Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts

Rating:
Summary: A well-written and biblically accurate source of comfort
Review: A well-written and biblically accurate source of comfort to those suffering. Finally, Christians have an answer to the popular book _When Bad Things Happen to Good People_ by Rabbi Kushner. I think the book is well-organized and theologically sound. Bridges clearly shows from a Bible perspective that God is sovereign, in control, and loving all at the same time.

I commend this book to anyone who is suffering from a set back or tragedy. Bring your tough questions and even your anger over "WHY?", Bridges shows rightly that God stands with open arms ready to comfort us in our point of need.

Rating:
Summary: A Real Life-Changer!
Review: As a Christian for 18 years, some books out of the many I have read stand out as true life-changers. Trusting God is one of them. One can read the Bible and books about God, go to church, pray to Him, and share with others about Him. But until we learn to really believe in His awesome power,interest and involvement in our lives, we fail to enjoy the truly rich life He offers us through trust in Him. Jerry Bridges teaches us this profound trust.

Rating:
Summary: Life-Changing
Review: Bridges starts out at the beginning saying that you shouldn't read this book WHILE you are going through hard times, so of course I did. And I was very angry with some things he said at the beginning so I thought I would go through and see what I could "blast" him for. Instead, this book changed my life. He has three main points you MUST learn if you want to know God better: God's Sovereignty, God's Wisdom, and God's Love. One without the other two will leave you right where you are. Learn all three and your life will be changed. As I began to read just how much God does love us, I could accept His wisdom and sovereignty in all things and the "whys" gave way to the acceptance we need in order to not only survive hard times, but be at peace with them. You will learn to Trust God .... even when life hurts.

Rating:
Summary: Very practical; theologically sound; but REDUNDANT!
Review: I first picked up this volume a couple years ago when I was going through a severe spiritual trial. One of the lessons I had to learn at that time was to come to grips with God's limitless sovereignty, and to conclude from His sovereignty that I could trust Him -- not just with the issues I was then facing, but with every aspect of my life. At that time I read only about one-third of the book, which struck me as terribly redundant in its seemingly endless presentation of God's sovereignty. Once I got my fill of that, I put the book aside.

In the past month, however, I have had occasion to re-read this book in its entirety as part of a men's discipleship study. I still thought it was redundant, taking over 200 pages to say what could be said effectively in half that amount of space. Nevertheless, when you get past the sections on sovereignty to the chapters on God's love and wisdom, you will see a grand and comprehensive picture (to the extent we are able as finite humans) of God's wise and careful guidance of the whole of His creation for His glory and our good.

I must take issue with the review of Rev. Bud Espers (the very first one under this listing). Apparently he didn't read the same book as the rest of us, or at least not the second half of it ... or maybe he simply hasn't read his Bible. If he did, I don't see how he could draw the conclusions that he did about Bridges or this book. Yes, God's sovereignty can be a scary thing, and can come across as "cold and uncaring" (to use Mr. Espers' words) unless you understand the broader teachings of scripture about the nature and character of God. Bridges is also very careful to point out that our "good" is conformity to the image of Christ, not comfort, ease or "happiness" in this life. Don't get the two confused or you'll likely reach the same cynical conclusion as Mr. Espers.

That's why I think Bridges' inclusion of the chapters on wisdom and love are indispensible to a proper presentation of these issues. God is just as loving and wise as He is sovereign, and if you get out of balance on these or any of God's attributes, you will end up with a skewed picture just like Mr. Espers. As a serious student of the Bible, I can say with some confidence that this book is theologically quite solid, and is heavily supported by scripture. One of the benefits of having so much redundancy is that the author drives home his point from so many different angles as to leave no room for doubt about its biblical veracity.

To sum it up, this is a book for hurting people who need to come to grips not with their circumstances, but with the God who orders the circumstances. Life is hard and frequently painful, and unless we learn that God is trustworthy and has our greater good in mind, this life will be terrifying indeed. The apostle Paul said it best in Romans 8:18 -- "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us." You can only have that attitude, though, if you have a proper biblical understanding of God's sovereignty. This book is a great place to find it.

Rating:
Summary: Very practical; theologically sound; but REDUNDANT!
Review: I first picked up this volume a couple years ago when I was going through a severe spiritual trial. One of the lessons I had to learn at that time was to come to grips with God's limitless sovereignty, and to conclude from His sovereignty that I could trust Him -- not just with the issues I was then facing, but with every aspect of my life. At that time I read only about one-third of the book, which struck me as terribly redundant in its seemingly endless presentation of God's sovereignty. Once I got my fill of that, I put the book aside.

In the past month, however, I have had occasion to re-read this book in its entirety as part of a men's discipleship study. I still thought it was redundant, taking over 200 pages to say what could be said effectively in half that amount of space. Nevertheless, when you get past the sections on sovereignty to the chapters on God's love and wisdom, you will see a grand and comprehensive picture (to the extent we are able as finite humans) of God's wise and careful guidance of the whole of His creation for His glory and our good.

