Blindsided by God: Disappointment, Suffering, and the Untamable Goodness of God

by Peter Chin

It took thirty years to build Peter's faith, but only three months to knock it down.

When Peter Chin moved his family into an inner-city neighborhood to plant a church, he was sure he was doing what God wanted. But in the span of a few months his family experienced a heartbreaking miscarriage, a break-in at their home, a breast cancer diagnosis, and the termination of their health insurance. Why would God allow these things to happen?

But God had one more surprise prepared for the a child , conceived in the most unlikely and dangerous of circumstances, through whom Peter would realize that although God's ways were wild and strange, they were always good .

Filled with twists and turns, deep insights, and surprising humor, Blindsided by God explores the reality of suffering, the mystery of God's ways, and why, even in the darkest times, there's always reason for hope.

Genres: Christian Living, Faith, Theology, Christian

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2015

Reviews

[Steph Bolton]

This was a quick read, but I loved his personal story of intense suffering (his wife is diagnosed with breast cancer, finds out she’s pregnant and this is the year they’ve moved to a new city to start a church) and how God brought them through. One of the best parts of the book is where he talks about happy endings and how that isn’t real life. Yes, God worked some miracles in some parts of their lives. But not in every part. And their story isn’t the same as the story of others who don’t experience a miracle. His book is encouraging and hopeful without being trite. He also has a great sense of humour and is a really down-to-earth guy.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

The issue of suffering and the sovereignty of God is one of the most perplexing questions one can deal with in life. How can a loving God allow if He is truly fully in control and all powerful, such madness to run free all around us? Turn on the news and you will find in the first 30 seconds another report of someone shot and killed, a house fire that took the life of a young child, or terrorist actions across the globe placing people in a perpetual state of fear. Answers to such a question are difficult and should never be flippant. Peter Chin, in his truly helpful book Blindsided by God: Disappointment, Suffering, and the Untamable Goodness of God, tackles this perpetually important issue.

Peter Chin is a man fully familiar with the sting and pain of disappointment and suffering. In this book, he reflects on those experiences, specifically a miscarriage he and his wife endured, the struggles he went through planting a church, as well as the pain and agony his wife endured dealing with breast cancer. Sharing these moments of suffering makes this a book that is quite personal as Chin walks the reader through what it was like to deal with each of those moments and the understandable questions that arose, namely where God is at in the midst of those trials.

There are some who falsely believe that just because they are Christians that somehow pain and suffering will be averted. After all, God protects His children, right? While that is certainly true, in this life we will have trouble due to the continued impact of sin and death prior to the redemption and restoration that will come when Christ returns. Until that glorious day, we will have to deal with issues such as what Chin reflects upon in this book. With that said, the health and wealth gospel has so permeated the psyche of the church, causing many to have no foundation from which to deal with suffering when it comes calling.

Chin notes he “had never consciously subscribed to the gospel of health and wealth – the ideology that following God endured physical blessings – I must have subconsciously absorbed it. Some subtle form of it had worked itself into my heart and mind, and from countless sources.” The pernicious approach of the health and wealth gospel left Chin at first feeling betrayed by God. Being grounded in the truth of Scripture, Chin was able to understand that promises of no suffering are foreign to Scripture. What we do find in Scripture is a promise that God will be with us in the difficult times of life. Chin aptly comments “He does not promise that we will not suffer, but that when we do suffer, he will be there with us in the midst of it all. It is a promise, not of painlessness, but of His presence.”

As the reader works through Blindsided by God, they will be presented with a heart rending story, one of a loss of a child, a struggling church plant, and breast cancer. This seemingly endless list of suffering ends with the glorious birth of an unexpected and unlikely birth of a child. In the midst of suffering, in this case that of breast cancer, God formed a child in the womb of Peter’s wife Carol, bringing life from the death of cells, joy in the midst of suffering.

Chin notes at the conclusion to this book that not all stories end in a happy ending. There will be times when despite our most earnest prayers for healing, a loved one will die. Despite our prayers for peace in this world, man will continue to kill their fellow man and even though we may plead with God for financial blessings to rain down on those in need, Jesus told us the poor will continue to be poor. In the suffering and in the pain, there is one resounding truth that Chin saliently reminds the reader about, that of knowing. This knowing is rooted in resting in the reality that “God will be with me, and as a result, I always have reason for hope, both for this life and the next…even a brief glimpse of God in the midst of the storm is better than a lifetime spent in blissful ignorance.”

