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Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts
In an effort to strengthen his own trust in God during a time of adversity, Navigator author Jerry Bridges began a lengthy Bible study on God’s sovereignty. The revelations changed his life. In Trusting God, he shares the scope of God’s power to help you come to know Him better, have a relationship with Him, and trust Him more—even when unjust things happen. Tragedy, grief, loss, and death are part of life. Discover how Trusting God can reveal biblical truths about God.
239 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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About the author
Jerry Bridges
116 books677 followersJERRY BRIDGES was an author and conference speaker. His most popular book, The Pursuit of Holiness, has sold over one million copies. Jerry was on the staff of The Navigators for over fifty years, and currently served in the Collegiate Mission where he was involved primarily in staff development, but also served as a speaker resource to the campus ministries.
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November 27, 2023I want to tell you a story. It's about this book. I started it several years ago. A friend and I thought that we should read a book together over summer break, because we were going through a similar and painful experience. She finished it....I did not.
Fast forward a dozen or so calendar pages, and I'm half way through my senior year. Placerita Baptist Church was my "home away from home" church for 3 years, and I was pretty involved with the college group there. A discipleship opportunity came up, and I jumped at it. I was to meet with Rebecca once every other week and guess what book she picked??
My first reaction was, "Ok...I tried this one before. I'd rather read something else." But then I thought, "Why not? It's your last year...I'm sure there's bound to be something that this book has to say that will blow your mind." Little did I know...
Fast forward a few weeks and I'm so overwhelmed I'm not sure how to see straight. My brother's dying in the hospital...I have no idea what I'm doing with my life...and finals are coming. With all the uncertainty, I wasn't sure how to feel.
Through all of that, this book hounded (with constant repetition) into me the idea that all things happen for the glory of God and my absolute good...and it stuck. That meant that even if I failed my finals....even if I was without a job and without funds to continue my schooling...even if the Lord decided to take my precious brother home...it was good...and even more amazing, God was good too.
The point of this story: I recommend this book...it may get tedious at times...but I am certain that the Lord wanted me to read it when he wanted me to read it...and for that I'm very thankful.
___________________________
Update November 14, 2012
As Thanksgiving is a week away, I am reminded of the many blessings of our Lord. He has His purposes in life that are sometimes beyond us. Often, we can get lost in the "why's" and "how's" of His plan. Yet, He never leaves our side, and He is still worthy of our trust. And He is always eternally good.
I wrote the above post in a time of uncertainty. Finals were looming. I didn't know how God would provide for me financially. My relationships were uncertain. My brother was very ill. There were so many unanswered "why's" and "how's"...
Now some of those circumstances seem comical. I passed all my finals. God gave me a great job teaching at a Christian School, and I met the love of my life, James.
But God in His goodness had different plans for my brother. On May 19, 2012, he breathed his last breath on earth and saw the Savior. As painful as that was and still is, it's good. It always was good. It always will be good. God never left His throne, and my brother is happier where he is than than the happiest day you can imagine on earth. For that, I am thankful and blessed, and I could not ask for more.
AND...The story is not over. There are still chapters to be written. But the Lord is still powerful, faithful, and good...worthy of our trust. Keep the Faith!!
Fast forward a dozen or so calendar pages, and I'm half way through my senior year. Placerita Baptist Church was my "home away from home" church for 3 years, and I was pretty involved with the college group there. A discipleship opportunity came up, and I jumped at it. I was to meet with Rebecca once every other week and guess what book she picked??
My first reaction was, "Ok...I tried this one before. I'd rather read something else." But then I thought, "Why not? It's your last year...I'm sure there's bound to be something that this book has to say that will blow your mind." Little did I know...
Fast forward a few weeks and I'm so overwhelmed I'm not sure how to see straight. My brother's dying in the hospital...I have no idea what I'm doing with my life...and finals are coming. With all the uncertainty, I wasn't sure how to feel.
Through all of that, this book hounded (with constant repetition) into me the idea that all things happen for the glory of God and my absolute good...and it stuck. That meant that even if I failed my finals....even if I was without a job and without funds to continue my schooling...even if the Lord decided to take my precious brother home...it was good...and even more amazing, God was good too.
The point of this story: I recommend this book...it may get tedious at times...but I am certain that the Lord wanted me to read it when he wanted me to read it...and for that I'm very thankful.
___________________________
Update November 14, 2012
As Thanksgiving is a week away, I am reminded of the many blessings of our Lord. He has His purposes in life that are sometimes beyond us. Often, we can get lost in the "why's" and "how's" of His plan. Yet, He never leaves our side, and He is still worthy of our trust. And He is always eternally good.
I wrote the above post in a time of uncertainty. Finals were looming. I didn't know how God would provide for me financially. My relationships were uncertain. My brother was very ill. There were so many unanswered "why's" and "how's"...
Now some of those circumstances seem comical. I passed all my finals. God gave me a great job teaching at a Christian School, and I met the love of my life, James.
But God in His goodness had different plans for my brother. On May 19, 2012, he breathed his last breath on earth and saw the Savior. As painful as that was and still is, it's good. It always was good. It always will be good. God never left His throne, and my brother is happier where he is than than the happiest day you can imagine on earth. For that, I am thankful and blessed, and I could not ask for more.
