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When God Doesn't Make Sense
1994 Gold Medallion Award winner
Every person who lives long enough will eventually encounter circumstances that are difficult to explain theologically. From years of counselling experience, Dr. James Dobson offers assurance of God's constant care, even when human suffering is beyond our comprehension.
Every person who lives long enough will eventually encounter circumstances that are difficult to explain theologically. From years of counselling experience, Dr. James Dobson offers assurance of God's constant care, even when human suffering is beyond our comprehension.
Hardcover, 250 pages
Published
July 2nd 1993
by Tyndale House Publishers
(first published March 15th 1993)
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I thought I had an idea of how this book would be but I was totally wrong. I have never had a strong religious background and to be honest I have been intimidated in conversations with people with strong faith. I almost feel inadequate discussing deep topics such as religion because I keep my mind open and my open mind makes me feel like I have weak opinions when discussing these topics with individuals with stronger faith. I was given this book after such a discussion and felt like this might b...more
Surprisingly helpful, considering I don't necessarily count myself as a fan of Dr. Dobson and/or Focus on the Family. The book made some really good points that I hadn't thought about. It was also reassuring that Dobson did not trivialize the real pain that certain people are going through, and he didn't blame it on them either by saying it was their "fault" or their sin that was causing the problems. There is a part toward the end of the book that discusses briefly pain caused by our own sin, b...more
I was given this book after a hard time in my life and I'm SO thankful for it--what a wonderful gift at such a sad time in my life.
It is very well written, easy to follow and filled with insight! I have quoted it many times to others who have gone through tough situations and I would love to read other James C. Dobson books!!!
I recommend this to everyone--whether you've gone through a painful time in your life or not--we all will have sad times to endure and this book definitely reminded me tha...more
It is very well written, easy to follow and filled with insight! I have quoted it many times to others who have gone through tough situations and I would love to read other James C. Dobson books!!!
I recommend this to everyone--whether you've gone through a painful time in your life or not--we all will have sad times to endure and this book definitely reminded me tha...more
Oct 06, 2008
Karen & Gerard
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who questions their faith
Shelves:
christian
Holding on to your faith even When God Doesn't Make Sense deals with the topic of trusting God through hard times or times that just don't seem fair. The author gives many illustrations of times when people had bad things happen that just don't make sense, including illustrations from his own life. He gives some basic fundamental principles such as:
God is sovereign and is not accountable to man. No where does God promise to explain why he does anything or doesn't do something.
God wants us to tru...more
God is sovereign and is not accountable to man. No where does God promise to explain why he does anything or doesn't do something.
God wants us to tru...more
This was much different than I expected. I have read many books on the will of God and most are just junk. They use shallow, unsatisfactory answeres that do not help. James Dobson is different, he is honest and straightforward. His writing is extremely easy to read and relate to. By the time I was finished with it I actually felt much more at peace with my relationship with God and his plan over my life.
I read Harold Kushner's "When Bad Things Happen to Good People," and this book stomps that into the mud. Dr. Dobson hits some very sensitive nerves but never flinches, himself. The book is for every Christian who ever wept and asked God, "Why?" or maybe just tilted their head and thought "Huh... what's God up to here?" It's a great book, and I highly recommend it.
A person I highly respect told me this was one of the most important books he had ever read and it helped shaped his faith at a formative time. I found it very good as well, although it wasn't anything "new" at this point in my life. Very real in how it looks at life's pains; very encouraging in relating the faithfulness and heart of God in those dark valleys.
Amazing for those grieving and those facing seemingly unbearable trials. It is not an explanation of God's actions, but offers valuable insight to God's sovereignty and all knowing plan by sharing real life examples and their outcomes. Good book to read in the midst of the fire.
Thank You Dr. Dobson!
Peace and Love,
SuNWhoa
Thank You Dr. Dobson!
Peace and Love,
SuNWhoa
I've read this book at least 3 times over the last 10 years and it has helped encourage me through times when I was completely at the end of my rope and felt as though I was literally drowning. I'm so thankful that even when we don't feel God with us He is with us and He is in fact holding onto us and protecting us. :-)
Though the title scared my 9 year old, as she feared that I questioned Him, this book is a wonderful Hope filled book about His wonderful Promise in the very dark valleys that we may walk through. This is one that I did not read cover to cover, but rather a chapter here and a chapter there.
Sometimes, life sucks and it seems that God is out of control... but can that be? Dobson takes a look at some of the terrible times in real people's lives and attempts to show that God is still at work, despite all the bad stuff happening around us. Very good read!
This book was very well written. It's almost 5 star worthy but it didn't grab my full attention. This can be a hard concept for many people and I thought the last chapter wrapped it up very well. The stories were sad but show to others that you aren't alone that really hard things really do happen to other people.
I find myself flying thrugh this book. Dr. James Dobson gives down to earth and practical answers on life and Christianity. He validates human emotions and how life sometimes just isn't fair even with a relationship with God.
Excellent book. Dr. Dobson illustrates personal stories, sometimes his and of other people life experiences. We have questions that can't be answered this side of heaven, but he points us to scripture and God's promises to us. FAITH is our answer, hope and anchor in this life. Recommend it highly.
I think this was one of my first Dobson books... (Maybe even my last, I don't know)
Didn't really answer the question for me, but was a bit helpful.
Didn't really answer the question for me, but was a bit helpful.
Read quite a while ago -- probably back in college. I'd read it along with Kreeft's Making Sense of Suffering and Lewis's The Problem of Pain.
This book was one of the reasons I left Christianity. I think it was intended to be a bit of apologetics, but it had the opposite effect on me.
This book is for the very spiritually mature. It is a great book but you have to have your big boy underwear on to read it.
Clear, concise answers that do reach the heart. It's in line with Scripture, and has the potential to comfort.
I wonder how some times things as lttle as a toohache can put all our theology into question!
A very good book
A very good book
Good book, but nothing I didn't already know
A great book I will certainly be reading again.
A great help at a very down time
One of the books that changed my life.
Important words from a trusted author.
Couldn't get into it.
A must read... ^^
Wonderful book. Easy to read. The title explains it all. If you have ever had thoughts of "why?" and "how come?" directed toward the Creator, this book by Dobson gives some great, down to earth, biblically sound answers. He doesn't sing song his way around the difficult questions but embraces them. Dobson deals wonderfully with the doctrine of suffering and how it fits into the lifestyle of being a follower of Christ and a human just living on the earth.
Well this was a book someone told me I should read and lent it to me. Although the thought was kind it really was contrary to some things that I believe from my studies of the bible. So it took me a long time to read and upon my finishing it, I still felt like I did in the first chapter, not a book for me.
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The secret things belong to the Lord...an eye-opener.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The secret things belong to the Lord...an eye-opener.
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James C. Dobson is a psychologist, commentator, and writer. He is the founder of Focus on the Family, a group advocating what he views as Christian ethics and political conservatism, and hosts a radio program of the same name.
More about James C. Dobson...
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