Emily Graves spoke with Philip Yancy about his new book, suffering and his own near death experience

Philip: God primarily works through people who follow him. I believe that people who are God-followers are the ones who are showing what God is like, so our responsibility is to respond with compassion and comfort to the most vulnerable people. Remember that saying: the healthy body is one that feels the pain of the weakest part? God chooses to work through us: he seems to prefer to work through us. Even Jesus, when he was on Earth, he was offered the chance: Why don't you take control? Why don't you turn these stones into bread? Why don't you take control of the world? He didn't do that: No, I'm not going to do it myself: I'm going to turn it over to people who choose to follow me. It seems to give God pleasure when we, God's followers, respond in a way that pleases him rather than doing it himself. God chooses to work through people like us, so actually we are the answer to that question. I wrote a book called Where Is God When It Hurts? and you could almost rephrase that title "Where is the Church when it hurts?" Because if we're there actually responding with comfort and compassion and practical help then people aren't going to be sitting around scratching their heads saying, I wonder where God is. They'll know where God is: God is in God's people who are on the frontlines of healing and comfort.

Emily: So do you reckon we'll ever get all of the answers?

Philip: I don't know if we'll get all of the answers - there's something about human beings that isn't satisfied with all the answers: we like to keep searching and pursuing. I think one day we will have a lot more insight into why the planet runs the way it does than we do now, but no-one's come back to tell us whether we'll have all the answers yet.

Emily: If anyone has any questions, particularly with what's in the book, what would you advise them to do with those questions?

Philip: These questions are best experienced in a group rather than alone in your home, thinking philosophically. In many places in Britain there are still some good, strong, lively churches and there are some good, strong, lively priests and pastors. If a person really is touched and wants to talk further - I'm not trying to convert anybody, but it's to deal with questions that we all have - I would recommend that they ask around and say: Do you know of a good church, a place where I'm not judged for asking questions, but people will take me seriously and respond in a helpful way? Often it will be a small group, an Alpha course or something like that, where you can talk about these questions, not alone but in a group of supportive people.

You can buy The Question That Never Goes Away from Cross Rhythms Direct for only £9.49.