Access more. Today's conversation on Backport's Theology is the theological version of a dark,

molten chocolate cake topped with homemade vanilla ice cream, thick caramel sauce, and a sprig of

fresh mint. Or for you sugar-free folks,

well, frankly, I can't think of an accurate substitute for that glorious dessert. The bottom

line of this episode is, this is a rich one, y'all. So it's not one I'd recommend listening to

in a hurry or when you're at the risk of being distracted. We also want you to

know that we delved into some sensitive subject matter in this one, so be aware while you're listening.

Probably not good to have littles listening to this one with you. You're going to need time

to really sit and savor this one because we're talking with my friend Catherine Wolfe about

God's compassionate purpose with regards to our pain. Many of you have probably heard or read

some of Catherine's story. She suffered a massive stroke when she was 26 years old, not long

after giving birth to her and her husband Jay's first son, James. And while she defied the odds by not dying after this massive stroke, it still took years

of excruciating rehab for Catherine to learn to swallow again, to talk again, and to regain

partial use of her broken body.

Her story is riddled with debilitating physical and emotional suffering,

which she endures to this day, and yet Catherine honestly oozes hope, because she learned to

find treasures in the dark by asking the hard and awkward questions that pain prompts.

Where is God in this? Am I alone? What is the point of all

this suffering? Is hope just a cruel, false promise? Catherine dared to wrestle for answers without

letting go of God. And the radiant result is that she found unexpected grace and grit amidst, not apart from,

the heartbreak of unfulfilled dreams and plans. She found real peace at the complex intersection

of pain and purpose. And she found fresh intimacy with Jesus, who brings dead or nearly dead things back to life. No matter how new

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