In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick interviews Dr. M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall (Liz Hall) about her book When the Journey Hurts: Finding Meaning in Suffering for Heart, Mind, and Soul. Drawing from her own stage two breast cancer diagnosis and a decade of research, Liz explains the psychological concept of meaning-making, distinguishing between global and situational meaning and how their tension fuels distress. They also explore common ways churches mishandle suffering—vagueness, triumphalism, and defensive theodicies—and instead emphasize purposes in suffering, especially deeper intimacy with Christ and participation in His sufferings. Liz and Lynn also discuss practices like lament, active surrender, forgiveness, and testimony as concrete ways Christians can honestly face pain while rooting their stories in God’s larger redemptive narrative.

Resources Mentioned:

When the Journey Hurts: Finding Meaning in Suffering for Heart, Mind, and Soul by Dr. Kelly Kapic, Dr. M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall, and Dr. Jason McMartin

Dr. Liz Hall

The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity

Let Her Lead

Episode Sponsor:

The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.