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When God's Ways Make No Sense
It doesn't take too much living before we realize that life never goes quite the way we want it to. But when things get hard and we don't understand what God is doing, what is our first impulse? Is it to resist him and run away like Jonah? Or is it to trust him even while trembling in fear of suffering like Habbakuk?
In this powerful exploration of God's often mysterious and counterintuitive ways, Dr. Larry Crabb challenges readers to seize the opportunities for growth and maturity that come our way when we experience troubles and failures. Rather than pushing back against adversity, he invites us to look closer at what God is doing in our lives when it feels like he is far from us. Unpacking the stories of two very different prophets, Crabb lights the way to a life of resting in the goodness of a God who is always working out his plan for our lives.
In this powerful exploration of God's often mysterious and counterintuitive ways, Dr. Larry Crabb challenges readers to seize the opportunities for growth and maturity that come our way when we experience troubles and failures. Rather than pushing back against adversity, he invites us to look closer at what God is doing in our lives when it feels like he is far from us. Unpacking the stories of two very different prophets, Crabb lights the way to a life of resting in the goodness of a God who is always working out his plan for our lives.
240 pages, Paperback
Published July 3, 2018
57 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Larry Crabb
113 books238 followersLawrence J. Crabb Jr.
Larry Crabb is a well-known Christian psychologist, conference and seminar speaker, Bible teacher, and author of more than 25 books—including his most recent, When God’s Ways Make No Sense and two Gold Medallion award-winners Inside Out and Understanding People. He is also the founder/director of NewWay Ministries & most recently his "legacy ministry", LargerStory.com. In addition to various other speaking and teaching opportunities, Crabb offers a week-long School of Spiritual Direction held each year here at The Cove and the Glen Eyrie in CO. He currently is scholar-in-residence at Colorado Christian University. Larry and his wife of 50 years, Rachael, reside near Charlotte, N.C.
Larry Crabb is a well-known Christian psychologist, conference and seminar speaker, Bible teacher, and author of more than 25 books—including his most recent, When God’s Ways Make No Sense and two Gold Medallion award-winners Inside Out and Understanding People. He is also the founder/director of NewWay Ministries & most recently his "legacy ministry", LargerStory.com. In addition to various other speaking and teaching opportunities, Crabb offers a week-long School of Spiritual Direction held each year here at The Cove and the Glen Eyrie in CO. He currently is scholar-in-residence at Colorado Christian University. Larry and his wife of 50 years, Rachael, reside near Charlotte, N.C.
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July 7, 2018
Crabb is in his seventies. He writes from a place of unhealed cancer, advancing age, and soul weariness. He shares his personal thoughts and conclusions as he looks back over his life and the lives of others he knows. There have been so many times when God's way of running the world made no sense to him. He uses biblical examples to show our possible responses at such times. We can run away like Jonah. We can bend Scripture to our liking, like Saul. We can admit that God's ways are incomprehensible to us and tremble and trust, like Habakkuk.
Crabb writes as if he is thinking through his own questions about God and His work. There are many aspects of this book I did not like. He calls himself a “revised deist” or a Christian deist. (1277/2921) God can seem uninvolved, Crabb says, but believes He is always near. (1331/2921) Crabb writes that God will be revealed to our senses as a hands-off God in a way that might frustrate and anger us. (1231/2921) Crabb believes God is in control, that is, God is in control of what He chooses to control. God is in control of “some things” and Crabb is still asking questions about what that means. (1382/2921) He finds it difficult to declare God is in control of all that happens. (1391/2921)
I did like Crabb's emphasis on God's formational work in us. Distress and suffering give us a unique opportunity to think like God. (767/2921) Crabb says that everything God does or does not do is an expression of His unfailing love for us. (577/2921) I like that Crabb challenges readers to think about what we are trusting God for. Are we expecting God to do what we think a loving God should do? (993/2921) We might think God has promised us a certain kind of life that is comfortable and suffering free.
Crabb writes of a “settled growing trust” that has come through his many seasons of life. (963/2921) He tells his life story so we can understand how he has come to be where he is. He has found that God's understanding of what it means to love us is radically different than what we think in our fallen state. (1859/2921) What we think might satisfy us in this life never will. We have desires only heaven can satisfy. (1953/2921)
Crabb is a psychologist. I felt like this book was a psychological adventure in trying to understand why God makes no sense to us so often. It seemed like much of the book contained Crabb's working through his own understanding, almost like a work of catharsis. Crabb tries to answer the age old problem: if God is all good and all powerful then why am I suffering? Most of his writing deals with experiences rather than what Scripture says. I was disappointed that Crabb develops his theodicy mostly from experience rather than God's Word. He admits he is in a “spiritually sterile” or “dry” time as he writes. (2197/2921) Perhaps not the best time to write a book like this.
I think there are many better books on the subject. If you are looking for an author struggling to psychologically understand God's ways through his own experiences and questions, you may like this book. I found it very repetitive and too introspective.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Crabb writes as if he is thinking through his own questions about God and His work. There are many aspects of this book I did not like. He calls himself a “revised deist” or a Christian deist. (1277/2921) God can seem uninvolved, Crabb says, but believes He is always near. (1331/2921) Crabb writes that God will be revealed to our senses as a hands-off God in a way that might frustrate and anger us. (1231/2921) Crabb believes God is in control, that is, God is in control of what He chooses to control. God is in control of “some things” and Crabb is still asking questions about what that means. (1382/2921) He finds it difficult to declare God is in control of all that happens. (1391/2921)
I did like Crabb's emphasis on God's formational work in us. Distress and suffering give us a unique opportunity to think like God. (767/2921) Crabb says that everything God does or does not do is an expression of His unfailing love for us. (577/2921) I like that Crabb challenges readers to think about what we are trusting God for. Are we expecting God to do what we think a loving God should do? (993/2921) We might think God has promised us a certain kind of life that is comfortable and suffering free.
Crabb writes of a “settled growing trust” that has come through his many seasons of life. (963/2921) He tells his life story so we can understand how he has come to be where he is. He has found that God's understanding of what it means to love us is radically different than what we think in our fallen state. (1859/2921) What we think might satisfy us in this life never will. We have desires only heaven can satisfy. (1953/2921)
Crabb is a psychologist. I felt like this book was a psychological adventure in trying to understand why God makes no sense to us so often. It seemed like much of the book contained Crabb's working through his own understanding, almost like a work of catharsis. Crabb tries to answer the age old problem: if God is all good and all powerful then why am I suffering? Most of his writing deals with experiences rather than what Scripture says. I was disappointed that Crabb develops his theodicy mostly from experience rather than God's Word. He admits he is in a “spiritually sterile” or “dry” time as he writes. (2197/2921) Perhaps not the best time to write a book like this.
