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A World Undone: Finding God When Life Doesn't Make Sense
Discover the One Thing That Changes Everything In this booklet, beloved speaker Fr. Mike Schmitz unfolds the mystery of brokenness. He reminds us that we have been fought for by a God who wants us as we are, not as we should be or hope to be. The Lord’s will for us is to find our identity in him and to thrive, living the life he has given us.
64 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2020
86 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Michael Schmitz
31 books253 followersOrdained for the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota in 2003, Fr. Michael Schmitz is currently the Director of the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the diocese. Fr. Michael is known nationally for his inspiring homilies, his presentations and talks to university students, and his tremendous sense of humor. (IgnatiusPress.com)
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 15, 2021
Wow! Father Mike has hit it out of the park with this little volume. It is an amazing little read. I first purchased the paperback, and then the eBook once it was available. I have given the paperback away. And to be honest I wish I could buy cases of this book to give out to friends and family. It is an excellent little volume. A fantastic read that any Catholic, any Christian would benefit from reading! This was exactly what I needed to read. The physical book is listed as 52 pages and the eBook 50. But it is packed full. I highlighted 31 passages on my first read through. Normally when I read a book, I highlight in yellow the first time, then blue, then red. This time some passages hit me so much that I ended up using all three colors to provide emphasis.
Once I started reading this I could just not put it down. And I know I will be returning to it and reading it again at a slower pace. At the end of each chapter is a set of questions for reflection, a challenge, and a prayer. The challenges all begin This week … Thus indicating that Father Mike planned for the book to be read over a number of weeks. The chapters in this volume are:
Undone but Not Unloved
Good Enough?
God Shows Up
Give me a Heart Like Yours
To the Finish
Afterward: The One Thing That Changes Everything
Each chapter contains:
Title
Bible Verse
Teaching (Several Sections)
Reflection Questions
Challenge
Prayer
Seven of the passages I highlighted on my first read through are:
“Here is the great news about being a Catholic Christian: we know what to do with a world that has come undone. Our faith teaches us not only how our world was supposed to be in the beginning and what went wrong but also how to trust God to undo what has come undone. Because that’s what God is up to.”
“But sometimes I wonder if a deeper assumption lurks beneath all this. Perhaps deep down we think that “fine,” “OK,” and “getting by” are as much as anyone can hope for. This is as good as it gets.”
“Jesus has to bring up the wound so that we can realize we’re not fine.”
“This is one of the reasons why I love Confession. We can come face-to-face with Jesus and acknowledge, I’m not fine, and I don’t have to be. I’m not going to forget my past or ignore my present. Because Jesus comes into our wounds to undo the undoing.”
“It’s not what God says that is the answer to Job’s sufferings. God himself is the answer. God shows up.”
“Jesus wept, but he also waited.”
“In our Christian family, in our story, we have miracles—but we also have martyrs. Sometimes we get the miracle; sometimes we get martyred. Sometimes we get delivered; sometimes we get death.”
Having listened to many of Father Mike’s Ascension Presents videos and currently listening to his Bible in a Year Podcast I could not help but hear his voice as I read this book. I have yet to hear or read anything from Father Mike that I have not benefited from. But this book is one of the best resources from him. This is a book that anyone from high school student to retiree could benefit from. We can all grow and improve in our living out our call as Christians and this book helps us see that in a different light.
If you are a Catholic or a Christian and are only going to pick up one book outside your bible this year, I strongly recommend that you give this one a read. This is a book that will change your life. This is a book you should read and that we all would benefit from reading. Pick it up!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by and contributed to by Father Mike Schmitz.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!
Once I started reading this I could just not put it down. And I know I will be returning to it and reading it again at a slower pace. At the end of each chapter is a set of questions for reflection, a challenge, and a prayer. The challenges all begin This week … Thus indicating that Father Mike planned for the book to be read over a number of weeks. The chapters in this volume are:
Undone but Not Unloved
Good Enough?
God Shows Up
Give me a Heart Like Yours
To the Finish
Afterward: The One Thing That Changes Everything
Each chapter contains:
Title
Bible Verse
Teaching (Several Sections)
Reflection Questions
Challenge
Prayer
Seven of the passages I highlighted on my first read through are:
“Here is the great news about being a Catholic Christian: we know what to do with a world that has come undone. Our faith teaches us not only how our world was supposed to be in the beginning and what went wrong but also how to trust God to undo what has come undone. Because that’s what God is up to.”
“But sometimes I wonder if a deeper assumption lurks beneath all this. Perhaps deep down we think that “fine,” “OK,” and “getting by” are as much as anyone can hope for. This is as good as it gets.”
“Jesus has to bring up the wound so that we can realize we’re not fine.”
“This is one of the reasons why I love Confession. We can come face-to-face with Jesus and acknowledge, I’m not fine, and I don’t have to be. I’m not going to forget my past or ignore my present. Because Jesus comes into our wounds to undo the undoing.”
