Comparing C. S. Lewis Walking With God Through Pain And Suffering

Introduction Clive Staple (C. S.) Lewis, known as “Jack” to his friends and family, is arguably one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. His various writings, which numbered over thirty, ranged from the seven fictional novels known as the Chronicles of Narnia to various theological apologetic writings. In 2005, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, was made into a major motion picture. It is listed in the top one hundred all time grossing movies at $720,539,572 worldwide. Additionally, the Narnia collection is still being used in classrooms to educate students from the elementary level to collegiate. Lewis’s apologetic writings also affected many authors. As recently as 2013, Timothy Keller wrote, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering and cited many of Lewis’s writings in his theological argument. In his 1940 apologetic, The Problem of Pain, Lewis reasons that suffering and pain in the Christian life has a desired effect. Affirming that God’s instrument of pain “gives the only opportunity the bad man can have for amendment.” Of course, Lewis readily admits that his reasoning is not the work of a real theologian, but rather as “a layman and an amateur.” However, this amateur theologian was clearly able

However, his most intimate thoughts, written in his journal, were published in the book, A Grief Observed, under the identity of the pseudonym, N. W. Clerk. Lewis thought that the publication might help others who were in the mourning process. Throughout its pages, Lewis struggles to make sense of his loss through introspective and theological deliberation. In addition, the book serves as a “naked, poignant account of dealing with the hope, misery, determination, and anguish that accompanied the final resolution of his wife Joy’s terminal illness.” Therefore, A Grief Observed offers one of the best illustrations of Joy’s impact on