AND...The story is not over. There are still chapters to be written. But the Lord is still powerful, faithful, and good...worthy of our trust. Keep the Faith!!
May 6, 2023
2023: Loved it -again!
2020: This book has become a good friend to me. It is the kind of talk that a faithful friend will always be happy to repeat.
Read also in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
2013:Wonderful. So grateful for my friend Robin who recommended it to me.
I finished it today and tomorrow I will start reading it aloud at the breakfast table with my children.
2020: This book has become a good friend to me. It is the kind of talk that a faithful friend will always be happy to repeat.
Read also in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
2013:Wonderful. So grateful for my friend Robin who recommended it to me.
I finished it today and tomorrow I will start reading it aloud at the breakfast table with my children.
September 21, 2016
Christians of yesteryear used to speak of events and circumstances as not being due to “second causes.” This was a quaint way of speaking of God’s sovereignty. And this is where Bridges begins. If we are to trust God, we must believe He really is in control of our lives, that He is wise in His dealings, and that He is loving.
God always seek His own glory. But He also seeks the good of those who love Him. "God never pursues His glory at the expense of the good of His people, nor does He ever seek our good at the expense of His glory. He has designed His eternal purpose so that His glory and our good are inextricably bound together.”
Therefore, we can trust Him.
Occasionally I will read a book at a time when it’s words resonate at a perfect pitch and minister to my particular needs. This book was one of those. Bridges delicately but scripturally handles an often controversial subject: God’s sovereignty. He doesn’t apologize for a clear biblical teaching, nor does he minimize our responsibility to trust and obey.
"The truth we must believe is that God is sovereign. He carries out His own good purposes without ever being thwarted….We must believe this and cling to this in the face of adversity and tragedy, if we are to glorify God in the face of adversity and tragedy, if we are to glorify God by trusting Him.”
And the truth is, we all experience adversity and tragedy. We all face numerous annoyances and inconveniences. And we all are tempted to question whether or not God is really in complete control.
If we can lay hold of God’s sovereignty, we can also trust that He is wise. "God in His infinite wisdom knows exactly what adversity we need to grow more and more into the likeness of His Son. He not only knows exactly what we need but when we need it and how best to bring it to pass in our lives.”
And along with with His sovereignty and wisdom, we know because of the Cross that God is love. "If we want proof of God’s love for us, then we must look first at the Cross where God offered up His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Calvary is the one objective, irrefutable proof of God’s love for us.”
Bridges never minimizes the difficulty of trusting God in the midst of suffering or hardship. He reminds the reader that it is an act of the will to cast our anxieties on the Lord, but an act of the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith and grant us peace. We choose to trust God, even when we don’t feel His presence. We stand upon the promises of Scripture and trust the Lord to accomplish His purposes, namely, to bring the Christian into greater and greater conformity to Jesus.
God always seek His own glory. But He also seeks the good of those who love Him. "God never pursues His glory at the expense of the good of His people, nor does He ever seek our good at the expense of His glory. He has designed His eternal purpose so that His glory and our good are inextricably bound together.”
Therefore, we can trust Him.
Occasionally I will read a book at a time when it’s words resonate at a perfect pitch and minister to my particular needs. This book was one of those. Bridges delicately but scripturally handles an often controversial subject: God’s sovereignty. He doesn’t apologize for a clear biblical teaching, nor does he minimize our responsibility to trust and obey.
"The truth we must believe is that God is sovereign. He carries out His own good purposes without ever being thwarted….We must believe this and cling to this in the face of adversity and tragedy, if we are to glorify God in the face of adversity and tragedy, if we are to glorify God by trusting Him.”
And the truth is, we all experience adversity and tragedy. We all face numerous annoyances and inconveniences. And we all are tempted to question whether or not God is really in complete control.
If we can lay hold of God’s sovereignty, we can also trust that He is wise. "God in His infinite wisdom knows exactly what adversity we need to grow more and more into the likeness of His Son. He not only knows exactly what we need but when we need it and how best to bring it to pass in our lives.”
And along with with His sovereignty and wisdom, we know because of the Cross that God is love. "If we want proof of God’s love for us, then we must look first at the Cross where God offered up His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Calvary is the one objective, irrefutable proof of God’s love for us.”
Bridges never minimizes the difficulty of trusting God in the midst of suffering or hardship. He reminds the reader that it is an act of the will to cast our anxieties on the Lord, but an act of the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith and grant us peace. We choose to trust God, even when we don’t feel His presence. We stand upon the promises of Scripture and trust the Lord to accomplish His purposes, namely, to bring the Christian into greater and greater conformity to Jesus.
March 25, 2022
Little did I know when I endeavored to read this book with my dear friend, Debbie, that the Lord would immediately use it for my good and His glory. As my husband lay in a hospital bed on a ventilator in January, truths from this book were fresh and the Lord called them to my mind. I am forever changed through this book, and I will return to it often. It beautifully leads me through scripture and hugs me gently with the precious words of my Savior. Praise God.