I think there are many better books on the subject. If you are looking for an author struggling to psychologically understand God's ways through his own experiences and questions, you may like this book. I found it very repetitive and too introspective.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
July 6, 2018
I chose this book because the title intrigued me. When God’s Ways Make No Sense. There have been plenty of times when that seemed truer than I’d like to admit. Are we even allowed to say something like that? Even if we think it. So, an author willing to take on that topic had my attention. And mostly because I wanted his take on what to do about it?
As it turns out Crabb pretty much gave away his case very early on in his book with a single scripture quote. The basic idea is God is GOD and we are not. His motives and actions are incomprehensible to mankind and He owes no explanation for them either. Crabb admits near the end of his book that he is not a theologian which I knew going into this book, but his arguments are theology. Or at least I think so. I found his repeated circling the topic a bit frustrating.
That said, the book does provoke thoughts from the reader. Are his arguments and comments valid? Just Who is God? What is He like? (Yes, I’m old school and assign the masculine pronoun still.) What is my part in all that? Or do I even have any part? Crabb looks at the Biblical accounts of Jonah, Habakkuk, Saul/Paul and how they handle themselves when what they saw God doing made no sense to them. He revisits their reactions in modern garb later in the narrative. He sees their reactions as duck and run, reinterpret the word given, or acceptance with questioning trust.
In the end this author decides that the actions and circumstances that make no sense in a person’s life as a means of deepening the relationship between the believer and God. Hard pill to swallow, but in a lot of his examples I agree with his conclusions.
The value of this book isn’t its narrative which repeats itself frequently, but the questions that it forces the reader to confront. Based on that I’d recommend it.
I received this book from the publisher in return for a review.
As it turns out Crabb pretty much gave away his case very early on in his book with a single scripture quote. The basic idea is God is GOD and we are not. His motives and actions are incomprehensible to mankind and He owes no explanation for them either. Crabb admits near the end of his book that he is not a theologian which I knew going into this book, but his arguments are theology. Or at least I think so. I found his repeated circling the topic a bit frustrating.
That said, the book does provoke thoughts from the reader. Are his arguments and comments valid? Just Who is God? What is He like? (Yes, I’m old school and assign the masculine pronoun still.) What is my part in all that? Or do I even have any part? Crabb looks at the Biblical accounts of Jonah, Habakkuk, Saul/Paul and how they handle themselves when what they saw God doing made no sense to them. He revisits their reactions in modern garb later in the narrative. He sees their reactions as duck and run, reinterpret the word given, or acceptance with questioning trust.
In the end this author decides that the actions and circumstances that make no sense in a person’s life as a means of deepening the relationship between the believer and God. Hard pill to swallow, but in a lot of his examples I agree with his conclusions.
The value of this book isn’t its narrative which repeats itself frequently, but the questions that it forces the reader to confront. Based on that I’d recommend it.
I received this book from the publisher in return for a review.
November 1, 2018
In his newest book, When God's Ways Make No Sense, Dr. Larry Crabb seeks to help us understand how to approach God with our questions. Dr. Crabb uses scripture to help illustrate the ways that we respond to life when it turns topsy-turvy.
Once you find yourself responding to the unexpected in the pages of scripture, Dr. Crabb then points to scripture to teach us how to better respond to trials. I appreciated the way he was willing to acknowledge the way most Christian circles tend to respond to trials. And then he pointed to the ways that our cliche responses are inaccurate and actually unhelpful for those in the middle of a struggle.
Dr. Crabb points to the need to tremble before God in the face of trials. In ways that have stretched my thinking, he reminds us that God is not required to respond to us in ways that we expect or even want. He reminds us that the gospel is the goodness that we must hold on to. That even when we don't have the answers, God is still good.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion.
Once you find yourself responding to the unexpected in the pages of scripture, Dr. Crabb then points to scripture to teach us how to better respond to trials. I appreciated the way he was willing to acknowledge the way most Christian circles tend to respond to trials. And then he pointed to the ways that our cliche responses are inaccurate and actually unhelpful for those in the middle of a struggle.
Dr. Crabb points to the need to tremble before God in the face of trials. In ways that have stretched my thinking, he reminds us that God is not required to respond to us in ways that we expect or even want. He reminds us that the gospel is the goodness that we must hold on to. That even when we don't have the answers, God is still good.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion.
July 7, 2018
Funny thing here, is that I don’t remember requesting a review copy of this book. I remember seeing it on the list, and thinking that I wasn’t interested. After all anybody who has been around for a while already knows that God's ways rarely make sense. So I was surprised when it showed up on my doorstep.
Just another example of “When God's Ways Make No Sense” This book by Dr Larry Crabb (Baker Books, 2018) though, does make sense. Crabb uses three Biblical figures: Jonah, Sual of Tarsus (better known today as the Apostle Paul) and Habakkuk to show how there are three basic default positions when God and we don’t agree on what makes sense in our crazy mixed up world.
We can ‘resist and run’, like Jonah did. We can ‘distort and deny’ as Saul the Pharisee did, or we can tremble before God and learn to trust Him as did the prophet Habakkuk. Three distinct choices, three distinct outcomes. Of course there’s more involved, but that is the starting place. Jonah thought he knew better than God: the people of Nineveh were horrible people, they deserved to be destroyed but God was offering them a chance for salvation. Saul was going to make things better, but in the end it’s Habakkuk who teaches that there is nothing better than that which God has in mind for us.
It’s just that God's will doesn’t always make sense. And our reactions are to get angry, to blame, to ignore, or with fear, awe and trembling, learn to trust.
When God's ways make no sense, strange things happen. And we’re the better for it.
I received a copy of this book as a member of the Baker Books bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.
4/5
Just another example of “When God's Ways Make No Sense” This book by Dr Larry Crabb (Baker Books, 2018) though, does make sense. Crabb uses three Biblical figures: Jonah, Sual of Tarsus (better known today as the Apostle Paul) and Habakkuk to show how there are three basic default positions when God and we don’t agree on what makes sense in our crazy mixed up world.