It is that focus and constant reminder that makes this such an excellent discussion of suffering and the sovereignty of God. Chin shares the experiences of his own life in a very matter of fact manner, admitting that during those difficult times, he was tempted to question that God was in control. That honestly is quite refreshing. It is a highly personal response that connects with the reader that the academic approach often overlooks. While there is a need for books that provided a developed theodicy that addresses the problem of evil, there is also the need for books such as this one that people can relate and identify with for we all know of people who have dealt with situations such as those described by Chin. Those who read this book will find themselves better understanding that no matter what life throws at them, God is right there with them in the midst of the storm.

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Mary Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

So encouraging!

Peter’s story is truly amazing and his description of his spiritual journey elevates God beyond what we can see without stories like his.

[Maria Marino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miscarriage. Break-in. Cancer. Letter from insurance company declining coverage. Mastectomy. Chemotherapy. Another pregnancy. Disastrous launch of the church Peter Chin believed God had called him to plant. All within the same year. How could this be happening? And why now?

Blindsided by God is narrated by a pastor but far from being a preachy, whitewashed sermon on suffering, it lays out his raw, honest account of that incredible, painful, blessed time. With all the twists, turns, and surprises that make you gasp, cry, and freeze wide-eyed in awe, this book could easily make a best-selling novel.

What holds your attention so powerfully is Peter’s unmasked transparency. How he courageously discloses his feelings of betrayal by God, stark shortcomings, faith wrestling, and range of emotions that blanketed the tumultuous up and down series of events.

The beautiful irony from being blindsided by the trials in this riveting story is how it granted Peter a sharper, clearer vision of who God is. Blindsided, knocked down into the abyss of darkness, yet flooded with the light of renewed faith, God’s unfading presence, and the joy that can coexist with unspeakable pain. Through it all, Peter came to see how God was up to something all along. He had a plan and a purpose. Plans that forged the miraculous and the good out of adversity.

Like when he spotted God’s unmistakable fingerprints on his wife’s triple negative breast cancer (the worst kind) that disqualified her from hormone therapy. The same hormone treatment that would have jeopardized the life of the baby in her womb. The child they refused to abort who later arrived completely healthy despite being exposed to the trauma of mastectomy and potent chemotherapy.

That walk of faith through the valley and up the mountain helped Peter understand suffering through the lens of Christ’s sacrificial purpose and mission. He became a better husband, father, and pastor. Because they knew pain and grief, broken people were attracted to his church, stretching its reach and effectiveness to hurting people. Hardship gave him a greater measure of compassion in addition to the gift of seeing and cherishing daily blessings and glimpses of God’s love and providence. Treasures he otherwise might have missed.

There are plenty of “wow” moments in Blindsided by God. Sometimes from what was happening. Often by the effect and lessons Peter speaks about along the way. It is a book that inspires, uplifts and fills you with hope. I especially appreciated how Peter Chin sensitively included encouragement and truth to those living without a happy ending like the one God orchestrated for his family during that time.

If you are in a place where you’re wondering what God is up to or maybe questioning if He’s there at all, you will especially be touched. And even if you’re not, I would recommend Blindsided by God as a must-read to everyone. Wherever you are in your life’s journey, this book will speak to your heart. Guaranteed.

Here is the quote from Blindsided by God which pretty well says it all for me:

Nothing could hinder the Lord from saving. No circumstances are too dark for him to shed light upon, nothing so broken that it is beyond his ability to mend and make better. Not cancer, not hardship, not death, not even the cross. These are all nothing before the power of His ability to save. Suffering is terrible, but it cannot bind Christ. It does not blot out His existence or curtail His power. It cannot exclude God or stop Him or minimize Him or move Him in any way. Yes, there is suffering in life – that is true. But there is a God whose love, blessings, & power are greater than the suffering we experience.

Disclaimer – Many thanks to Bethany House Publishers for supplying a complimentary copy of Blindsided by God in exchange for this unbiased review.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked up Blind-Sided by God I was only tagently aware of his story. My wife read his blog and I can remember telling me about his journey. My eyes welled up with tears several times as I read his story.

BlindedChin was an Evangelical Covenant Pastor in Washington D.C. and a church planter. He blogged about justice, race and the Kingdom of God. But his first year as a church planter was marked by suffering. Before he moved into the neighborhood he was to pastor in, burglars broke into the house they were moving into and stole the bathroom fixtures. That same year his wife Carol had a miscarriage. Then came a diagnosis. She had breast cancer and a particularly aggressive form of it. When they sought treatment their health insurance provider told them they wouldn't cover them because of a gap in coverage (they managed to prove their wasn't one and get their insurance company to reverse their decision). It seemed like everything that could fall apart in their world did.