January 28, 2023
“𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘣𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘮𝘴 𝘶𝘴.”
I've always believed a book comes to you just at the right time. And so it was with this one. I think I read this a long time ago but I have no remembrance. My last one for #nonfictionnovember that I will probably get to this month.
Comforting to re hear truths about God's Sovereignty, Control, and Mercy for us. All things are allowed to happen to us for a reason. Would have loved to have more on the “trusting” Vs “sovereignty” part. It's one thing to know in one's mind about Trust but to truely believe it and apply it it is so hard.
I've always believed a book comes to you just at the right time. And so it was with this one. I think I read this a long time ago but I have no remembrance. My last one for #nonfictionnovember that I will probably get to this month.
Comforting to re hear truths about God's Sovereignty, Control, and Mercy for us. All things are allowed to happen to us for a reason. Would have loved to have more on the “trusting” Vs “sovereignty” part. It's one thing to know in one's mind about Trust but to truely believe it and apply it it is so hard.
May 14, 2023
One of my most recommended books. Simple yet deep. The answer for almost any sin we struggle with comes down to our living out our trust in God.
May 19, 2025
This book helped me recover from my seminary mindset. My assumption was that if I grew in knowledge of Scripture and Christian doctrine that I would be able to have more insight into the counsel of God in almost every circumstance.
This book was a perfect cure for my thinking. It both asked the hard questions like “why does a good and sovereign God allow evil and suffering?” and asserted that we can’t ultimately know for certain. But God has given us sufficient promises and evidences of grace for us to trust him when we don’t know for certain. This lesson of “not knowing, but trusting” could be a seminary class in of itself.
Jerry Bridges compassionately leads his readers to see the abundance of reasons for why we can trust God. And I’m in agreement with him that we can ultimately trust God, no matter what, because He didn’t even spare his one and only Son but gave him up for us all (Romans 8:31-32). And if God did that for us, we can trust him in everything we face today and whatever we will face tomorrow. God is inscrutable in all his ways, timings, and purposes (Romans 11:33-36).
This book was a perfect cure for my thinking. It both asked the hard questions like “why does a good and sovereign God allow evil and suffering?” and asserted that we can’t ultimately know for certain. But God has given us sufficient promises and evidences of grace for us to trust him when we don’t know for certain. This lesson of “not knowing, but trusting” could be a seminary class in of itself.
Jerry Bridges compassionately leads his readers to see the abundance of reasons for why we can trust God. And I’m in agreement with him that we can ultimately trust God, no matter what, because He didn’t even spare his one and only Son but gave him up for us all (Romans 8:31-32). And if God did that for us, we can trust him in everything we face today and whatever we will face tomorrow. God is inscrutable in all his ways, timings, and purposes (Romans 11:33-36).
January 14, 2024
I think my life would have looked much different these past two years if I had started reading this book sooner and actually applied the things I read. This book is challenging, convicting, encouraging, and practically helpful. Bridges has compassion and sympathy for the weak and faint-hearted, but he is ruthless against sin. He offers deep theological truths in a clear and accessible way, while offering practical and clear application. He balances gracefully the tension between dependence on the Holy Spirit and our own personal responsibility.
I bought this book during a season in which I had received several confusing and challenging medical diagnoses which I had been dealing with for a year. I was being told by doctors that I would not be able to have kids for a long time, and would possibly deal with these health issues for life. Less than a month after starting this book, we found out I was pregnant with the little girl we now hold in our arms every day. Her middle name is the New Testament word for Truth-she is a daily reminder to know and believe the Truth about who God is and what He promises regardless of how I feel.
This book has continued to be challenging, convicting, and encouraging to me from infertility all the way to the challenges of having a newborn. I’m truly thankful to the Lord for the ways that He very clearly brought this book into my life in His timing.
I bought this book during a season in which I had received several confusing and challenging medical diagnoses which I had been dealing with for a year. I was being told by doctors that I would not be able to have kids for a long time, and would possibly deal with these health issues for life. Less than a month after starting this book, we found out I was pregnant with the little girl we now hold in our arms every day. Her middle name is the New Testament word for Truth-she is a daily reminder to know and believe the Truth about who God is and what He promises regardless of how I feel.
This book has continued to be challenging, convicting, and encouraging to me from infertility all the way to the challenges of having a newborn. I’m truly thankful to the Lord for the ways that He very clearly brought this book into my life in His timing.
December 11, 2010
Great book on God's sovereignty in the midst of difficult circumstances. A great answer to the popular book "Why bad things happen to good people?" The very title of that book reveals the lack of theological foundation needed to explore this topic.
Chapter 7 which deals with God's sovereignty and our responsibility is worth the price of the book alone.
Some takeaways:
"Prayer is the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and of our dependence upon Him to act on our behalf. Prudence is the acknowledgement of our responsibility to use all legitimate means."
"We must not only pray for God's providence in our lives, but we must also pray for wisdom to rightl understand our circumstances and use the means He has given us."
"We should never use God's sovereignty as an excuse for our laziness or sin."
"Not only is God sovereign, He is perfect in love and infinite in wisdom."