We can ‘resist and run’, like Jonah did. We can ‘distort and deny’ as Saul the Pharisee did, or we can tremble before God and learn to trust Him as did the prophet Habakkuk. Three distinct choices, three distinct outcomes. Of course there’s more involved, but that is the starting place. Jonah thought he knew better than God: the people of Nineveh were horrible people, they deserved to be destroyed but God was offering them a chance for salvation. Saul was going to make things better, but in the end it’s Habakkuk who teaches that there is nothing better than that which God has in mind for us.
It’s just that God's will doesn’t always make sense. And our reactions are to get angry, to blame, to ignore, or with fear, awe and trembling, learn to trust.
When God's ways make no sense, strange things happen. And we’re the better for it.
I received a copy of this book as a member of the Baker Books bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.
4/5
December 22, 2018
Received a copy from the publishers for review.
It has taken me 6 glorious months to read this book and I am glad I took my time and did not rush through reading this book. This was my first read from Dr. Larry Crabb and it blew my mind! I did about 2-3 chapters a day and had to read slower than I normally do.
This book was packed with so much insight on who God is and how He works for His purpose. I loved how this book dove deep into questions that many of us believers tend to want to ask, but don't speak out loud. I loved them so much as they forced me to really take time and speak with God personally.
Each chapter bore some really amazing information. The focus was on Jonah, Saul (before he became Paul) and Habakkuk. I loved how it went into depth on trembling before God and the cross roads of either: denying, distorting and trusting.
Do I recommend this? YES! I highly recommend this. It will make you check your own faith and understanding of God, how He works and who He truly is. This has definitely strengthened my faith and helped me understand so much more with my walk.
Phenomenal read!
It has taken me 6 glorious months to read this book and I am glad I took my time and did not rush through reading this book. This was my first read from Dr. Larry Crabb and it blew my mind! I did about 2-3 chapters a day and had to read slower than I normally do.
This book was packed with so much insight on who God is and how He works for His purpose. I loved how this book dove deep into questions that many of us believers tend to want to ask, but don't speak out loud. I loved them so much as they forced me to really take time and speak with God personally.
Each chapter bore some really amazing information. The focus was on Jonah, Saul (before he became Paul) and Habakkuk. I loved how it went into depth on trembling before God and the cross roads of either: denying, distorting and trusting.
Do I recommend this? YES! I highly recommend this. It will make you check your own faith and understanding of God, how He works and who He truly is. This has definitely strengthened my faith and helped me understand so much more with my walk.
Phenomenal read!
August 31, 2018
I did receive this book at no charge for my unbiased, honest opinion.
This book: When God’s Ways Make No Sense by Dr. Larry Crabb, was a hard read for me. Not in that I couldn’t read it, but that I found it hard to view the subject matter from his viewpoint. Though this book covers a common subject matter that many try to tackle, it came at it from a psychological standpoint. The examples Dr. Crabb provided: Jonah, Saul, and Habakkuk, were all well research and good examples, but for me it lacked a connection to the scripture that I had hoped would be presented, and came through as more text book or essay like rather than theologically based.
This book: When God’s Ways Make No Sense by Dr. Larry Crabb, was a hard read for me. Not in that I couldn’t read it, but that I found it hard to view the subject matter from his viewpoint. Though this book covers a common subject matter that many try to tackle, it came at it from a psychological standpoint. The examples Dr. Crabb provided: Jonah, Saul, and Habakkuk, were all well research and good examples, but for me it lacked a connection to the scripture that I had hoped would be presented, and came through as more text book or essay like rather than theologically based.
May 5, 2020
I got through about six chapters before giving up on this book. It seems that Dr. Crabb has neglected the portion of Scripture that deals with satan and evil, finding it easier to blame God for what evil has produced.
September 19, 2018
My Rating - Put it on your list
Level - Easy, relatively short (~230)
Summary
This book is mostly about unanswered prayer. We pray for certain people or events, and sometimes God does not answer that prayer, but instead takes our life (or others) in different directions. To us, that makes no sense. The book tries to answer what we do when this happens.
There are 19 chapters, plus an intro and concluding thoughts. The chapters are grouped together in four parts - When God's Ways Make No Sense, What Then? Three Stories, Three Answers; When God's Ways Make No Sense, Tremble! Why? What? How?; When God's Ways Make No Sense: Trust in God's Unthwarted Sovereignty; When God's Ways Make No Sense: Three Parables.
I really dislike the use of the book title in each chapter; it seems really unnecessary and redundant. Part One looks at the three stories of Jonah, Paul, and Habakkuk. Part Four retells Part One with modern day reactions. Part Two takes a look at our two responses, as Crabb sees them, which is to tremble and to trust. Part Three takes a bit of a detour into providence and sovereignty, which is probably necessary in a book about God's plan, especially when we disagree with it.
My Thoughts
I wish I could rate this book a 4.5, because I think some of the questions Crabb discusses are necessary for all Christians to seriously consider, but some of his analysis isn't quite there for me. Much like Yancey's book on Prayer, it challenges Christians to really be discerning and ask hard questions, but I'm not sure either take you much farther (though, that is a great place to be).
Early in the book, Crabb makes reference to Romans, where Paul discusses sin and how he seems unable to stop sinning. That is an interesting aspect to unanswered prayer that I have never considered. Have lost two friends just last year to addiction, I would have liked to hear more about this. However, that is the last mention of personal sin as far as unanswered prayers. That's too bad, it is an understandably difficult topic. What makes less sense than prayer to God to be delivered from temptation, only to fail? Instead the book moves mostly to the familiar realm of pain, suffering, and failure. I love this quote, and I think Crabb really hit on how Christians feel if they are being honest:
God I know you are good, but what good are you? In struggles with no answer, or when his ways make no sense, we wonder what good God is for us.
It really sets the tone for the book - the honesty, the struggle, the questions - and I'm glad that a esteemed leader in the Christian community is willing to write about them in this way; and these are clearly issues he is struggling with currently.
