Customer Reviews

Finding God in Troubled Times: The Holy Spirit and Suffering

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This book having, in my opinion, both a strong academic and also personal emphasis, isn't a "quick read" - not if you're going to get the most possible out of ALL THAT IT HAS TO OFFER.
There are questions at the end of each chapter that invite the reader to PAUSE AND CONSIDER how their own personal thoughts, feelings and daily living apply to chapter highlights.
Scripture quotes, analysis and also insights from several spiritual writers are also included.
This is definitely a book that has the potential to provide the reader with an INCREASED DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING of the spirituality in suffering - truly a MUST READ !

A friend recommended this book when I lost my job, and I was extremely grateful that she did. Hauser provides a mental construct for understanding how most of us relate to God, and then explains that how we relate to God affects what we seek from God during times of suffering. He truly shows the reader how to find God in troubled times, using examples from Scripture as well as from his own experience.

However, this book will not only enable the reader to draw close to God during troubled times, but also enable the reader to enter into a more intimate relationship at any time!

Although Father Hauser does not give a simple definitive answer to the question of why God allows evil, pain, and suffering,he does work through his own experiences in dealing with a tragic accident which happened to students on the campus where he is teaching. He analyzes varous responses from his students to this kind of personal loss and suggests ways of dealing with the question. I personally found his careful treatment of our understanding of and reacton to suffering very helpful if not completely satisfying. I certainly recommend this book highly for anyone struggling to reconcile God's love and goodness with evil in the world.

Hauser's book is down to earth, and goes well past the normal platitudes. If you're wrestling with "How could God allow this to happen?" it's well worth your while to pick up a copy.