475: [Formed.] Are You Suffering? Dr. Craig Keener on The Necessary Theology of Suffering, How to Develop a New Mindset About Affliction, Hurdling Unresolved Disappointment, Why God is Not in a Hurry to Mature Us, and the Pressure That Shapes Us

Suffering exposes what we believe about God faster than success ever could. When affliction lingers, disappointment goes unresolved, and growth feels slower than we want, the question isn’t whether God is present. It’s whether our theology can carry the weight of real life. Too many believers inherit a framework that collapses under pressure, leaving them confused, bitter, or quietly disillusioned. This week on Win Today, Dr. Craig Keener joins me to rebuild a theology of suffering that can endure. We talk about why God is not in a hurry to mature us, how pressure actually forms spiritual resilience, and what it looks like to develop a mindset about affliction that produces endurance rather than erosion. This conversation doesn’t minimize pain—it gives it meaning.

If you’re suffering, stalled, or carrying disappointment you haven’t known how to name, this episode will help you reframe affliction as formation and discover the kind of maturity that only pressure can produce.

You’ll learn:

• Why suffering is not an interruption to formation but a primary means of it
• How to develop a biblical mindset about affliction
• What unresolved disappointment does to the soul over time
• Why God’s pace in maturing us often feels painfully slow
• How pressure shapes endurance, wisdom, and spiritual authority

Guest Bio

Dr. Craig Keener is a leading New Testament scholar, historian, and theologian whose work has shaped global conversations on Scripture, the Holy Spirit, miracles, and suffering. He has authored dozens of academic and popular-level books and has taught and lectured internationally, bringing rigorous scholarship together with pastoral sensitivity and lived faith.

Subscribe to the Podcast

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube
• iHeartRadio
• RSS

Connect with Dr. Craig Keener

Website

Resources Mentioned This Week

• Suffering: Its Meaning for the Spirit-Filled Life
• Healing What You Can’t Erase: Transform Your Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health from the Inside Out

Show Partners

We spend a third of our lives asleep, so stop treating your bed like an afterthought. Cozy Earth’s Bamboo Sheets are a game-changer. They’re silky smooth, breathable, and cool to the touch. And they’re more than bedding; Cozy Earth also makes bath essentials, pajamas, and men’s and women’s loungewear designed to bring calm and comfort to everyday life. Try their sheets risk-free with a 100-Night Sleep Trial and a 10-Year Warranty. Start the New Year right. Head to cozyearth.com and use code WINTODAY for up to 20% off. And if you see a post-purchase survey, tell them you heard about Cozy Earth on Win Today.

SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I’m not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It’s sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren’t hidden—they’re published right on their site. And that matters, because a lot of so-called EMF blockers on the market either don’t work or can’t prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn’t we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order.

Review the Podcast

Click here to read the ratings, or even better, please leave me a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Your rating will help the podcast get noticed and positioned on Apple Podcasts.