"Dependence comes before perseverance. Depend on God daily and He will give you the perseverance."
"We are responsible to trust Him in times of adversity, but we are dependent upon the Holy Spirit to enable us to do so."
Chapter 7 which deals with God's sovereignty and our responsibility is worth the price of the book alone.
Some takeaways:
"Prayer is the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and of our dependence upon Him to act on our behalf. Prudence is the acknowledgement of our responsibility to use all legitimate means."
"We must not only pray for God's providence in our lives, but we must also pray for wisdom to rightl understand our circumstances and use the means He has given us."
"We should never use God's sovereignty as an excuse for our laziness or sin."
"Not only is God sovereign, He is perfect in love and infinite in wisdom."
"Dependence comes before perseverance. Depend on God daily and He will give you the perseverance."
"We are responsible to trust Him in times of adversity, but we are dependent upon the Holy Spirit to enable us to do so."
October 17, 2024
This book is magnificent in laying down the hard truths that God is sovereign over every aspect of life and every encounter of life by approaching it in a very digestible way. The beginning section of the book talks about how God is sovereign over people, nations, nature, etc in a way that challenged me to think about God as Creator and Sustainer in greater depth. The implications of God being sovereign is that we can trust that He has the power to transform anything, but we can trust that it is for our good and His glory because of the succeeding chapters covering God’s wisdom and love. Jerry Bridges does an incredible job of calling for response knowing that God is trustworthy (even through adversity). This book doesn’t just set our hearts right before God, but it also calls our hearts to pursue God! Very well done! I can’t wait to lend this book out!!
February 10, 2025
“Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold on the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelms us.”
Very solid, especially for believers in times of trial. But I think it's good to start trusting God in the small and everyday things before getting hit with the more serious stuff. So this book is really for anyone.
“That which should distinguish the suffering of believers from unbelievers is the confidence that our suffering is under the control of an all-powerful and all-loving God. Our suffering has meaning and purpose in God's eternal plan, and He brings or allows to come into our lives only that which is for His glory and our good.”
(the color splotch on the front looks like the USA baby)
Very solid, especially for believers in times of trial. But I think it's good to start trusting God in the small and everyday things before getting hit with the more serious stuff. So this book is really for anyone.
“That which should distinguish the suffering of believers from unbelievers is the confidence that our suffering is under the control of an all-powerful and all-loving God. Our suffering has meaning and purpose in God's eternal plan, and He brings or allows to come into our lives only that which is for His glory and our good.”
(the color splotch on the front looks like the USA baby)
June 6, 2021
It seemed like every chapter was extremely timely. This book comes with a helpful study guide for deeper interaction which was really great. I would recommend this book to anyone as a discipleship tool
August 13, 2023
This book was very comforting and encouraging for anyone having troubles. It is solid in the Truth and I will definitely be going back for re-reads. A new favorite!
January 20, 2011
Where is God when horrible things happen? What role does He play when it comes to job loss, the death of a child or loved one, a terminal illness, or other tragedies? Does He actually control all our circumstances, or do these bad things happen simply because we live in a sin-cursed world?
These are questions that I never gave much thought...until I found myself in the midst of my own tragic circumstances. It suddenly became a crucial issue in my life! There seemed to be only three clear choices:
A. God isn't able to intervene
B. God chooses not to intervene
C. God is in full control of what is happening
Even then, I instinctively felt that God was in complete control of everything that was happening, even if I didn't understand His reasons for allowing me to go through these things. Everything I knew about God's nature screamed to me that neither option A or B could possibly be correct. Still, I wanted to see concrete proof in Scripture to confirm what I felt the Holy Spirit was telling me.
After many hours of praying and searching my Bible, I was convinced that nothing that happened to me was an accident...that God was in complete control of every single thing that went on, down to the tiniest detail. I actually found this a tremendous comfort...that even when I felt completely helpless and had NO control over my circumstances or the horrible loss I was going through (which included three miscarriages and a preterm stillbirth), I was never for one minute out of God's hand. Even though I didn't understand why I had to go through so much pain, I trusted that He knew what He was doing. For someone with control-freak tendencies like me, letting go of my need to be in control of the situation and to have an answer or explanation for everything and putting myself completely in God's hands was an extremely difficult thing to do.
Jerry Bridges addresses this exact issue in Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts. If you've read my reviews of other books by Dr. Bridges, you know that I really enjoy his writing. I think this one is my favorite so far. He expresses what I came to strongly believe during that period in my life much more eloquently than I ever could. Dr. Bridges wrote this book based on a lengthy Bible study he did on the subject during a time of adversity in his own life.
He points out that most Christians find it much easier to obey God than to trust Him. We can handle things pretty well when His expectations are clearly laid out and we know what to do, but when life gets messy and we don't understand what's going on and can't see the outcome (or don't like the one we do see!), it's easier to place blame on other factors instead of trusting that God knows what He's doing.
