Jud Wilhite lays out the format from the very introduction in Torn: Trusting God When Life Leaves You in Pieces. He shares just briefly about some difficult periods in his life which led to him asking questions. But he was not content to simply ask why suffering happens. The important questions, in his mind, are who and how. Specifically, who do we turn to when difficulties come our way and how will we move forward.
That is exactly how the rest of the book is laid out. Wilhite spends the first half of the book looking at the story of Job and answering the Who beyond our suffering. Notice I didn't write the Who behind our suffering, as if God were to be blamed. God is beyond this, and thus, the Who we can turn to in the midst of our troubles.
The problems Job faced were squarely on the shoulders of satan, a being so inferior to God that Wilhite compares them to a boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Sponge Bob Square Pants. Yeah, it's ridiculous. But because God is so far superior, the promise God offers can be our steady hope.
That's great and all for the next life, but what about this one? Part two dives into the practical and Wilhite starts right where I think we all should. Once we've placed our trust in God, we need to find strength in community. Having just read another book where the author struggled and then left the church, it is refreshing to see that many still value what the Church has to offer, a place to be ourselves even while we struggle.
Using personal and found stories, I found Wilhite to write very practically and quite optimistically. That is a much needed combination when dealing with pain and suffering.
You can find this book for yourself here.
I received this book for free from my good friends at Waterbrook Multnomah. You ca find out more about this book and its author at the following links.
#waterbrookmultnomah
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