When God Doesn't Make Sense [Paperback]

James C. Dobson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 1997

1994 Gold Medallion Award winner!
Every person who lives long enough will eventually encounter circumstances that are difficult to explain theologically. From years of counselling experience, Dr. James Dobson offers assurance of God's constant care, even when human suffering is beyond our comprehension.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James C. Dobson, Ph.D., is founder and chairman of Focus on the Family, a nonprofit organization that produces his internationally syndicated radio programs, heard by more than 200 million people every day. He is seen on 80 television stations daily in the U.S. A licensed psychologist and licensed marriage, family, and child counselor, he is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and is listed in Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare. Dr. Dobson is married to Shirley and is the father of two grown children, Danae and Ryan. He resides in Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers; Revised edition (August 31, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842382372
• ISBN-13: 978-0842382373
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Salve For the Hurting, November 11, 2000

By 

mjanke - See all my reviews

This review is from: When God Doesn't Make Sense (Paperback)

The problem of pain. It's a hard topic and it's been tackled by wiser men than he, but Dobson gives it his best shot here and does a surprisingly nice job. This book won't blow away anyone's mind with new philosophical or theological insights, but it does give the average Christian a really good handbook on the subject of suffering. Why bad things do happen to Christians, what the Bible says about this, what the Bible DOESN'T say about it, and where God is in the midst of the suffering and confusion. As Dobson says, it's virtually guaranteed that every Christian will, at one time or another in their life, experience a tragedy that is powerful enough to rock their faith to its core. It is in that time when we need to be assured of what exactly it is that we believe about God, His love, and His promises. This book is a great preparation for that eventuality, and a really good salve for the Christian who currently is wounded and in need of being picked up. Four stars, and a recommendation to those who can't find a copy of Philip Yancey's Disappointment With God.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great resource for anyone struggling with God & life., June 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: When God Doesn't Make Sense (Large Print) (Hardcover)

Although I'm not a huge Dobson fan, I think that he really accomplishes a lot with this book. It is very readable and is extremely helpful in getting one to realize that although God doesn't "make sense" all of the time, we are still able to trust him and rely on him as a totally loving & caring God.

One significant point that Dobson makes is that it is unrealistic for us to expect God to answer all of our prayers and make life easy for us. If God answered all Christian's prayers immediately, we Christians would never die, get sick, lose jobs, have cars break down, etc.! Everybody would want to become a Christian just for the benefits! God isn't a sugar daddy who caters to our desires - he is a sovereign God who ALLOWS things to happen to us, usually for our own development & growth

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!, January 18, 2000

By 

Megan Long (Cinti, OH.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When God Doesn't Make Sense (Paperback)

An incredible book that faces tough questions for those of you who believe in Him yet are struggling through a difficult situation with no easy answers. It reaches deep to the heart and allows a heart of sorrow to turn into a heart of courage and trust.