"The moral will of God given to us in the Bible is rational and reasonable. The circumstances in which we must trust God often appear irrational and inexplicable. The law of God is readily recognized to be good for us, even when we don't want to obey it. The circumstances of our lives frequently appear to be dreadful and grim or perhaps even calamitous and tragic. Obeying God is worked out within well-defined boundaries of God's revealed will. Trusting God is worked out in an arena that has no boundaries. We do not know the extent, the duration, or the frequency of the painful, adverse circumstances in which we must frequently trust God. We are always coping with the unknown. Yet it is just as important to trust God as it is to obey Him. When we disobey God we defy His authority and despise His holiness. But when we fail to trust God we doubt His sovereignty and question His goodness."
The book begins by addressing this critical issue: Can we trust God? Is He trustworthy?
"Confidence in the sovereignty of God in all that affects us is crucial to our trusting Him. If there is a single event in all of the universe that can occur outside of God's sovereign control, then we cannot trust Him. His love may be infinite, but if His power is limited and His purpose can be thwarted, we cannot trust Him. You may entrust to me your most valuable possessions. I may love you and my aim to honor your trust may be sincere, but if I do not have the power or ability to guard your valuables, you cannot truly entrust them to me."
In the first half of the book, Dr. Bridges takes us through a thorough study of God's sovereignty over people, nations, and nature as taught in Scripture. In Chapter 7, he tackles the issue of our responsibility in light of God's sovereignty. The last few chapters address how God's wisdom and love factor in to the equation.
"God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about."
He wraps up by applying all we've seen of God's character personally: how we can know and experience God's love, and trust Him and be thankful, no matter our circumstances.
Dr. Bridges isn't afraid to tackle the tough issues brought up by the subject of God's sovereignty, and he does it with grace and humility. Trusting God is eloquent, Scripture-saturated, and encouraging.
Do yourself a favor...get and read Trusting God now so you'll be standing on a firm foundation when (not if!) circumstances seem to be trying to knock you off your feet!
(Thanks so much to Navpress for the review copy of this book. I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.)
Read more: http://homewithpurpose.blogspot.com/2...
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
These are questions that I never gave much thought...until I found myself in the midst of my own tragic circumstances. It suddenly became a crucial issue in my life! There seemed to be only three clear choices:
A. God isn't able to intervene
B. God chooses not to intervene
C. God is in full control of what is happening
Even then, I instinctively felt that God was in complete control of everything that was happening, even if I didn't understand His reasons for allowing me to go through these things. Everything I knew about God's nature screamed to me that neither option A or B could possibly be correct. Still, I wanted to see concrete proof in Scripture to confirm what I felt the Holy Spirit was telling me.
After many hours of praying and searching my Bible, I was convinced that nothing that happened to me was an accident...that God was in complete control of every single thing that went on, down to the tiniest detail. I actually found this a tremendous comfort...that even when I felt completely helpless and had NO control over my circumstances or the horrible loss I was going through (which included three miscarriages and a preterm stillbirth), I was never for one minute out of God's hand. Even though I didn't understand why I had to go through so much pain, I trusted that He knew what He was doing. For someone with control-freak tendencies like me, letting go of my need to be in control of the situation and to have an answer or explanation for everything and putting myself completely in God's hands was an extremely difficult thing to do.
Jerry Bridges addresses this exact issue in Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts. If you've read my reviews of other books by Dr. Bridges, you know that I really enjoy his writing. I think this one is my favorite so far. He expresses what I came to strongly believe during that period in my life much more eloquently than I ever could. Dr. Bridges wrote this book based on a lengthy Bible study he did on the subject during a time of adversity in his own life.
He points out that most Christians find it much easier to obey God than to trust Him. We can handle things pretty well when His expectations are clearly laid out and we know what to do, but when life gets messy and we don't understand what's going on and can't see the outcome (or don't like the one we do see!), it's easier to place blame on other factors instead of trusting that God knows what He's doing.
"The moral will of God given to us in the Bible is rational and reasonable. The circumstances in which we must trust God often appear irrational and inexplicable. The law of God is readily recognized to be good for us, even when we don't want to obey it. The circumstances of our lives frequently appear to be dreadful and grim or perhaps even calamitous and tragic. Obeying God is worked out within well-defined boundaries of God's revealed will. Trusting God is worked out in an arena that has no boundaries. We do not know the extent, the duration, or the frequency of the painful, adverse circumstances in which we must frequently trust God. We are always coping with the unknown. Yet it is just as important to trust God as it is to obey Him. When we disobey God we defy His authority and despise His holiness. But when we fail to trust God we doubt His sovereignty and question His goodness."
The book begins by addressing this critical issue: Can we trust God? Is He trustworthy?
"Confidence in the sovereignty of God in all that affects us is crucial to our trusting Him. If there is a single event in all of the universe that can occur outside of God's sovereign control, then we cannot trust Him. His love may be infinite, but if His power is limited and His purpose can be thwarted, we cannot trust Him. You may entrust to me your most valuable possessions. I may love you and my aim to honor your trust may be sincere, but if I do not have the power or ability to guard your valuables, you cannot truly entrust them to me."
In the first half of the book, Dr. Bridges takes us through a thorough study of God's sovereignty over people, nations, and nature as taught in Scripture. In Chapter 7, he tackles the issue of our responsibility in light of God's sovereignty. The last few chapters address how God's wisdom and love factor in to the equation.
