suffering with compassion and healing, showing God stands with the afflicted rather than delivering judgment.
In simple terms: God shows compassion in pain.
Key Takeaway
Practice empathy toward those suffering.
Themes
compassion
faith
suffering
healing
theology
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
spiritual
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal loss
- natural disasters
- war
- illness
- social injustice
Key Concepts
agape
incarnation
theodicy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we embody compassion in crises?
- What limits does compassion have?
A Different Perspective
Compassion may not solve systemic causes of suffering.
