Bestselling author, Randy Alcorn's, new release, If God is Good, explores the age-old problem of evil and suffering when he asks, "If God is good...why all this evil and suffering?" Then adds, "What if suffering is God's invitation to trust him?"
For some, trust becomes an issue when pain and suffering are perceived as punishment. We believe we've done everything right, made time for church, cared for family, and helped others. Then we're confronted with something catastrophic—divorce, fatal medical diagnosis, home foreclosure or something equally devastating. And we ask: What did I do to deserve this?
The question assumes a cause and effect relationship to evil, sort of like the children's daisy petal game—"He loves me, He loves me not." Childish logic assumes if God doesn't love me He will punish me. When, in fact, Alcorn suggests, circumstances never dictate God's love.
In the author's matchless style, he personalizes the question of suffering, with a name and a face, and begins his book with Jim Harrell's story. Harrell, diagnosed in 2003 with ALS, (Lou Gehrig's disease), asked to read Alcorn's first draft when he learned of his book contract. Harrell said that the last six years of his life were the most significant, even though he continued to lose life-sustaining functions. He wanted to read Alcorn's book while he still could. Alcorn connected with Harrell on a "heart level" and sent him the manuscript. Alcorn then wrote that he used "Jim's wisdom, as well as that of many other sufferers," throughout the book. The author invites readers to join him on his "journey of discovery"— about God's goodness in relation to suffering and evil.
He explores a biblical perspective and explains that a different viewpoint doesn't minimize suffering, but provides a position that equips sufferers to find encouragement and comfort in the arms of God. He quotes Joni Eareckson Tada and Steve Estes, co-authors of A Step Further and When God Weeps, who write, "God...doesn't give advice, He gives Himself." They gained their biblical perspective when they learned how to "snuggle into (their) Father's arms," like little children, seeking renewed faith, hope, refreshment, and comfort.
Alcorn writes, "The faith that can't be shaken is the faith that has been shaken." He quotes 1 Peter 1:7 where God says trials and suffering come to test your faith—which is "of greater worth than gold." He explores how God uses personal pain and suffering, often initiated by a crisis, to enhance faith and refine it like gold. He suggests instead of thinking of suffering as divine judgment, or proof there is no God, think of seasons of pain and suffering as tests that stretch our faith in God.
He also confronts atheistic arguments in chapter two. If God isn't willing to prevent evil, He must be impotent, or if God is able to prevent evil, but not willing, that makes Him malicious. Alcorn's search for perspective taught him, "...wisdom begins with the humility to say there's a great deal I don't understand," and won't this side of heaven.
Forty-five chapters, organized into eleven topics, ask hard questions that few ministers attempt to answer. The book can either be read straight through, or topically for those with specific questions, which makes it particularly useful for Bible study. Even though the book tackles a difficult subject, Alcorn's innovative writing style, is reader friendly, filled with insightful anecdotes, and personal short stories that put a human face on suffering. His focus is on Scripture and "our faith relationship to God in Christ."
The author's thorough and confident book includes how to find God, and seek His help and grace when we experience "dark times" of suffering. I believe it's written with inspired wisdom and humility and offers readers the choice to become "bitter or better"– in times of crisis. I consider this a must read for anyone because we all experience seasons of suffering. If I could, I would nominate it book of the year for 2009.