Part Two is probably the strength of the book. That is where you have to look honestly at events in your life and how the unfold in ways that are not according to your plan and you have to wonder what God is doing. Likewise, Part Three looks at our response and delves Biblically into what God says about suffering and general pain in our lives. Though, I'm not sure why he felt compelled to make up his own term, unthwarted sovereignty, that is somewhat between a slight misreading of Calvinist sovereignty and open deism. It's almost more of a rebranding (attempt) of God's sovereignty; maybe some people will find it helpful in understanding God's ways.
The only part I didn't really like was the second of his stories/answer/parable in Parts One and Four, when he discusses Paul. In Part One, he does a little exegesis of the three Biblical narratives of people he things exemplifies ways we respond to God when we don't like what he is doing. Though they were insightful and Biblically sound, I feel like his point on Paul missed. Or rather, his point was good, but Paul didn't really show it the way he might have thought. His point is that Paul distorted and denied God's word. Obviously we do that today, and I suppose you could say that Paul did, but that is all before his conversion. I just don't think you can make a strong argument about a Christian response from a non-Christian.
Overall, I think it is an interesting and challenging book. I think anyone who has ever wondered why God's ways often don't make sense should read this. This is certainly a must read for those who believe, like I once did, that you can't question God's ways. Similarly, people who come from a moralistic or health and wealth gospel view of God, need to read this book. However, for those who have moved passed this, you won't get as much new thought, and definitely no definitive answer. But that is our lot in life, right? We will likely never understand why some things happen. For now, we keep praying, keep reading, and continue to seek understand. If unanswered prayer is one of those questions for you, this is a book to add to your list.
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews at MondayMorningTheologian.com
Level - Easy, relatively short (~230)
Summary
This book is mostly about unanswered prayer. We pray for certain people or events, and sometimes God does not answer that prayer, but instead takes our life (or others) in different directions. To us, that makes no sense. The book tries to answer what we do when this happens.
There are 19 chapters, plus an intro and concluding thoughts. The chapters are grouped together in four parts - When God's Ways Make No Sense, What Then? Three Stories, Three Answers; When God's Ways Make No Sense, Tremble! Why? What? How?; When God's Ways Make No Sense: Trust in God's Unthwarted Sovereignty; When God's Ways Make No Sense: Three Parables.
I really dislike the use of the book title in each chapter; it seems really unnecessary and redundant. Part One looks at the three stories of Jonah, Paul, and Habakkuk. Part Four retells Part One with modern day reactions. Part Two takes a look at our two responses, as Crabb sees them, which is to tremble and to trust. Part Three takes a bit of a detour into providence and sovereignty, which is probably necessary in a book about God's plan, especially when we disagree with it.
My Thoughts
I wish I could rate this book a 4.5, because I think some of the questions Crabb discusses are necessary for all Christians to seriously consider, but some of his analysis isn't quite there for me. Much like Yancey's book on Prayer, it challenges Christians to really be discerning and ask hard questions, but I'm not sure either take you much farther (though, that is a great place to be).
Early in the book, Crabb makes reference to Romans, where Paul discusses sin and how he seems unable to stop sinning. That is an interesting aspect to unanswered prayer that I have never considered. Have lost two friends just last year to addiction, I would have liked to hear more about this. However, that is the last mention of personal sin as far as unanswered prayers. That's too bad, it is an understandably difficult topic. What makes less sense than prayer to God to be delivered from temptation, only to fail? Instead the book moves mostly to the familiar realm of pain, suffering, and failure. I love this quote, and I think Crabb really hit on how Christians feel if they are being honest:
God I know you are good, but what good are you? In struggles with no answer, or when his ways make no sense, we wonder what good God is for us.
It really sets the tone for the book - the honesty, the struggle, the questions - and I'm glad that a esteemed leader in the Christian community is willing to write about them in this way; and these are clearly issues he is struggling with currently.
Part Two is probably the strength of the book. That is where you have to look honestly at events in your life and how the unfold in ways that are not according to your plan and you have to wonder what God is doing. Likewise, Part Three looks at our response and delves Biblically into what God says about suffering and general pain in our lives. Though, I'm not sure why he felt compelled to make up his own term, unthwarted sovereignty, that is somewhat between a slight misreading of Calvinist sovereignty and open deism. It's almost more of a rebranding (attempt) of God's sovereignty; maybe some people will find it helpful in understanding God's ways.
The only part I didn't really like was the second of his stories/answer/parable in Parts One and Four, when he discusses Paul. In Part One, he does a little exegesis of the three Biblical narratives of people he things exemplifies ways we respond to God when we don't like what he is doing. Though they were insightful and Biblically sound, I feel like his point on Paul missed. Or rather, his point was good, but Paul didn't really show it the way he might have thought. His point is that Paul distorted and denied God's word. Obviously we do that today, and I suppose you could say that Paul did, but that is all before his conversion. I just don't think you can make a strong argument about a Christian response from a non-Christian.
Overall, I think it is an interesting and challenging book. I think anyone who has ever wondered why God's ways often don't make sense should read this. This is certainly a must read for those who believe, like I once did, that you can't question God's ways. Similarly, people who come from a moralistic or health and wealth gospel view of God, need to read this book. However, for those who have moved passed this, you won't get as much new thought, and definitely no definitive answer. But that is our lot in life, right? We will likely never understand why some things happen. For now, we keep praying, keep reading, and continue to seek understand. If unanswered prayer is one of those questions for you, this is a book to add to your list.
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews at MondayMorningTheologian.com
July 16, 2018
Life does not always make sense. But then, if you've walked this earth for a few years, or listened to the news, you already know this. Life happens to us all, on a daily basis, at times bringing the unexplainable and unwanted:
health crisis
divorce
straying children
financial problems
death
disappointment
rejection
betrayal
The question then which often comes to us is: "Where is God?"
In his most recent book, When God's Ways Make No Sense, Dr. Larry Crabb brings insight for those difficult days which test our faith. God's thoughts aren't like ours and do not fit easily into our minds. We would prefer easy, comfortable, and successful. A life filled with blessing and easy.
Dr. Crabb puts before us three options which confront us when we face difficulties:
Resist and Run. From the life of Jonah, we discover we can choose to resist god and run off to find for ourselves a better fit.
Distort and Deny. From the life of Saul (before he became Paul), we discover we can know God's principles, distort them to make them say what we need them to say, while denying the passages that contradict our distortions.
Tremble and Trust. From Habakkuk, we find a third option. Tremble before a God whose thoughts and ways are far above our own. Then trust that His love is committed to our growth in ways that are incomprehensible to our limited minds.
