Divine Medicine: Trials according to John Cassian

In The Conferences, fifth-century desert father John Cassian explains suffer- ing as a grace afforded the Christian by a patient God working to help the per- son become all God intended. Rather than seeing adversity as inherently bad, Christians are called to use trials for their benefit, trusting God to bring about the ends he purposes. By distinguishing between permission and will and focus- ing on God’s patience, Cassian offers a little-explored view of suffering that may illumine current debates concerning theodicy and the relationship between God’s omnipotence and goodness.