Q139_090426 Rom. 8:17 The Powers Of Suffering Have Been Overcome By Christ Our SaviorQ139_090426 Rom. 8:17 The Powers Of Suffering Have Been Overcome By Christ Our Savior
How it Happens with Colin Cook
Colin Cook reflects on Romans 8 to explain three types of suffering and how Christ’s work addresses each, especially for those struggling with addiction. He talks about journalling, honest prayer and trusting Christ’s victory as practical ways to face trauma, guilt and ongoing battles with sin.
14:37•8 Sept 2026
Suffering, Addiction and Grace: Colin Cook on Romans 8 and Real Change
Episode Overview
- Some suffering, including the brokenness inherited from Adam, cannot be changed and needs to be accepted rather than fought against.
- Childhood woundedness, family dysfunction and addictions can be worked through with Jesus’ healing presence.
- Keeping a journal of sorrows, abuse and losses can help reveal how God’s grace has been at work in painful experiences.
- Guilt and shame over sin are answered by Christ’s atoning work and his victory over Satan, removing condemnation.
- Prayer can shift from anxious pleading to thankful trust, praising God that the victory over sin and addiction is already won in Christ.
“"Don't try to change things that cannot be changed. Simply change those things that can."”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol, drugs, or any numbing escape? This episode of *How it Happens with Colin Cook* leans straight into that question by linking addiction, suffering and Christian faith in a very down-to-earth way. Speaking from Romans 8, Colin breaks suffering into three parts: the "pain of creation", the "pain of woundedness", and the "pain of sin".
He explains that some things simply can’t be changed – like the brokenness inherited from Adam – and pushing against them just leads to more despair. As he puts it, "Don't try to change things that cannot be changed. Simply change those things that can." For anyone battling addiction or deep emotional pain, this gives a clear focus: accept what’s out of your hands, and work with God on what isn’t.
Colin talks about using honest, sometimes angry prayer and journalling to process childhood trauma and family dysfunction. He encourages writing down grief, abuse and losses, and then gradually noticing where grace has shown up: how pain may have driven someone to seek God in the first place. He also tackles guilt and shame around relapse and ongoing sin, stressing that Christ’s victory means the addiction no longer defines a person.
Instead of desperate pleading for help, he suggests praying from a place of security: thanking God that "there is no condemnation" and that the victory is already won, even if behaviour hasn’t caught up yet. The style is warm, pastoral and very direct – ideal for people in recovery who lean on Christian faith or are curious about how Scripture might speak into their struggles.
It’s aimed at those who feel isolated, ashamed or stuck in long-term habits and want a way to bring that honestly before God. If you’ve ever felt tired of trying to fix yourself, could this be a new way to think about suffering, faith and addiction?
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