This book was an encouraging read, bringing these reminders:
"The Spirit's scalpel has twin edges: exposure that convicts and grace that enlivens" (page 68).
"Settled, growing trust is required to follow Jesus through every season of life. The needed trust develops only in souls that tremble. We must trust to obey. But we must tremble to trust: (page 80).
"We will not understand what it means to tremble in a fashion that births trust until we come to grips with the disturbing truth that the larger story God is telling does not always follow the script we've come up with for our smaller story" (page 88).
"When God's ways make no sense, trust in God's unthwarted sovereignty" (page 136).
"For the earnestly and patiently God-seeking Christian, life will bring to us the desirable necessity of absolute surrender" (page 137).
I did struggle with Dr. Crabb's viewpoint in calling himself a "Christian deist" - seeing God as being uninvolved in our lives in some ways. He believes that God is in control of what He chooses to control. Yet he encourages us to come to the point of believing, "the hands-off God is never more near to us than when He seem most distant to us". His conflict is presented transparently, as he finds it difficult to think that God is in control all that occurs.
I chose this book mainly because Habakkuk is one of my favorite books of the Bible. It was an easy and encouraging read, reminding me I can trust God always - even when His ways make no sense to me, He is always doing me good.
** I was provided a copy of this book by the Baker Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
health crisis
divorce
straying children
financial problems
death
disappointment
rejection
betrayal
The question then which often comes to us is: "Where is God?"
In his most recent book, When God's Ways Make No Sense, Dr. Larry Crabb brings insight for those difficult days which test our faith. God's thoughts aren't like ours and do not fit easily into our minds. We would prefer easy, comfortable, and successful. A life filled with blessing and easy.
Dr. Crabb puts before us three options which confront us when we face difficulties:
Resist and Run. From the life of Jonah, we discover we can choose to resist god and run off to find for ourselves a better fit.
Distort and Deny. From the life of Saul (before he became Paul), we discover we can know God's principles, distort them to make them say what we need them to say, while denying the passages that contradict our distortions.
Tremble and Trust. From Habakkuk, we find a third option. Tremble before a God whose thoughts and ways are far above our own. Then trust that His love is committed to our growth in ways that are incomprehensible to our limited minds.
This book was an encouraging read, bringing these reminders:
"The Spirit's scalpel has twin edges: exposure that convicts and grace that enlivens" (page 68).
"Settled, growing trust is required to follow Jesus through every season of life. The needed trust develops only in souls that tremble. We must trust to obey. But we must tremble to trust: (page 80).
"We will not understand what it means to tremble in a fashion that births trust until we come to grips with the disturbing truth that the larger story God is telling does not always follow the script we've come up with for our smaller story" (page 88).
"When God's ways make no sense, trust in God's unthwarted sovereignty" (page 136).
"For the earnestly and patiently God-seeking Christian, life will bring to us the desirable necessity of absolute surrender" (page 137).
I did struggle with Dr. Crabb's viewpoint in calling himself a "Christian deist" - seeing God as being uninvolved in our lives in some ways. He believes that God is in control of what He chooses to control. Yet he encourages us to come to the point of believing, "the hands-off God is never more near to us than when He seem most distant to us". His conflict is presented transparently, as he finds it difficult to think that God is in control all that occurs.
I chose this book mainly because Habakkuk is one of my favorite books of the Bible. It was an easy and encouraging read, reminding me I can trust God always - even when His ways make no sense to me, He is always doing me good.
** I was provided a copy of this book by the Baker Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
January 18, 2025
Larry Crabb had reached the long, dark tea-time of the soul. He had reached the place in life where both he and his wife had some health issues, friends had their own struggles, and he had to admit to himself that serving God did not guarantee personal success, good health, or even material blessings. This book is his attempt at making sense of all of that.
Crabb admits later in the book that part of the issue has to do with his understanding of the sovereignty of God. I believe he came from a Calvinist background and therefore tended to believe that God was in control of everything. Is there really a difference if God allows a person to suffer, when He could prevent that suffering, or if He actually causes the suffering? Crabb isn't so sure. Yet, if you believe in meticulous sovereignty, then God controls all, even the decisions that evil men and women make.
I tend towards the Arminian viewpoint and see God as sovereign, but giving humans a certain amount of free will to make decisions on their own. These decisions that we make and the people around us make, may lead to really negative out comes. Sometimes God prevents the worst outcomes from happening and sometimes, God allows us to suffer in order to help us grow.
In many ways, this book reminds me of Gary Thomas's "Sacred" books in which Thomas posits that God gives us challenging people and situations to deal with to help make us more holy.
Whether or not you "need" this book depends on whether you struggle dealing with trials. That is to say, if you come from a background of believing that God will bless you with good health, abundant material blessings, and constant success, you will tend to struggle fitting this picture of how life should be with the life you are actually living. As Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Anyway, I have meandered my way through this review. I see Crabb as struggling in his 70s to fit the picture that he had of God in his younger years with the challenges that he was facing at this point. He knew that God was good, but many aspects of his life didn't fit well with this earlier picture he had of God. Using the stories of the Apostle Paul, the prophet Jonah, and the prophet Habakuk, he attempts to show what our response should be when we face trials.
I don't always come out at the same place he does -- I see more hope and don't struggle nearly as much with the concept of trouble in a Christian's life, but I think this book was helpful and pointed in the right direction -- to the goodness of God.
Crabb admits later in the book that part of the issue has to do with his understanding of the sovereignty of God. I believe he came from a Calvinist background and therefore tended to believe that God was in control of everything. Is there really a difference if God allows a person to suffer, when He could prevent that suffering, or if He actually causes the suffering? Crabb isn't so sure. Yet, if you believe in meticulous sovereignty, then God controls all, even the decisions that evil men and women make.
I tend towards the Arminian viewpoint and see God as sovereign, but giving humans a certain amount of free will to make decisions on their own. These decisions that we make and the people around us make, may lead to really negative out comes. Sometimes God prevents the worst outcomes from happening and sometimes, God allows us to suffer in order to help us grow.
In many ways, this book reminds me of Gary Thomas's "Sacred" books in which Thomas posits that God gives us challenging people and situations to deal with to help make us more holy.