“It’s not what God says that is the answer to Job’s sufferings. God himself is the answer. God shows up.”
“Jesus wept, but he also waited.”
“In our Christian family, in our story, we have miracles—but we also have martyrs. Sometimes we get the miracle; sometimes we get martyred. Sometimes we get delivered; sometimes we get death.”
Having listened to many of Father Mike’s Ascension Presents videos and currently listening to his Bible in a Year Podcast I could not help but hear his voice as I read this book. I have yet to hear or read anything from Father Mike that I have not benefited from. But this book is one of the best resources from him. This is a book that anyone from high school student to retiree could benefit from. We can all grow and improve in our living out our call as Christians and this book helps us see that in a different light.
If you are a Catholic or a Christian and are only going to pick up one book outside your bible this year, I strongly recommend that you give this one a read. This is a book that will change your life. This is a book you should read and that we all would benefit from reading. Pick it up!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by and contributed to by Father Mike Schmitz.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!
September 21, 2021
Always a pleasure listening to / reading Fr. Mike. Although this little booklet might not bring a lot of novelty if you've also watched Fr. Mike's videos, it's full of ideas worth being re-reminded of.
August 4, 2025
Read in Slovak translation. Great kerygma in a few sheets. Depp and powerful.
June 27, 2024
This isn't a book you read through and put away. At 5 extremely short chapters and 60 pages, you can do an initial read through fairly quickly. However, the reflection questions, challenges, and prayers at the end of the chapters make this book something you pick up when you need to be reminded of your worth and God's constancy despite the brokenness. It's something to sit with, to point you to various scripture passages to meditate deeper.
If Fr. Mike's messages have resonated with you in his other formats, you can definitely hear his voice in this. It's not political or preachy.
If Fr. Mike's messages have resonated with you in his other formats, you can definitely hear his voice in this. It's not political or preachy.
July 4, 2024
A really quick read. Regardless of the length of the text, Fr. Mike gets to the heart of the human condition. We constantly admit we are okay, lying about our inner brokenness. The story of the high schoolers believing in God vs. believing that God loves them is striking. Fr. Mike notes that everything boils down to the Resurrection. He has conquered sin and death that we may live.
March 13, 2021
Father Mike Schmitz is a good speaker and writer. I thought the message in this book was a good message. However, I thought he was a little too deep religiously a couple of times.
I recommend this book.
I recommend this book.
April 28, 2021
This is a wonderful book - a reminder of why we can be hopeful and trusting even in a broken world. It's not long or intimidating, perfect to give anyone who might be struggling with life's challenges.
Fr. Mike has a wonderful way of connecting us with the key truths of our Christian faith.
Fr. Mike has a wonderful way of connecting us with the key truths of our Christian faith.
May 1, 2021
Father Mike Schmitz continues to amaze me!! This book would be so much fun to discuss with friends and I highly recommend a Bible study to try it out. Fr. Mike is genuine and honest, but still your number 1 encourager!!
August 24, 2024
A fairly thin book that you could probably finish in a day or just a couple hours. Packed full of goodness and answers to ‘Why is there suffering? Where is God when I’m suffering?’ Great handy booklet but wished there was more content.
November 26, 2025
An interesting book. Thank you Father.
A Jew Dennis Prager taught me the most about Jesus. Dennis stated “ I don’t worry about what God can do for me . I worry about what I can do to please God. “
A Jew Dennis Prager taught me the most about Jesus. Dennis stated “ I don’t worry about what God can do for me . I worry about what I can do to please God. “
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2021
Thought provoking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2022
Great quick fruitful read
Very much enjoyed this book. I would even recommend this to high school kids and elderly. Changed my perspective on our brokenness in this world.
Very much enjoyed this book. I would even recommend this to high school kids and elderly. Changed my perspective on our brokenness in this world.
November 24, 2022
A great resource for those who are wrestling through something hard. It's simple and easy to read, yet contains some meaningful guidance around how to think about the suffering we experience.
August 15, 2023
We are going to use this book in our Book Club.
October 19, 2023
A wonderful book of hope
December 15, 2023
All have to say is that every person that considers themselves a Christian needs to read this short and extremely important little gem of testament to one’s faith.
June 20, 2024
Father Schmitz has given us a small, readable volume filled with wisdom and spiritual insight.
Reflection questions, challenges and prayer complete each chapter
Reflection questions, challenges and prayer complete each chapter
November 23, 2024
Good for small group with discussion questions at the end of each chapter
December 5, 2024
Very good book about life’s trials 🌞💪
April 27, 2025
Super good & easy read. Great book to read in between intense grad school books!
October 13, 2025
uplifting and a good teaching
In the times we live today with everything going on this book was a nice relief. It brought me closer to God!
In the times we live today with everything going on this book was a nice relief. It brought me closer to God!
December 24, 2024
I liked it. Quick read.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews