Truth Unites Christianity and the Problem of Evil: The Story That Helped Me
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May 6, 2026 A theological look at how stories of suffering can be reframed as redemptive. Joseph’s life is used as a narrative pattern from deep pain to unexpected restoration. The crucifixion and resurrection are presented as the ultimate reversal of evil. Practical prompts invite listeners to trust and consider how difficult experiences might serve a larger purpose.
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Valjean’s Drowning Scene As Image Of Feeling Abandoned
- Gavin retells Jean Valjean’s drowning-in-the-sea scene from Les Misérables as a vivid metaphor for feeling abandoned.
- He uses Victor Hugo’s description of 19 years of hard labor to illustrate how suffering hardens or shrivels the soul.
God Uses Suffering In A Larger Redemptive Arc
- God can use prolonged suffering to accomplish larger redemptive plans rather than those sufferings meaning Divine abandonment.
- Gavin Ortlund traces Joseph’s 39-year down-up arc from slavery and prison to Egypt’s second-in-command as the model for this pattern.
Keep Trusting When Life Feels Incoherent
- Keep trusting God step-by-step even when circumstances contradict promises you expected.
- Ortlund urges an open, tender heart like Joseph’s, resisting bitterness and continuing trust during confusing down periods.