"God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about."
He wraps up by applying all we've seen of God's character personally: how we can know and experience God's love, and trust Him and be thankful, no matter our circumstances.
Dr. Bridges isn't afraid to tackle the tough issues brought up by the subject of God's sovereignty, and he does it with grace and humility. Trusting God is eloquent, Scripture-saturated, and encouraging.
Do yourself a favor...get and read Trusting God now so you'll be standing on a firm foundation when (not if!) circumstances seem to be trying to knock you off your feet!
(Thanks so much to Navpress for the review copy of this book. I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own.)
Read more: http://homewithpurpose.blogspot.com/2...
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
January 14, 2024
Another excellent book by Bridges. Trusting God is theologically sound and grounded in scripture, and in typical Bridges’ style also very practical. Since the Fall, man has had to live with discomfort and pain, loss and sorrow, crime and injustice, and just plain “bad stuff.” Who hasn't found themselves at some point in their life asking the question, "Why?" to God? Have you ever heard an individual say something like, “God didn’t want this to happen,” when tragedy strikes a family or a community? Is this supposed to be comforting somehow? Or is the person maybe trying to vindicate God, let Him off the hook, so to speak?
In the Preface of Trusting God, Bridges shares his two-fold purpose: “to glorify God by acknowledging His sovereignty and His goodness,” and “to encourage God’s people by demonstrating from Scripture that God is in control of their lives, that He does indeed love them, and that He works out all the circumstances of their lives for their ultimate good.” He starts out at the beginning by giving three truths from Scripture that we must hold to if we are to truly trust God in all things:
1. He is completely sovereign
2. He is infinitely wise
3. He is perfect in love
Bridges proceeds to prove from God’s Word that God is always in control, a truth which should give us great comfort and peace in the midst of trying and painful situations. Certainly more so than consoling ourselves that something occurred outside of God’s will or power. He goes into various areas of life that present challenges, providing examples where we see that God is sovereign and in control over nature, over governments, and yes, even over people. God is the Creator of all things, but He didn’t stop with creation; He also continues to sustain and govern all of his creation.
If God were an evil or foolish tyrant, knowing that He is in control would be frightening. On the other hand, if God were good and loving, but not all-powerful, then knowing He is in control would not be comforting either, because no matter how good His intentions were, He would be unable to fix problems or help in time of trouble. Bridges writes,
“If there is a single event in all of the universe that can occur outside of God’s sovereign control, then we cannot trust Him. His love may be infinite, but if His power is limited and His purpose can be thwarted, we cannot trust Him.”
“No detail of your life is too insignificant for your heavenly Father’s attention; no circumstance is so big that He cannot control it.”
If we truly understand and believe that our God is not only sovereign in ALL things, but also holy, good, loving, powerful, and wise, we can trust Him and be at peace, even when life is painful and difficult. This is a book that I believe every Christian should read.
In the Preface of Trusting God, Bridges shares his two-fold purpose: “to glorify God by acknowledging His sovereignty and His goodness,” and “to encourage God’s people by demonstrating from Scripture that God is in control of their lives, that He does indeed love them, and that He works out all the circumstances of their lives for their ultimate good.” He starts out at the beginning by giving three truths from Scripture that we must hold to if we are to truly trust God in all things:
1. He is completely sovereign
2. He is infinitely wise
3. He is perfect in love
Bridges proceeds to prove from God’s Word that God is always in control, a truth which should give us great comfort and peace in the midst of trying and painful situations. Certainly more so than consoling ourselves that something occurred outside of God’s will or power. He goes into various areas of life that present challenges, providing examples where we see that God is sovereign and in control over nature, over governments, and yes, even over people. God is the Creator of all things, but He didn’t stop with creation; He also continues to sustain and govern all of his creation.
If God were an evil or foolish tyrant, knowing that He is in control would be frightening. On the other hand, if God were good and loving, but not all-powerful, then knowing He is in control would not be comforting either, because no matter how good His intentions were, He would be unable to fix problems or help in time of trouble. Bridges writes,
“If there is a single event in all of the universe that can occur outside of God’s sovereign control, then we cannot trust Him. His love may be infinite, but if His power is limited and His purpose can be thwarted, we cannot trust Him.”
“No detail of your life is too insignificant for your heavenly Father’s attention; no circumstance is so big that He cannot control it.”
If we truly understand and believe that our God is not only sovereign in ALL things, but also holy, good, loving, powerful, and wise, we can trust Him and be at peace, even when life is painful and difficult. This is a book that I believe every Christian should read.
July 17, 2023
Whew, this book took me some time to get through. But it was such a good and important read. Especially if you find yourself in a season of asking “why God? Why me?”
This book lays out to many foundations of the sovereignty of God. It talks about so many things like: can you trust God, Gods sovereignty over people, His ruling over the nations, the Wisdom of God, growing through adversity & giving thanks.
This book can be a hard read for those going through adversity, so I suggest being ready for hard truths if you pick it up in that season. But it’s such a good read!
