Finding Faith in the Dark: When the Story of Your Life Takes a Turn You Didn’t Plan

by Laurie Polich Short

What do you do when you are handed a life you didn't expect? When the things you desired most haven't come the way you prayed? When it seems like faith is lost, is it possible for a stronger faith to be found? In Finding Faith in the Dark, speaker, author, and associate pastor Laurie Short answers a resounding, "Yes!"

Genres: Christian, Faith, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Theology

168 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 5, 2014

Reviews

[Paul Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not often I pick up a book that I can't put down (the proof of that is that I am usually reading 20-30 books at the same time), but Laurie Short kept drawing me in with her story and several others along the way. The title is accurate. Our lives often take turns we don't expect and/or we don't want. Nevertheless, if we are willing and we are patient, we may see the larger thing that God is doing behind the scenes. Highly recommend!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not phenomenally written, but a quick read. Encouraging stories of others' faithfulness through challenging times, but nothing that I had not heard before. For the right person at the right time this could be exactly what they need, but I didn't find that it was anything rave about or tell friends that this was a "must-read"

[Jeff Bobin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often say, “I plan, God laughs!” and I usually say that when things don’t go the way I planned and I notice it most when it takes me somewhere I don’t want to go. A dark place.

Many times when we enter one of those dark places we want to be anywhere but there. We begin to look at people around us and wish we were living there life rather than our own. Taking us through her own painful places as well as the stories of people that have crossed her path Short illustrates, using the Biblical narrative, how it is in those dark places that God is often most at work in forming us in to who He wants us to be. When she was in those dark places she says, “It didn’t change my circumstances. But it changed me.”

How we respond to the disappointments of life is something we choose. We can dwell on what isn’t or we can focus on what is. “Sometimes God withholds what we want so others can have what they need.” It is often in those unanswered prayers that we leave room for us to answer God’s call.

You will be challenged to think about how much time you spend in the present. Many of us spend so much time worrying about the past or the future that we fail to see God at work in the present time.

Using the stories of Job, Moses, Joseph and Abraham interwoven with Jesus, Mary and Martha you find yourself seeing these stories with new eyes. One of the things that becomes so clear is that waiting is one of God’s greatest tools for developing our faith and preparing us for the future. That includes those times we head off in the wrong direction.

Fear plays a part in all of our lives and you will be challenged to walk through your fears and put your trust in the one that knows where the story ends. How often do we return to what is bad for us because it is the known rather than take the risks God wants us to so we can experience the fullness of life. As you move forward in faith fear loses its grip.

This is both a personal journey and a look at how others have overcome or lived through the dark places in their lives. It is worth the read!

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very encouraging book. Life doesn't always go the way we'd planned. God doesn't always answer our prayers the way we'd like. Short encourages us to not give up on God and the story He is writing until He is finished with it. She has included many stories (including her own) that could be depressing but the way they were lived shows faith in what God was ultimately doing. Readers should know that the author's own desires were finally fulfilled. That could be hard to take for those still in a dark situation. Nonetheless, it is an encouragement to the faithfulness of God in an unexpected grace.
See my complete review at http://bit.ly/1vcSHpM.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

[Bridgette Marriott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came at the perfect time. It was a blessing. I recommend to any one who are in the dark and who are seeking the light. God bless.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the author has a way of coming across as very relatable and friendly. Plus it was nice to read something from an author who had been single for most of her life, and to see her struggles and ways of coming to a deeper level of faith through that time. Overall I came away from this book feeling like I’ve gained deeper insights into how God works in the silences and the more difficult moments of life. This book is a great one to help grow your faith in trusting God and changing our perspectives.

[JennanneJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope is sprinkled throughout this book. I first heard Laurie speaking on the Boundless podcast about changing your perspective on life to improve your life. I liked what she had to say so much, I bought her older book. Laurie effectively uses the stories of friends and acquaintances, as well as Bible stories, to offer examples of hope.

I would recommend this quick read to anyone.

[Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a gift from Pat Hoyt, and I feel bad giving it just 2 *'s. However, I was more interested in the author's anecdotal stories than in her supporting scripture references.

[jennifer jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

i would recommend this book to any human. because life in a broken world doesn't go as planned for anyone.

[Steven Groner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of Laurie Short and particularly liked the final chapter titled "Grace Unrecognized".

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.
It was an okay book, but nothing earth-shattering that will change my life/perspective.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurie Short does a good job mixing Biblical truth with true life stories of disillusionment and heartbreak. I picked up the book at the library, not knowing it was brand new, but identifying with the tag line, "When the story of your life takes a turn you didn't plan." I could identify with Laurie, because I have had my own twists and turns where it was hard to see how God could redeem the story of my life. Yet I had reached the same conclusions she did, even at approximately the same time she did. I definitely feel God placed this book in front of me to confirm things He has been doing in my heart through Laurie's words.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

So encouraging ...

I'm not sure why some reviewers gave this less than at least 4 stars. I didn't find that it sugarcoated anything. In fact, I found the author just as quick to acknowledge those whose prayers haven't yet seen an answer as those who have. I can't imagine how anyone walking through a dark place right now could be anything but blessed and encouraged by this book. I certainly was. In fact, I'm going to start over right now.

[Jennifer Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a nice, short book with a great balance of personal stories and scriptural applications. It's such a quick read due to the length and the good flow of her writing.

Read my full review at 5 Minutes for Books.

[Tina Svoboda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book! I highly recommend it! It came at a time when I was really struggling with what to do in many aspects of my life. If you have ever wondered... where is God in all this pain... READ this!

[Elizabeth Adleta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking for God in the darkest times. Testimonies and stories are encouraging!

[Nancy]

$3.79 10/4/14

[Christine Rocca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking and wonderful. Now my husbands going to read it next.