Book Review: Where is God?

The book Where is God? Finding His Presence, Purpose, and Power in Difficult Times by Dr. John Townsend tackles our doubt and unbelief when we suffer through hard times, and expect God to answer our prayers and make everything right again. For those suffering with a terminal disease, dealing with the break-up of a marriage, or other life altering situations, it sometimes seems God is far away and doesn't hear or answer our prayers for deliverance.

The organizing principles of this book are: God is for you, your experience matters, and the Bible is our source for understanding God's ways in hard times.
The book is full of examples where Dr. Townsend successfully applied his principles in his private practice.

Some chapters were rather long and I had difficultly staying focused on what he was saying. Other chapters, especially Chapter 12 (Hard Times are the Access Code) and Chapter 13 (Expect the Good) are so full of wisdom that they are worth buying the book.

As I read the book, I thought about many people who I think would benefit from it--a wonderful lady who was left alone when her husband decided he wanted to be single again, a dear friend suffering from ovarian cancer, and a couple who are estranged from their only daughter.

The favorite impression of this book is definitely that we're all human, and there is not something wrong with us spiritually if and when we ask where God is, and why He seemed to abandon us when we need him most.

As a Book Review Blogger for Thomas Nelson, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers has recently acquired a new name: BookSneeze.

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