I must take issue with the review of Rev. Bud Espers (the very first one under this listing). Apparently he didn't read the same book as the rest of us, or at least not the second half of it ... or maybe he simply hasn't read his Bible. If he did, I don't see how he could draw the conclusions that he did about Bridges or this book. Yes, God's sovereignty can be a scary thing, and can come across as "cold and uncaring" (to use Mr. Espers' words) unless you understand the broader teachings of scripture about the nature and character of God. Bridges is also very careful to point out that our "good" is conformity to the image of Christ, not comfort, ease or "happiness" in this life. Don't get the two confused or you'll likely reach the same cynical conclusion as Mr. Espers.

That's why I think Bridges' inclusion of the chapters on wisdom and love are indispensible to a proper presentation of these issues. God is just as loving and wise as He is sovereign, and if you get out of balance on these or any of God's attributes, you will end up with a skewed picture just like Mr. Espers. As a serious student of the Bible, I can say with some confidence that this book is theologically quite solid, and is heavily supported by scripture. One of the benefits of having so much redundancy is that the author drives home his point from so many different angles as to leave no room for doubt about its biblical veracity.

To sum it up, this is a book for hurting people who need to come to grips not with their circumstances, but with the God who orders the circumstances. Life is hard and frequently painful, and unless we learn that God is trustworthy and has our greater good in mind, this life will be terrifying indeed. The apostle Paul said it best in Romans 8:18 -- "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us." You can only have that attitude, though, if you have a proper biblical understanding of God's sovereignty. This book is a great place to find it.

Rating:
Summary: Very good insight
Review: I happened to finish this book ten days before the attack on September 11. It helps to clearify Gods role in our lives. The author uses Biblical quotes for the most part, and that is important. There are many quotes from other promenent people of God, but I tend to pay attention to the Bible quotes. I used this book as a study guide through the Bible. It's a good idea to look up each quote to insure it is not used out of context.
I would have rated it five stars except for the relatively high amount of people quotes. I also have one major dissagreement with the author. That is I always ask God ?why?.
I may not understand His answer, but as a child of God I don't see the harm in asking. After all Jesus asked while on the cross,"My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?".

Rating:
Summary: Very good insight
Review: I happened to finish this book ten days before the attack on September 11. It helps to clearify Gods role in our lives. The author uses Biblical quotes for the most part, and that is important. There are many quotes from other promenent people of God, but I tend to pay attention to the Bible quotes. I used this book as a study guide through the Bible. It's a good idea to look up each quote to insure it is not used out of context.
I would have rated it five stars except for the relatively high amount of people quotes. I also have one major dissagreement with the author. That is I always ask God ?why?.
I may not understand His answer, but as a child of God I don't see the harm in asking. After all Jesus asked while on the cross,"My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?".

Rating:
Summary: My perspective of God
Review: I have read many books on the subject of trusting God, but never has one impacted my relationship with God as this one has. I have read it 3 times using the study guide during the last read. The questions in the guide were by far the most probing ones I've had to answer and I believe I know God and myself in a deeper way than ever before. I am sad that I've finished the study guide, yet I look forward to another one by Jerry Bridges I recently purchased. Thank you Mr Bridges for the obvious effort this must have taken. The reward is one more child of God resting under His wing.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Books on the Character of God
Review: I was amazed, shocked, inspired, and out right strengthened in my faith by reading this book. My church recommends all of its young christians read it, and I wish I had taken the time to do so earlier. Most people want to blame the bad things in life on anything but God, but the Bible says that he is omnipotent and uses "the bad things" to glorify himself and to make us into the people that we need to be.

One of my greatest struggles is having faith that God will come through in certain situations, but now I more deeply understand that it doesn't matter if things turn out how I want them to, they will turn out for the best.

Trusting God is more than just a book on the subject or the authors oppinion. The points are fully support by scripture after scripture after scripture. Nothin can build faith like hearing the message of God.

I recommend this book to anyone who is trying to better understand God and the world around us.

Rating:
Summary: You MUST read this book if you are hurting
Review: If you are currently in the midst of deep emotional pain and turmoil in your life, as I am, this book is absolutely essential. I know firsthand what it means to love God but be sure He has abandoned you in the middle of a terrible time. Be assured, He has not, but when you are suffering, it is unbelievably difficult sometimes to trust Him. Where is He? Why doesn't He answer our prayers, if He loves us so much? This book answers that question. It is written along the same lines as Disappointment With God (another great book) by Philip Yancey, but this one goes much more in depth and explains things in a much clearer way, in my opinion, especially for one who is reading it with a mind that is clouded by hurt and pain. Don't turn away from God-- hold on!! He will not leave you with more than you can bear, if you turn to Him to help you bear it. Jerry Bridges shows you how to do this in Trusting God Even When Life Hurts. A truly great and healing book.