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Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts
In an effort to strengthen his own trust in God during a time of adversity, Navigator author Jerry Bridges began a lengthy Bible study on God’s sovereignty. The revelations changed his life.In Trusting God, he shares the scope of God’s power to help you come to know Him better, have a relationship with Him, and trust Him more—even when unjust things happen.Tragedy, grief, ...more
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
April 22nd 2008
by NavPress
(first published 1988)
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Jerry Bridges walks the reader through the three bases for trusting God: His sovereignty (6 chapters), His wisdom (1 chapter), and His love (2 chapters). There are also brief discussions about contentment with self, growth in adversity, and the importance of thanksgiving in hardship. The focus here is primarily on the sovereignty of God, which makes sense since the book was essentially a result of Bridges' own personal bible study on that subject. His discussion of God's sovereignty is beyon...more
I've struggled with this audio and almost gave up halfway through as it is very repetitive. I don't agree with the sovereignty of God theology as there are far too many anomalies with it. At times this audio came across as very fatalistic although the author does warn against that himself. It didn't hold my attention at all but thoroughly annoyed me whilst listening.. One thing I have taken away from it though, is that you can't trust God completely until you get to know Him, which is very sim...more
Great book on God's sovereignty in the midst of difficult circumstances. A great answer to the popular book "Why bad things happen to good people?" The very title of that book reveals the lack of theological foundation needed to explore this topic.
Chapter 7 which deals with God's sovereignty and our responsibility is worth the price of the book alone.
Some takeaways:
"Prayer is the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and of our dependence upon Him t...more
Chapter 7 which deals with God's sovereignty and our responsibility is worth the price of the book alone.
Some takeaways:
"Prayer is the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and of our dependence upon Him t...more
I want to tell you a story. It's about this book. I started it several years ago. A friend and I thought that we should read a book together over summer break, because we were going through a similar and painful experience. She finished it....I did not.
Fast forward a dozen or so calendar pages, and I'm half way through my senior year. Placerita Baptist Church was my "home away from home" church for 3 years, and I was pretty involved with the college group there. A disciples...more
Fast forward a dozen or so calendar pages, and I'm half way through my senior year. Placerita Baptist Church was my "home away from home" church for 3 years, and I was pretty involved with the college group there. A disciples...more
This book is a good resource for anyone struggling with the complicated issue of God's sovereignty verses man's freedom of choice. Though this will always remain an issued that I do not fully understand this book pushed me a bit further down the road of understanding.
I appreciate Bridges' use of scripture to back up his points. This is a book you could return to again and again as circumstances lead you to ask why God has allowed something to happen or allowed someone to affect you a...more
I appreciate Bridges' use of scripture to back up his points. This is a book you could return to again and again as circumstances lead you to ask why God has allowed something to happen or allowed someone to affect you a...more
Trusting God by Jerry Bridges turned into something I was not expecting, and I was all the happier for it. I have read enough defenses for the sovereignty of God, both philosophical and apologetical. Instead, Bridges presents a biblically-grounded celebration of the sovereignty of God in all things.
His central theme asserts that we can only trust God when bad things happen if He is totally sovereign, wise, and loving. This in response to the age old question of evil: either evil came about becau...more
His central theme asserts that we can only trust God when bad things happen if He is totally sovereign, wise, and loving. This in response to the age old question of evil: either evil came about becau...more
Jerry Bridges did a wonderful job putting God's sovereignty into perspective. He shows us, through Scripture, that all the adversity that comes into our lives as believers, is used for good. Romans 8:28. God's main purpose is for His Glory and for our good. Knowing that in troubled times and hardships, God is there, in the midst of it all watching over us. And He is in control!
One of my favorite passages is:
"Looking upward we see God in all His majesty, power, glory, an...more
One of my favorite passages is:
"Looking upward we see God in all His majesty, power, glory, an...more
In America's skin-deep style of Christianity, this book deals with an issue that goes to the heart of our relationship with God. To what degree of suffering or loss do you have to go through before your faith begins to erode?
Not only that, but going through rough times even serves as a means to strengthen your faith and build your relationship with God.
This is a great book for anyone who wants to prepare for hards times, who is going through hard times, or who is minister...more
Not only that, but going through rough times even serves as a means to strengthen your faith and build your relationship with God.
This is a great book for anyone who wants to prepare for hards times, who is going through hard times, or who is minister...more
Christian books often frustrate me, which - I guess - is why I don't read as many of them as the people around me seem to.
I end up getting annoyed by analogies that fall apart under the least scrutiny, circular reasoning, and the panacea of faith to handle all other logical conundrums encountered.
I found this book refreshing and candid. It wasn't perfect - I still found myself asking, "yeah, but what if?" And, "would you please tell me where you're gettin...more
I end up getting annoyed by analogies that fall apart under the least scrutiny, circular reasoning, and the panacea of faith to handle all other logical conundrums encountered.
I found this book refreshing and candid. It wasn't perfect - I still found myself asking, "yeah, but what if?" And, "would you please tell me where you're gettin...more
Where is God when horrible things happen? What role does He play when it comes to job loss, the death of a child or loved one, a terminal illness, or other tragedies? Does He actually control all our circumstances, or do these bad things happen simply because we live in a sin-cursed world?
These are questions that I never gave much thought...until I found myself in the midst of my own tragic circumstances. It suddenly became a crucial issue in my life! There seemed to be only three cl...more
These are questions that I never gave much thought...until I found myself in the midst of my own tragic circumstances. It suddenly became a crucial issue in my life! There seemed to be only three cl...more
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I walked into this book bound but I walked out free...
