Date
8-29-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Jichan J. Kim
Keywords
human flourishing, the grace of the Lord, Methodist clergy, suffering
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Utomo, Sutjipto, "Divine Grace in Human Flourishing amid Suffering" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7438.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7438
Abstract
Human flourishing is as potent as it is intricate. There is a need in the Christian context for a model of human flourishing among other available models. This current qualitative study seeks to gather insights into human flourishing amid suffering among Methodist clergy in Indonesia. The phenomenological approach delved into the essence of encountering the grace of the Lord and flourishing amid the adversities in their ministry. The purposeful sampling was carried out, and fifteen clergy participated in the semi-structured interviews. Their responses helped with gaining insights into the themes of God’s grace, suffering, and human flourishing amid suffering. The results of thematic analysis indicated that the participants could face suffering but flourish at the same time as God’s grace enabled them to depend on his empowerment, presence, peace, and assistance. The key findings from this study contribute to a distinctive paradigm for human flourishing in the face of adversity. This model of human flourishing offers suffering people to thrive amid their adversities through reliance on God’s grace. Counseling and psychological centers, as well as churches, can implement this model of human flourishing in helping their clients and members. The trained counselors and psychologists guide suffering people to be empowered by God’s grace to withstand hardships and thrive concurrently. This intervention assists suffering people to reorient their focus to God as the source of grace and empowerment so they can grow amid life difficulties.
