Second Guessing God.

Book Review.

Jones, Brian. Second Guessing God. Hanging on when you can’t see his plan. Standard Publishing. 2006.
B.J. - Founding pastor of Christ’s Church of the Valley, Philadelphia.

Comment. Henry
Brian addresses some very practical challenges that are part of every ‘believer’s’ experience as we deal with life issues that cause us to question how God fits in and/or relates to us. He deals courageously with issues such as doubt, disillusionment and fear.

Disappointment, brokenness, and devastation will cause us to struggle spiritually. Our agenda and God’s agenda are often quite different. God is at work in areas of our life that are “upstream” (45) from where we are living.

“The first step in Jesus’ strategy for helping us extend authentic compassion to others is to allow us to be broken by hardship.” (69) Unanswered, unresolved questions that arise out of life’s difficult experiences may well require us to become involved in the “discipline of doubt”. (91)

The problems and trials of life should give us a better appreciation of our life. Times of extreme need(s) can give us a new appreciation of people and a clearer understanding of the reality of God. “Trials have a way of allowing us to see what’s really important in life.” (121)

Hell is a real place. When we are drawn to Jesus by enduring suffering and pain we are drawn away from hell. In fact others can be drawn to Jesus by the way we handle pain. When we deal with the anticipation of death with courage and confidence it can be a powerful testimony to others.

When the experiences of life plunge us into the ‘mystery of God’ we are advised to go to the Psalms for help, especially the “psalms of lament”. (147) It is suggested that are “three specific things that God has provided to help us hang on: the church, ministry, and heaven”. (164)

A healthy church is an environment where people live in community experiencing one another’s heart-felt ministry. Service will rise out of genuine community. Service is a wholesome, healthy activity. Those things that cause us grief, sadness, and concern in this life will be absent in heaven. What will take their place may be beyond our comprehension but they should heighten our anticipation.