Carol was steadfast in her faith and strong in the face of cancer. This book is Peter's story of anxiety, worry and fragile faith in the face of watching someone he loves suffer, feeling powerless to do anything. When Carol underwent surgery they made another discovery. She was pregnant. This meant that if she carried the child to term, they would have to delay chemotherapy until at least the second trimester. An oncologist advised Peter that Carol's best chances were to terminate the pregnancy. But Carol never wavered in her resolve. Later they discovered that women who are pregnant during their cancer treatments have a higher survival rate. Peter sees this as God's purposes and plan as they faced this trial. Carol is alive today with three more children (her son whom she was pregnant with at the time, and two more children).


This is a faith story. Peter opens up his prayer life, his anxiety and his struggles with God and where he senses God's answer and presence with him and Carol through their most difficult year. In the end, this 'seminary of suffering' taught them to trust God in profound ways and they have a powerful testimony of God's care. But it also made Peter a better pastor, more sensitive to those in his charge. In fact, that year his church plant didn't attract your typical young energetic disciples you would expect. Peter's preaching attracted fellow broken people and he learned to listen to their pain without offering easy answers.


But Peter and Carols story doesn't wrap up neatly with all the ends tied up. They went through a lot and it took a tool on their life and ministry. Peter had to close the doors on their church plant. They have also suffered other break-ins and bad times. They still are part of a suffering world, but they have an experience of knowing God's care and reason for hope.


This is a moving story and I challenge you to read it and not cry. I give this book five stars.


Notice of material connection: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the Book:

Having survived the hurricanes of life, Pastor Peter Chin offers powerful, personal ways we can understand and even redeem the suffering we all experience in our lives.



About the Author:

Peter Chin is a pastor and columnist for Christianity Today, and his work in multiethnic and urban churches has been featured by NPR, CBS, and the Washington Post. He pastors Rainier Avenue Church, a multiethnic congregation located in one of the most diverse zip codes of the country, and lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife, Carol, and their five children.



My Review:

I think it's safe to say that we all love transparency from another individual, especially if that individual is in a place of authority. Of course, the same thing can't be said about us, in my opinion. We as people who are NOT in a place of authority are just fine with NOT being that way in return. The author has not only allowed us into his own personal thinking space but also the thinking spaces of his entire family and I applaud him for that. After all, "people in authority or leadership positions" are just that---people. To me, Pastor Peter Chin is not really vulnerable but just real and we need many more like him.

His story is like many that I hear from time to time, God would come in like a freight train before you even know what hit you, most of the time. He is an amazing God with amazing authority over every detail. These two statements alone flow through the threads of his story continuously. There is so much to this man, his family, and their testimonies than meets the eye. I loved their story and it is an eye opening one that will definitely get you to thinking about how God can and will move, and it's amazing!

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Bethany House.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very personal account given by Chin as his wife had a miscarriage and then battled breast cancer. I was a little disappointed in his emphasis on his emphasis on own suffering and disappointment with God when his wife was the one having chemo, throwing up, etc. Chin was planting a church start at the time that was not going so well. They also bought a house in a dangerous part of Washington, D.C., and when they were set to move in found squatters had stolen sinks and ruined much. Also, while living there, were burglarized. This might be a good book for men to read so they would know the emotional turmoil they might go through while their wife is suffering. Chin's wife is the strongest and bravest of the family. It was disturbing to read of Chin's rants at drivers and the insurance company and his admitting he was "lying through his teeth" when he was doing his pastor role. Again, a very personal account by Chin.
Out of all his wife's suffering and his own because of it, Chin obtains an understanding of suffering and what Christians can learn from it. I just would have liked to have had him include more of his wife's thoughts on suffering (since she was the one with cancer).
See my complete review at http://bit.ly/1zKUW3W.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever felt blindsided by life? Have you ever felt blindsided by God?

That is the subject of Peter Chin's recently-released book, "Blindsided by God: Disappointement, suffering, and the untamable goodness of God."

Can I just say, in short, that I LOVED this book? I did.

Peter Chin and his wife moved with their two daughters to an inner-city location where they began a church congregation. He felt certain he was in God's will. They were blessed with health, purpose, each other. . . then they experienced some tremendous suffering in the span of a few short months. Miscarriage, a robbery, breast cancer, termination of health insurance. . . Why was this happening to them? If they were doing God's will, why would he allow them to suffer so much?