Few of my favorite quotes:
“Every adversity that comes across our path, whether large or small, is intended to help us grow in some way. If it were not beneficial, God would not allow it or send it."For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men- Lamentations 3:33). God does not delight in our sufferings. He brings only that which is necessary, but He does not shrink from that which will help us grow.”
“But though we should never ask a demanding why, we may and should ask God to enable us to understand what He may be teaching us through a particular experience. But even here we must be careful that we are not seeking to satisfy our souls by finding some spiritual “good” in the adversity.”
“Prayer assumes the sovereignty of God. If God is not sovereign, we have no assurance that He is able to answer our prayers. Our prayers would become nothing more than wishes. But while God's sovereignty, along with His wisdom and love, is the foundation of our trust in Him, prayer is the expression of that trust.”
This book lays out to many foundations of the sovereignty of God. It talks about so many things like: can you trust God, Gods sovereignty over people, His ruling over the nations, the Wisdom of God, growing through adversity & giving thanks.
This book can be a hard read for those going through adversity, so I suggest being ready for hard truths if you pick it up in that season. But it’s such a good read!
Few of my favorite quotes:
“Every adversity that comes across our path, whether large or small, is intended to help us grow in some way. If it were not beneficial, God would not allow it or send it."For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men- Lamentations 3:33). God does not delight in our sufferings. He brings only that which is necessary, but He does not shrink from that which will help us grow.”
“But though we should never ask a demanding why, we may and should ask God to enable us to understand what He may be teaching us through a particular experience. But even here we must be careful that we are not seeking to satisfy our souls by finding some spiritual “good” in the adversity.”
“Prayer assumes the sovereignty of God. If God is not sovereign, we have no assurance that He is able to answer our prayers. Our prayers would become nothing more than wishes. But while God's sovereignty, along with His wisdom and love, is the foundation of our trust in Him, prayer is the expression of that trust.”
July 5, 2021
Jerry Bridges isn't a brilliant theologian or a scintillating writer, but he's a solid and sturdy practical teacher and a far more faithful follower of Jesus than I'm ever likely to be. Some books you read to learn from. Others you read to hear again the truths you're already supposed to know. This was one of the latter.
Narrator was also solid and sturdy but not brilliant.
Narrator was also solid and sturdy but not brilliant.
January 17, 2023
Absolutely the best in depth study of God’s sovereignty I’ve read. Highly recommend.
February 13, 2025
When life is difficult, when sin clings closely, when adversity strikes, when suffering comes upon you, where do you run?
Jerry Bridges, who was truly a gem and gift to the body of Christ, points the believer, as he does in his books, to the solution: God, His character, and His promises.
God is worthy of our trust and faith in the midst of whatever calamity our experience this side of Genesis 3 brings. If you’re struggling as to how that actually & practically works, take up and read.
God is so absolutely sovereign and infinitely good that we can believe that whatever comes to us in this vale of tears is not from an apathetic dictator, but from the hand of a loving & faithful Father….you can trust Him
Jerry Bridges, who was truly a gem and gift to the body of Christ, points the believer, as he does in his books, to the solution: God, His character, and His promises.
God is worthy of our trust and faith in the midst of whatever calamity our experience this side of Genesis 3 brings. If you’re struggling as to how that actually & practically works, take up and read.
God is so absolutely sovereign and infinitely good that we can believe that whatever comes to us in this vale of tears is not from an apathetic dictator, but from the hand of a loving & faithful Father….you can trust Him
December 31, 2011
Christian books often frustrate me, which - I guess - is why I don't read as many of them as the people around me seem to.
I end up getting annoyed by analogies that fall apart under the least scrutiny, circular reasoning, and the panacea of faith to handle all other logical conundrums encountered.
I found this book refreshing and candid. It wasn't perfect - I still found myself asking, "yeah, but what if?" And, "would you please tell me where you're getting that information?" (as on p. 177: "Someone has estimated that as many as eighty percent of our work force are dissatisfied with the jobs they are in..."... Yeah... Ummm... I just estimated that right now... Or p. 198 "It is no wonder that someone has observed 'few Christians finish well.'" ...Who is this "someone" that keeps appearing?..) But all-in-all Bridges did a good job of answering the unasked follow-up questions that other Christian authors ignore.
For instance, I found myself getting annoyed the whole way through chapter 3 - which deals with the sovereignty of God... It went through multiple biblical examples of trial, struggle and stress, and in every case, at the end - God's purpose was revealed. I kept thinking, "yeah, but those people didn't know it at the time. It's almost like Bridges wants us to go out and say, 'Yeah, you're going through a tough time, cancer really sucks, doesn't it? Yeah, I'll bet those tubes are uncomfortable, here's a Bible for you.'" It was really getting under my skin. Then, at the end though Bridges adds:
"A Word of Caution:
The material in this chapter is "tough stuff." It should be read, studied, and prayed about when life is more or less routine...
Above all, we need to be very sensitive about instructing someone else in the sovereignty of God and encouraging that person to trust God when he or she is in the midst of adversity or pain. It is much easier to trust in the sovereignty of God when it is the other person who is hurting..." (p. 53)
That little caveat (as obvious and simplistic as it was) assuaged my contempt for the book and allowed me to continue reading it with an open mind. Had he not put that in there, I think I may not have finished - what's that "forest for the trees" cliché?