I originally got this book because - to be quite frank - because I thought it was apropos after having lost my home, all my possessions and having my health seriously compromised this past July in an environmental accident. A reminder to trust God in the midst of all that seemed ... well ... right. Little did I know how important the message in this book would be for me in this moment of my journey.
Warning: this book is ...more
I originally got this book because - to be quite frank - because I thought it was apropos after having lost my home, all my possessions and having my health seriously compromised this past July in an environmental accident. A reminder to trust God in the midst of all that seemed ... well ... right. Little did I know how important the message in this book would be for me in this moment of my journey.
Warning: this book is ...more
Where is God when horrible things happen? What role does He play when it comes to job loss, the death of a child or loved one, a terminal illness, or other tragedies? Does He actually control all our circumstances, or do these bad things happen simply because we live in a sin-cursed world?
These are questions that I never gave much thought...until I found myself in the midst of my own tragic circumstances. It suddenly became a crucial issue in my life! There seemed to be only three clea...more
These are questions that I never gave much thought...until I found myself in the midst of my own tragic circumstances. It suddenly became a crucial issue in my life! There seemed to be only three clea...more
In Trusting God, Jerry Bridges tackles some big and important questions. How are we to approach the hurdles life throws our way? How can we trust God in spite of difficult circumstances? How are we to trust him even when life hurts?
These questions all give us pause to think at some point in our Christian life. And there are many books which aim to help us deal with these issues. This book stands apart. Bridges points in an uncommon direction for finding help: the sovereignty of...more
These questions all give us pause to think at some point in our Christian life. And there are many books which aim to help us deal with these issues. This book stands apart. Bridges points in an uncommon direction for finding help: the sovereignty of...more
Pure Gold - one of the best books I read in 2010! By far, this is the best book I’ve read on the subject of suffering and God’s providence. It teaches that God is in control, He does care, and is intimately involved with and in every circumstance of your (my) life. The many Scripture references are relevant and further support that times of great struggle and hardship, we can trust in God’s infinite sovereignty, wisdom, and love. I look forward to re-reading this book over and over and over agai...more
Bridges provides wonderful Scriptural affirmation of the sovereignty and the love of God. He buttresses it with some outstanding quotes that salt the appetite for more. My one criticism would be that not much of the author's flavor comes through his quoting. Probably telling of his generation, he is willing to talk about his own difficulties but not in much detail.
It's a book I'm trying so adamantly to apply to my own life but it's also a book that I can read over and over again and still feel like I'm not adequately there. I would probably give it 3.5 stars; the beginning was amazing but then the rest of the book felt like it was repeating itself in different forms. But then again, maybe that's what trusting God is about...it's really not that complicated; it just seems like it shouldn't be that simple, but it probably really is.
An excellent book on trusting God despite your circumstances. It is another book that I re-read, and I would recommend it to anyone who is struggling with suffering or who undoubtedly will suffer as a Christian. Bridges focuses on God's character in our difficult situations, rather than what we feel or see.
Probably the best book on Providence that I have read. Readable and accessible and more than comforting. I think I highlighted nearly every sentence in the whole book!
Life IS going to hurt. And God IS in control, working all things for the good of his people and for His glory!
Life IS going to hurt. And God IS in control, working all things for the good of his people and for His glory!
I am just now starting to read it. My daughter Julia took her copy with her to Bolivia, where she is on a three month mission trip. She has specifically mentioned it in her blog as being such an encouragement to her in such an uncertain place.
This book helped me to look at God's sovereignty. It made me think about trusting God in all things, big and small, and to remember to be thankful always since God works everything for good to those who obey and love him.
immensely helpful - first time through really challenged my view of God's bigness and love - His section on God's love is impelling....I return to this again and again for the reminders and encouragment.....
Excellent book that truly is a "must read" for Christians. Helps you to trust the Lord in your everyday life. I love the way Jerry writes, so down-to-earth but full of Scripture!
Great book on the sovereignty of God, definitely worth a read especially if you're going through trying and difficult circumstances.
Failure to trust God is at the root of all sorts of sins. Bridges helps us diagnose the lies we believe - that we can only trust ourselves
I suppose this would be one of he first defenses of Calvinistic doctrine I ever read—before I even knew what that meant.
This book is an excellent overview of the Biblical basis for the sovereignty of God in our lives. It was both intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging.
Just a note to myself... I must have borrowed this from the library because I can't find a copy on my shelves.
Reading through again. Loved it every time I have read it (probably around 7 or 8 times through, maybe more.
This book is a good reminder of truths that I have known and should keep more present in mind. God is truly in control of everything, even those things we don't understand or like... And it is all working toawards His plan and His glory.
This is one of my favorites. It is highlighted throughout and I have read it many times.
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JERRY BRIDGES is an author and conference speaker. His most popular book, The Pursuit of Holiness, has sold over one million copies. Jerry has been on the staff of The Navigators for over fifty years, and currently serves in the Collegiate Mission where he is involved primarily in staff development, but also serves as a speaker resource to the campus ministries.
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“That which should distinguish the suffering of believers from unbelievers is the confidence that our suffering is under the control of an all-powerful and all-loving God. Our suffering has meaning and purpose in God's eternal plan, and He brings or allows to come into our lives only that which is for His glory and our good.”
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“Supporting God's Scriptural ability to give or restrain man's desires, Jerry Bridges points to an amazing verse tucked away in Exodus 34:24. As Israel's people abandon their defense entirely to have a feast before Him three times per year, God says the surrounding peoples will be entirely devoid of even the logical desire to possess their land.”
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