This is a powerful book. One thing that I especially loved is that he doesn't preach at readers, but just tells his story and what he learned. And, along the way, we see some of God's mysterious ways unfold in the lives of the Chins. I was blown away by the ending.

Overall, the book was so encouraging, uplifting and on a very important topic. I got another glimpse of God's wonderful love for his children. I am passing it along with an enthusiastic thumbs-up!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

[Hallie (Hallie Reads)]

This review is also posted on Book by Book.

In his book, Blindsided by God, Peter Chin faces the challenging topics of suffering and disappointment in light of faith. Both topics can be overwhelming and daunting, but Chin approaches them with the vulnerability of his personal experiences. He tells of how, in the midst of planting a church, his family encountered a number unexpected and incredibly difficult trials, including miscarriage and cancer, and the effect journeying through them had on his faith and outlook. His story overall is interesting and inspiring, though hard and challenging, told with an engaging voice and surprising bits of humor. I could not stop reading Blindsided by God and appreciate Chin’s willingness to share. I think it is definitely worth the read and recommend it.

Thanks to Bethany House, I received a copy of Blindsided by God and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Mariejkt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Blind-Sided By God" by Peter Chin is memoir of the author of his life during the most difficult part of his life. The book starts off with his meeting and marrying his wife then goes to him moving to a bad neighborhood, planting a church and his wife getting cancer while pregnant. This book was so heart wrenching on what has happened to this man and his family. But they way God has brought them thru all the trials is just wonderful. You will just need to read the book to know more about all his trials cause it all works together and I don't want to give that away. I will say my favorite part of the book is where the author describes how he handles a woman who asks the question what happens when you don't get a happy ending. I also love how he brings up that life is not about getting happy endings. It is a very powerful book on leaning on God and not expecting a happy ending. I highly recommend this book.

I was given this book from Bethany House Publishers and not required to give a positive review.

[Malin Friess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Chin has all the right intentions. After graduating from seminary he intentionally moves to the inner city of Washington DC to start a church plant with his wife and 4 children. After several months he finds that he is preaching to a congregation of about 8 members (most include his family), his house has been broken into numerous times, his scooter which is chained to his house has thieves cutting it with a hack-saw and the police won't come, his wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer, his medical insurance is essentially being cancelled, and lastly he is being targeted for his race in a mostly African American neighborhood. Pastor Chin was blindsided by God, but not without Hope.

A great story of a resilient pastor who remains faithful despite circumstances that resemble the life of Job. Easy, quick read. And a fascinating look at attempts to reconcile a history of difficult relationships between African Americans and Asian Americans.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blindsided by God is a very inspiring book about a family's struggle with cancer, pregnancy, mission, and life. I very much enjoyed reading this book. Peter Chin tells it the way it is - no sugar coating his life & feelings. I showed my husband this book and he said that he had heard the writer, Peter Chin talk before. (My husband is a Minister also). So, the book will now be passed on to my husband Tim & his pastor's study area. Thank you so much to Goodreads.com for this book. Thank you Peter Chin & Bethany House Publishing Co. for an uplifting book.

[Leigh Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I read this book together and I absolutely loved it. This Pastor/husband/dad walks through his story of crisis his family went through, and the dark places that took him a few years ago. But, he always shares the wisdom he has learned from that, and how in the darkest moments his faith grew. The insight he shares through this time is amazing. So much good wisdom in this book and easy to read and understand.

[Ann Gemmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful and honest memoir of a young pastor going through a season of profound trial and suffering, I so appreciated Peter Chin's honest reflection on his crisis of faith and yet his wise and deep insights on how God met him in the midst of his trials. Read this in just a couple sittings. Highly recommend it to anyone but especially those in a season of confusion about how to reconcile a good and powerful God and the crushing realities and sufferings on this broken planet!

[Andrew Lam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful and entertaining memoir. The author is funny and insightful. He’s a pastor and his responses to unexpected challenges and bitter disappointments in his life are honest and revealing. This is a book that reveals the strength of family and faith—highly recommended!

[Chris & Wanda Chang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This was a great read. I read this whole book in 2 days. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. It allows you to see life and it's many trials in a different light. Amazing book and amazing testimony.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest, easy to identify with, encouraging.

[Heather Otieno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the processing of grief, pain, and who God is in this story. Refreshingly devoid of easy answers or explanations, I love the focus on God's mystery and goodness beyond our understanding.

[Mookie J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Fun, enjoyable, authentic read. like a story but informational. Helpful for faith

[ap]

Great testimony

Great. Really helped me get through a trying time dealing with Cancer and understanding who God really is, not who I thought He was. I read many times when faith was needed