What does Job teach us about suffering, trauma, and faith?

In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer welcomes Dr. Michelle Keener, Associate Research Fellow at the Kirby Laing Center for Public Theology and Director of Discipleship at her church in Las Vegas. Dr. Keener is the author of Comfort in the Ashes: Explorations in the Book of Job to Support Trauma Survivors, and together, they dive deep into:

📌 Key Topics:
✅ Why Job’s story is one of the most misunderstood books in the Bible
✅ How trauma studies help us understand Job’s suffering
✅ What Job’s friends got wrong—and how we often do the same
✅ Why God’s response to Job is NOT what we expect
✅ How churches can better support trauma survivors
✅ Discipleship beyond conversion: What we’re missing
✅ Balancing personal faith with Christian community

🎧 If you’ve ever wrestled with suffering, questioned God’s justice, or wondered how to support those in pain, this episode is for you.

🔗 Resources & Links:
📖 Get the Book:Comfort in the Ashes –ivpress.com (use IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount). 

🔗 Learn more about Useful to God:www.usefultogod.com

📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!

For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living.

What does Job teach us about suffering, trauma, and faith?
In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer welcomes Dr. Michelle Keener, Associate Research Fellow at the Kirby Laing Center for Public Theology and Director of Discipleship at her church in Las Vegas. Dr. Keener is the author of Comfort in the Ashes: Explorations in the Book of Job to Support Trauma Survivors, and together, they dive deep into:
📌 Key Topics: ✅ Why Job&rsquo;s story is one of the most misunderstood books in the Bible ✅ How trauma studies help us understand Job&rsquo;s suffering ✅ What Job&rsquo;s friends got wrong&mdash;and how we often do the same ✅ Why God&rsquo;s response to Job is NOT what we expect ✅ How churches can better support trauma survivors ✅ Discipleship beyond conversion: What we&rsquo;re missing ✅ Balancing personal faith with Christian community
🎧 If you&rsquo;ve ever wrestled with suffering, questioned God&rsquo;s justice, or wondered how to support those in pain, this episode is for you.
🔗 Resources &amp; Links: 📖 Get the Book: Comfort in the Ashes &ndash;<a href="https://www.ivpress.com/comfort-in-the-ashes">ivpress.com</a> (use IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount).&nbsp;
🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: <a href="https://www.usefultogod.com/">www.usefultogod.com</a>
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📢 Stay Connected &amp; Keep Growing!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!
For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit <a href="https://www.usefultogod.com/">Useful to God</a>&mdash;where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living.

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.

Find more from James at https://usefultogod.com/.

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.
Find more from James at <a href="https://usefultogod.com/">https://usefultogod.com/</a>.

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.

Thinking Christian: Clear Theology for a Confusing World

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.
Find more from James at <a href="https://usefultogod.com/">https://usefultogod.com/.</a>