Whether or not you "need" this book depends on whether you struggle dealing with trials. That is to say, if you come from a background of believing that God will bless you with good health, abundant material blessings, and constant success, you will tend to struggle fitting this picture of how life should be with the life you are actually living. As Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Anyway, I have meandered my way through this review. I see Crabb as struggling in his 70s to fit the picture that he had of God in his younger years with the challenges that he was facing at this point. He knew that God was good, but many aspects of his life didn't fit well with this earlier picture he had of God. Using the stories of the Apostle Paul, the prophet Jonah, and the prophet Habakuk, he attempts to show what our response should be when we face trials.
I don't always come out at the same place he does -- I see more hope and don't struggle nearly as much with the concept of trouble in a Christian's life, but I think this book was helpful and pointed in the right direction -- to the goodness of God.
August 3, 2018
In "When God's Ways Make No Sense" Larry Crab offers a challenge to believers when they wrestle with the mystery of God and His direction/sovereignty in our lives and world. In order to guide the reader, Crabb presents three ways that people tend to respond when confronted with the incomprehensible ways of God. Using three Biblical models, Crabb invites us to choose how we will respond. First he offers the example of Jonah, a guy called by God to a place he did not want to go. He responds by running. Often we respond to God's direction and ways by running as well. Second, Crabb offers the example of Saul before his conversion and mission to the gentiles. This man was zealous for following God and did not wish for God to upset his status quo. In this way he denied the way God was working in his life and world. We sometimes respond to God's work in this way as well. Finally, Crabb offers the example of Habakkuk who questions God when God reveals that Israel will be judged through defeat by a foreign empire. Instead of denying God's direction or running away, Habakkuk responds in faith, trust, and with trembling. Crabb declares that we should respond to God's mysterious ways with faith, trust and trembling.
Crabb moves on from this point, exploring parts of his own journey with doubt and seeking direction from God in the midst of hard things. While discussing this, he declares himself to be a Christian Deist. He states that basically this means that he believes that God is constantly acting in our world, but sometimes we cannot grasp his acting so it seems He is hands off. Situations such as natural disasters and sickness fall into this idea. This is a great attempt at seeking to describe God's mysterious acting in the midst of trial, persecution and disaster. The idea of a Christian Deist seems like an oxymoron. One cannot believe in Christ as Lord and acknowledge His saving actions and still claim the title of Deist. There is likely a better term for what Crabb seeks to explain here.
Overall, the book is really readable and allows for those who struggle with how God works in the midst of the challenges of life to wrestle a little more. Many should read this book, but with a careful eye for understanding Crabb's terminology in the midst of historical understandings of similar terms.
I received this book as part of Baker Publishing House's Blogging program.
Crabb moves on from this point, exploring parts of his own journey with doubt and seeking direction from God in the midst of hard things. While discussing this, he declares himself to be a Christian Deist. He states that basically this means that he believes that God is constantly acting in our world, but sometimes we cannot grasp his acting so it seems He is hands off. Situations such as natural disasters and sickness fall into this idea. This is a great attempt at seeking to describe God's mysterious acting in the midst of trial, persecution and disaster. The idea of a Christian Deist seems like an oxymoron. One cannot believe in Christ as Lord and acknowledge His saving actions and still claim the title of Deist. There is likely a better term for what Crabb seeks to explain here.
Overall, the book is really readable and allows for those who struggle with how God works in the midst of the challenges of life to wrestle a little more. Many should read this book, but with a careful eye for understanding Crabb's terminology in the midst of historical understandings of similar terms.
I received this book as part of Baker Publishing House's Blogging program.
November 3, 2018
Raw is the first word that comes to mind when I think of how to define this book. Wrestle might be the second word. You get the feeling that author is wrestling with the title of this book most of the time he is writing it. He's fighting cancer, his wife's having surgery, his insurance company tries to cancel his health insurance, friends are fighting their own battles, and he's trying to figure out a God who isn't following the happy Gospel so many modern Christians are ascribing to.
I'm not even really sure how to describe this book in a few succinct sentences. Part of me wrestled with the fact that Dr. Crabb still seemed to be wrestling with this issue at 70 plus years of age. I mean aren't we supposed to have life figured out by then? And the other part of me appreciated the raw honesty that he expressed in the words of this book as he himself wrestled with who God is and how to define His Sovereignty.
Basically, I would say read the book. It's definitely worth it and will challenge your thinking. Using three Bible characters: Jonah who resisted and ran, Saul who distorted and denied and Habakkuk who trusted and trembled, Dr. Larry Crabb will lead you on a journey to a faith and trust like none you've known before.
"The tragedy is real. Our desire for things to go well in the smaller story that begins at our birth and ends at our death is stronger than our longing to know God well enough to live now in His larger story, a story that began for us when we were born again and will continue throughout eternity. A foolish tragedy: we thirst more for lesser goods than for the greatest good."
"...Only when we tremble before a God whose good ways do not seem good to us can we get in touch with our deepest thirst, with the inconsolable longing to know and experience God in a way we never will till we lay eyes on Christ"
"We will never uncompromisingly trust God for the supreme good He is doing in the difficulties we endure until first we tremble over the good we so strongly and understandably want that He is not doing."
I received this book from Baker Books and was not required to write a positive review, but it is definitely a book I am planning to keep and would recommend to others.
I'm not even really sure how to describe this book in a few succinct sentences. Part of me wrestled with the fact that Dr. Crabb still seemed to be wrestling with this issue at 70 plus years of age. I mean aren't we supposed to have life figured out by then? And the other part of me appreciated the raw honesty that he expressed in the words of this book as he himself wrestled with who God is and how to define His Sovereignty.
Basically, I would say read the book. It's definitely worth it and will challenge your thinking. Using three Bible characters: Jonah who resisted and ran, Saul who distorted and denied and Habakkuk who trusted and trembled, Dr. Larry Crabb will lead you on a journey to a faith and trust like none you've known before.
"The tragedy is real. Our desire for things to go well in the smaller story that begins at our birth and ends at our death is stronger than our longing to know God well enough to live now in His larger story, a story that began for us when we were born again and will continue throughout eternity. A foolish tragedy: we thirst more for lesser goods than for the greatest good."
"...Only when we tremble before a God whose good ways do not seem good to us can we get in touch with our deepest thirst, with the inconsolable longing to know and experience God in a way we never will till we lay eyes on Christ"
"We will never uncompromisingly trust God for the supreme good He is doing in the difficulties we endure until first we tremble over the good we so strongly and understandably want that He is not doing."
