The Problem of Pain, by C.S. Lewis

In picking up this volumne it has been a long time since I read anything by C.S. Lewis. I had forgotten how logic oriented he is and how these writing of his can be very academic and intellectually stimulating. I picked this volumne up because of dealing with many people and the pain they are feeling with depression.

Lewis does a great job of academically addressing the issue of pain in relationship to our emotions. This is not a book about addressing physical pain, for such a book pick up Joni Erickson's new book, the problem with pain. This book deals with how we as Christians handle the aspect of pain in regards to suffering, relationships, anxiety, depression and extreme emotionally turmoil.

Lewis does a good job of addressing the issue, although at times I think he is far ranging in his dialogue. He addresses the issue of God's omipotence and His goodness. He does an extremely good job of this. Then he moves on to the issue of human wickedness and human pain. The logical progression of his arguments are good. Although it doesn't appear that his dialogue is from a personal experience but from an academic intellectual pursuit.

Just when I thought he was going pretty deep he had one of the funniest quotes I think I can ever write down and use. In discussing the issue of pain with animals he sarcastically is writing about how some people want to believe that all animals go to heaven and have souls and have feelings. He doesn't quite buy into that. But here is his quote that I love, "if the worst came to worst, a heaven for mosquitoes and a hell for men could very conveniently be combined." I wholeheartedly agree!

But probably the main point of his argument is this, all Christians will suffer. He doesn't ask, "Why do good people suffer?" Instead he asks, "why don't all Christians suffer?" He sees suffering and pain as the way for God to help us grow in our spiritual walk with Him.

This book is for every Christian. But it is not light reading. It takes discipline to read, think and then digest what C.S. Lewis is writing. But it will be a good exercise.

Once you have read this you need to follow it up by reading his book, "A Grief Observed", that will be the one that you find absolutely riveting in regards to how he personally deals with suffering, grief and pain.

Enjoy!