A Theology of Suffering - Finding Faith in Grief
A theology of suffering is not just for seminary classrooms or Sunday sermons. Sometimes, it becomes the only framework that holds you togehter when life completely falls apart. For Alan Kline, the theology of suffering became deeply personal - forged not in theory, but in the most painful chapter of his life. His story is a testimony that God and suffering are not opposites, that Jesus suffers with us, and that faith in suffering is still faith - even when it is full of questions, anger, and tears.
A Faith That Became Personal
Alan grew up in church, and his faith became personal during his junior year of high school. That was when he decided to take God seriously. He started spending time in Scripture, being intentional about his community, and leaning into the local church.
After starting college at a secular university, he transferred to Oral Roberts University when he realized he wanted to be developed spiritually as well as academically. That commitment to rooting himself deeply in God and faith and theology was, in hindsight, preparation for what was coming.
Then in 2020, Alan married his wife, Daniela. After spending a few years enjoying life as just the two of them, they began trying to grow their family. At the end of 2022, they found out they were expecting twin boys.
When Joy Turns to Heartbreak
The twins shared a placenta, creating serious medical complications around 23 weeks into the pregnancy. What followed became a time of uncertainty, fear, and simply waiting.
During that same period, Alan landed in the ER after a mountain biking accident. While they were there, Daniela told him she was bleeding. Doctors admitted her immediately and let them know they would likely remain in the hospital until delivery.
After several difficult days, an intensive screening of the twins showed that one of the boys was having a very difficult time and not developing as was expected. The Klines and their doctors made the very difficult decision to move forward with a C-section, hoping to save both of the boys.
Alan was able to spend an hour with his son Pax before he passed away. Their son Jude fought valiantly for nine days before joining his brother in Eternity.
The grief of this loss was devastating.
Alan describes that season of his life in this way:
He had never needed God more, but he had also never been angrier with Him.
The weight of that sentence captures what so many people in grief and faith know to be true: loving God and hurting deeply can exist in the same heart, at the same time.
A Savior Who Suffers With Us
After Pax and Jude died, Alan and Daniela entered fully into grief. They knew they were “mom” and “dad,” yet they returned to an empty home with broken hearts. Here, they leaned on family, friends, their local church, and grief counseling.
During this season of grief, Alan began to sense something about the Lord.
He had an overwhelming sense that Jesus was suffering with them in their loss. He knew that Christ was not distant from their pain and made Himself very present in it.
He began leaning into a theology of suffering, really knowing the truth that God is not immune to pain. In Scripture, we see a Savior who took on suffering at the Cross and entered fully into human sorrow with us.
What Does it Mean That Jesus Suffers With Us?
Jesus suffering alongside us is one of the most comforting and most overlooked truths in Scripture. For Alan, knowing that Jesus suffers with us was not just comforting, it was anchoring.
Alan encouraged us that grief is not a lack of faith.
Faith in suffering sometimes looks like facing the coldness and brutality of this world and still trusting God with your heart.
Can we lean into pain without being utterly consumed by it? Someone, Jesus, has already walked through pain and suffering and conquered it.
Grief is not the absence of faith
Trusting God during grief doesn’t require understanding His plan; it requires believing in His character
The local church, community, and grief counseling are not signs of weak faith - they are part of how God brings healing
Hope Beyond Understanding
Alan’s encouragement to others walking through tragedy is this: you do not have to make sense of everything.
Not every question gets answered on this side of eternity. But for believers who follow Jesus, suffering and hope are never the final word. Our ultimate anchor is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because He rose again, we can trust that one day soon, every broken story will be fully redeemed.
Faith and trusting God through grief is never about having all the right answers. Sometimes faith is simply believing that redemption is possible and that resurrection is coming.
Selah.