I received this book from Baker Books and was not required to write a positive review, but it is definitely a book I am planning to keep and would recommend to others.
September 13, 2018
This was a fascinating book that really makes you think. Dr. Crabb used the illustrations of three Biblical characters to show the responses we might have to God when He doesn't make sense to us. Jonah and Saul (later Paul) show us two wrong ways to respond and Habakkuk shows us the right way. We all too often resist and run like Jonah or distort and deny like Saul but what we should do is tremble and trust like Habakkuk. To ask hard questions and know that hard things could be coming but to trust anyway. If we truly realized how much God loves us, we would trust that He is working for our good but the good as He sees it, which might be different than the good we want right now. He talked about suffering and possible reasons for it. I found the section on sovereignty to be especially fascinating. He compares and contrasts three views and digs into the Bible to see which view is most supported. I liked how it felt like Dr. Crabb was just thinking out loud sometimes, struggling with the questions he has and trying to work this out. He talked about struggles in his own life with health problems or other difficulties and what he's come to understand through his study of God's Word. Sometimes he says things my comfort-loving self didn't want to hear but it was the truth and important to hear it. I highly recommend this book for everyone!
I received this book from Baker Books. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
I received this book from Baker Books. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
August 12, 2018
Crabbe presents 3 responses to life: "Will we resist and run, like Jonah? Will we distort and deny, like Saul? or Will we tremble, refusing to turn away from the God whose thoughts and ways are higher than ours and instead wait patiently..." (95) Thoughts are clearly illustrated with examples and illustrations, there is lots of commentary, and the voice of the book is definitely psychological. The author writes with a rather introspective approach and you can see his background coming through loudly. In a book of this subject matter, I want to see more of what the Bible says and less what others say. I wish there was more scripture used throughout. It wasn't that there wasn't any scripture, I just wanted to see more. Nonetheless, there were tons of take-aways and application points. What would have made the book even better would have been thought provoking questions for self-reflection and to help draw out what we are thinking about the subject matter so that those areas of wrong thinking can be changed. I give it 3 stars of 5.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has in no way influenced my review. All thoughts are my own.
https://livinglifefreeinchrist.com/20...
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has in no way influenced my review. All thoughts are my own.
https://livinglifefreeinchrist.com/20...
August 24, 2018
When God's Ways Make No Sense is a Christian living book by author Dr. Larry Crabb. The author wrote this book to help Christians answer the question posed: How are we to respond to seemingly random suffering with no obvious purpose and to repeated failure that we try hard to resist but sometimes can’t?
I appreciate that the author tells the story of three different biblical people and how they struggled in ways people struggle today: Jonah resisted and ran, Paul heard God speak but distorted what he heard, and Habakkuk heard something from God he really didn’t like, he trembled in confusion and fear, then trusted God (pg# 34)
I think the quote that sums up this book is found at the top of page #93: Trembling in the presence of a God who makes no sense presents the opportunity for God’s spirit to quiet our souls in wise trust.
At first, I had a hard time grasping what the author was saying, but about halfway through the book it finally resonated with me and I wanted to keep reading. After reading the whole book I don’t feel like I wasted my time. I would recommend this book to Christians, late teens – adults.
Disclaimer: I received this book complimentary Baker Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
I appreciate that the author tells the story of three different biblical people and how they struggled in ways people struggle today: Jonah resisted and ran, Paul heard God speak but distorted what he heard, and Habakkuk heard something from God he really didn’t like, he trembled in confusion and fear, then trusted God (pg# 34)
I think the quote that sums up this book is found at the top of page #93: Trembling in the presence of a God who makes no sense presents the opportunity for God’s spirit to quiet our souls in wise trust.
At first, I had a hard time grasping what the author was saying, but about halfway through the book it finally resonated with me and I wanted to keep reading. After reading the whole book I don’t feel like I wasted my time. I would recommend this book to Christians, late teens – adults.
Disclaimer: I received this book complimentary Baker Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
December 22, 2018
Received a copy from the publishers for review.
It has taken me 6 glorious months to read this book and I am glad I took my time and did not rush through reading this book. This was my first read from Dr. Larry Crabb and it blew my mind! I did about 2-3 chapters a day and had to read slower than I normally do.
This book was packed with so much insight on who God is and how He works for His purpose. I loved how this book dove deep into questions that many of us believers tend to want to ask, but don't speak out loud. I loved them so much as they forced me to really take time and speak with God personally.
Each chapter bore some really amazing information. The focus was on Jonah, Saul (before he became Paul) and Habakkuk. I loved how it went into depth on trembling before God and the cross roads of either: denying, distorting and trusting.
Do I recommend this? YES! I highly recommend this. It will make you check your own faith and understanding of God, how He works and who He truly is. This has definitely strengthened my faith and helped me understand so much more with my walk.
Phenomenal read!
It has taken me 6 glorious months to read this book and I am glad I took my time and did not rush through reading this book. This was my first read from Dr. Larry Crabb and it blew my mind! I did about 2-3 chapters a day and had to read slower than I normally do.
This book was packed with so much insight on who God is and how He works for His purpose. I loved how this book dove deep into questions that many of us believers tend to want to ask, but don't speak out loud. I loved them so much as they forced me to really take time and speak with God personally.
Each chapter bore some really amazing information. The focus was on Jonah, Saul (before he became Paul) and Habakkuk. I loved how it went into depth on trembling before God and the cross roads of either: denying, distorting and trusting.
Do I recommend this? YES! I highly recommend this. It will make you check your own faith and understanding of God, how He works and who He truly is. This has definitely strengthened my faith and helped me understand so much more with my walk.
Phenomenal read!
December 21, 2019
I have read most of what Dr. Crabb has written since I was introduced to him in 2002. Much of what he has written covers the false idea many Christians have of "if I just do the right things then God will give me the good life I want." Crabb in The Pressure's Off and Shattered Dreams destroys this thinking. This book covers that thought in relationship to the sovereignty of God. Crabb appears to be struggling in this book to reconcile the ideas of God's Sovereignty and our suffering. In the end Crabb leans towards God' allows rather than God ordains as a way to come to grips with suffering. And we are to tremble and trust. Much of what was written was helpful if only because you feel a honest reflection on the Christian life and how challenging it is, but in the end I disagree with how he characterizes those like me who believe God ordains suffering. The challenge is not resolved by giving away God's total sovereignty. That said "tremble and trust" is a proper and helpful response to God in our Christian lives.
