"Torn – Trusting God When Life Leaves You in Pieces" (BOOK REVIEW)





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Today's Review 

I was given this book to read and review.  Periodically I will do a book review for Multnomah Books.

Here's my review:

I admittedly went into reading this book cautiously because I wasn't familiar with the author and wasn't thrilled with some people who had endorsed this book.  However, the subject matter got my attention, "Torn – Trusting God When Life Leaves You in Pieces."  This is something I could relate to.  As I read this book, you see that the subject matter is primarily the sovereignty of God in suffering.  While the book starts with the "Why God?" question, it does a good job of getting us off the "why" question and onto "who" - who will you trust during trials and suffering?  Basically, he really never answered the "why question," but the way in which he didn't answer it is, in my opinion, the right way. I agree with him not getting caught up in the "why, why, why?" question and moving on to who are you going to trust through this trial?  I have seen many try to answer the "why question" and were unable to do so to my satisfaction or anyone else's.  It's the WRONG question to be asking!  The author then goes on to, "who are you going to trust" and "how are you going to trust him?" 

This book is pretty basic on the subject of suffering, but it does a good job overall.  I think this book would benefit many new Christians who think that now that they are following Jesus, they will never have another problem again – Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!  I am so appreciative of this subject being properly dealt with where anyone reading it can understand it. 

While this book uses a lot of scriptures (well over 100), most of them are not directly shown in the text or in a footnote.  So, I found myself turning to the notes in the back of the book constantly.  I much more prefer the text being right there in the chapter or at least footnoted on the bottom of the page.  Also, some of the passages need a little closer examination from the context of what was written. He also seems to try to sound "cool" by referencing secular material, movies, etc.  Being cool in my eyes or more importantly the Lord's this is not necessary, but it may go along with the fact that the author is pastor of a mega-church in Las Vegas - just my observation.

My overall rating for this book is so-so.  For the new believer or someone taught (erroneously) that we are not to suffer as Christians, I would give this 4-5 stars.  For anyone who has been in the Bible (rightly dividing the word of God) for any length of time, this book has little to offer. 

I have no doubt this book will minister to some, and to that end I pray the Lord uses it.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

NOTE: I have not stopped writing devotions on Galatians or other subjects.  It just takes time, so as we move in and then pass the holidays I hope to send out more devotions and spiritual nuggets of truth from the Bible and men of God.

In His Service,
Jim