January 6, 2019
I was asked to write an endorsement for this book and happily did so. Crabb’s impact on my life through his professional work and his friendship has been profound.
Here was what I wrote for my endorsement. “Wise guides recognize that living in the status quo rarely leads to change. These guides have a unique capacity to foster growth in others by helping them to feel discomfort. Dr Crabb’s wisdom has benefited many of us. He willingly enters into territory that many of us attempt to avoid. He ventures deep into the obscure darkness and tells us what he sees, both those things that make him tremble in the night and those things that reflect the beauty and goodness of God. He brings us to the edge of discomfort, and sometimes past it, so we might better know the realities of a spiritually forming life.”
Here was what I wrote for my endorsement. “Wise guides recognize that living in the status quo rarely leads to change. These guides have a unique capacity to foster growth in others by helping them to feel discomfort. Dr Crabb’s wisdom has benefited many of us. He willingly enters into territory that many of us attempt to avoid. He ventures deep into the obscure darkness and tells us what he sees, both those things that make him tremble in the night and those things that reflect the beauty and goodness of God. He brings us to the edge of discomfort, and sometimes past it, so we might better know the realities of a spiritually forming life.”
June 30, 2019
Sure didn't flow! I didn't find it a real page-turner. It was good. Insightful. Honest. Personal. Practical. Biblical. Below Philip Yancey's standards but still definitely worth reading. As I said in my "Question", I thought too many of his sentences were too long and convoluted. I expected (at the beginning of some of those sentences) that he was going to say xyz but then suddenly he was talking about something totally different at the end of his sentence. This forced me to go back to the beginning of that sentence and re-read. Sometimes it took me 3 or 4 re-reads before I got it.
I like his (perhaps simplistic?) use of Jonah, Saul & Habakkuk. At least it was a framework, a useful memory help and added needed structure.
I like his (perhaps simplistic?) use of Jonah, Saul & Habakkuk. At least it was a framework, a useful memory help and added needed structure.
July 17, 2021
Dr. Larry Crabb addresses the topic of how we handle the hard things in life that make no sense. Speaking from his and other's experiences of suffering, pain, and loss, Crabb walks his reader's through various Biblical characters stories and how they responded to God's actions in their lives.
I'm not going to lie. I found this read dry and boring. I did not finish the book.
I found Crabb's writing style to be a bit dull, and disagreed with portions of his Biblical exegesis. His prose were often a bit confusing, as he tried to narrate how the world dictates we should live verse what faith and trust in God actually mean.
I appreciate the message behind this work. I believe there are better books one can read around this topic.
I'm not going to lie. I found this read dry and boring. I did not finish the book.
I found Crabb's writing style to be a bit dull, and disagreed with portions of his Biblical exegesis. His prose were often a bit confusing, as he tried to narrate how the world dictates we should live verse what faith and trust in God actually mean.
I appreciate the message behind this work. I believe there are better books one can read around this topic.
August 31, 2018
Sometimes God’s ways are mysterious. And in Dr. Larry Crabb’s book, When God’s Ways Make No Sense, he explores how God’s plans are sometimes confusing to man. The book strongly emphasizes the important message of running to God and trusting in Him rather than running away and distorting the Gospel. I like how the author takes the stories of Biblical figures – such as Jonah, Saul, and Habakkuk – and uses them to illustrate his points. The book helps the reader to ponder on trust, obedience, and God’s sovereignty. Crabb provides a deep look into the love of God and the needs of man.
I received this book for review.
I received this book for review.
January 17, 2019
Very gripping book - not a comforting read, but a challenging one predicated on a careful hermeneutic, and Crabb's lived experience. Crabb challenges the oftentimes default misbelief that God's active presence and blessing is measured solely by his doing what we've asked for in our finite contexts. Without giving it away, he strips away that argument and compellingly builds a new one based on the examples of Jonah, Saul, and Habakkuk. If you question the prevailing view of what blessing means and looks like, this is a great read! Thanks to Graf-Martin for this book via their "Resourcing Leaders" program.
July 10, 2019
Larry really takes you on the incredibly deep and intimate journey he is on through this book, in fact it’s a journey we are all on or have been on at some point in our faith to varying degrees. What an honour it was to read his process, to feel his pain and torment and then to read his great victory in Christ as he trusted and trembled. I think this is a must read for all Christians - we have to become a Christian community that is willing and ready to accept the different seasons we go through in our faith and rather than fix one another support one another.
February 13, 2021
I’ve read this Christian psychologist since my Cal days of college and non-sagging body parts.
He’s always been an anchor for me. Having to wrestle in his 70’s, he with cancer, his wife also sick.... and asking the hardest things of God...
I think this book will help grow deeper those roots and to examine how to increase faith in the unknown and unforeseen tough times in life. We simply don’t know how each of our curve balls come to us, and how we will stay constant and faithful, both trusting and obeying, but also staying peaceful in the process.
He’s always been an anchor for me. Having to wrestle in his 70’s, he with cancer, his wife also sick.... and asking the hardest things of God...
I think this book will help grow deeper those roots and to examine how to increase faith in the unknown and unforeseen tough times in life. We simply don’t know how each of our curve balls come to us, and how we will stay constant and faithful, both trusting and obeying, but also staying peaceful in the process.
April 21, 2019
I really struggled with this book, emotionally not intellectually, but I got a lot out of it. I expect I will read this over again, more slowly, to really reflect on some of the denser concepts. I bought a copy for a friend and hope they'll read it, too, so I'll have someone to discuss it with!
October 26, 2022
One of the best books I have read recently. Still pondering what it means to tremble before the Lord and yet trust him. Asks so many questions that normal people ask. Thankful for his sharing of his journey in faith.
January 1, 2019
I heard the author on Focus on the Family and bought the book. Hard concepts. Good theology. Hard to read in the middle of depression.
January 30, 2019
Affirmed so much of what I have come to know in my spiritual journey.
February 5, 2019
Really worthwhile.
July 15, 2019
This was such an excellent book to read. It provides so many trueful insights and compelling challenges to think about. Would highly recommend this book for anyone to read.
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