A brief aside, that's not a spoiler, but is nonetheless not pertinent to the review, so I'm putting a spoiler alert on it in case you don't feel like wasting your time:
We started reading this during a men's Bible Study at church. ...I don't think I've paid for it yet - and this was back in March or so... I have to remember to do that.
The book is not preachy, and it doesn't try to proselytize. But with that in mind it's written for people who:
1. Believe there is a God
2. Believe He is the Father of Jesus Christ
3. Believe the Bible is truth
I'm not saying you won't get anything out of this book if you don't already believe those things, but I am saying I don't think this book was written with you in mind. It starts after a set of presuppositions has been established.
And lets face it, for those of us who do believe in God, sometimes trusting that God is tough. I mean, why can't we all just live forever here on earth? Why'd he have to allow that damn snake in the Garden in the first place?
I don't get cancer, or logs falling off trucks and crashing into passing cars... (a personal phobia)... but looking around and seeing the complexity and order of the world, I believe in a God. And seeing the way things are, and the way things could be, I believe in perfection. It's tough to believe that there is a god, and that He (or She or It - if you prefer) is perfect, and that He's just up there winging it. Bridges does a good job of bringing us back to scripture to show us that isn't the case.
I end up getting annoyed by analogies that fall apart under the least scrutiny, circular reasoning, and the panacea of faith to handle all other logical conundrums encountered.
I found this book refreshing and candid. It wasn't perfect - I still found myself asking, "yeah, but what if?" And, "would you please tell me where you're getting that information?" (as on p. 177: "Someone has estimated that as many as eighty percent of our work force are dissatisfied with the jobs they are in..."... Yeah... Ummm... I just estimated that right now... Or p. 198 "It is no wonder that someone has observed 'few Christians finish well.'" ...Who is this "someone" that keeps appearing?..) But all-in-all Bridges did a good job of answering the unasked follow-up questions that other Christian authors ignore.
For instance, I found myself getting annoyed the whole way through chapter 3 - which deals with the sovereignty of God... It went through multiple biblical examples of trial, struggle and stress, and in every case, at the end - God's purpose was revealed. I kept thinking, "yeah, but those people didn't know it at the time. It's almost like Bridges wants us to go out and say, 'Yeah, you're going through a tough time, cancer really sucks, doesn't it? Yeah, I'll bet those tubes are uncomfortable, here's a Bible for you.'" It was really getting under my skin. Then, at the end though Bridges adds:
"A Word of Caution:
The material in this chapter is "tough stuff." It should be read, studied, and prayed about when life is more or less routine...
Above all, we need to be very sensitive about instructing someone else in the sovereignty of God and encouraging that person to trust God when he or she is in the midst of adversity or pain. It is much easier to trust in the sovereignty of God when it is the other person who is hurting..." (p. 53)
That little caveat (as obvious and simplistic as it was) assuaged my contempt for the book and allowed me to continue reading it with an open mind. Had he not put that in there, I think I may not have finished - what's that "forest for the trees" cliché?
A brief aside, that's not a spoiler, but is nonetheless not pertinent to the review, so I'm putting a spoiler alert on it in case you don't feel like wasting your time:
We started reading this during a men's Bible Study at church. ...I don't think I've paid for it yet - and this was back in March or so... I have to remember to do that.
The book is not preachy, and it doesn't try to proselytize. But with that in mind it's written for people who:
1. Believe there is a God
2. Believe He is the Father of Jesus Christ
3. Believe the Bible is truth
I'm not saying you won't get anything out of this book if you don't already believe those things, but I am saying I don't think this book was written with you in mind. It starts after a set of presuppositions has been established.
And lets face it, for those of us who do believe in God, sometimes trusting that God is tough. I mean, why can't we all just live forever here on earth? Why'd he have to allow that damn snake in the Garden in the first place?
I don't get cancer, or logs falling off trucks and crashing into passing cars... (a personal phobia)... but looking around and seeing the complexity and order of the world, I believe in a God. And seeing the way things are, and the way things could be, I believe in perfection. It's tough to believe that there is a god, and that He (or She or It - if you prefer) is perfect, and that He's just up there winging it. Bridges does a good job of bringing us back to scripture to show us that isn't the case.
October 14, 2010
I walked into this book bound but I walked out free...
I originally got this book because - to be quite frank - because I thought it was apropos after having lost my home, all my possessions and having my health seriously compromised this past July in an environmental accident. A reminder to trust God in the midst of all that seemed ... well ... right. Little did I know how important the message in this book would be for me in this moment of my journey.
Warning: this book is not for the faint-hearted. It will challenge you, remind you, move you, undo you, humble you, lift you, convict you and ultimately, change you.
When I started reading the book, I thought I lived in a way that allowed God to function in my life unhindered - or out of the box, if you will. However, I quickly learned that I had actually forgotten how big He is and how sovereign He is. In addition, I came to the brutal reality that I had not let Him out of the box but had actually put him back in the box! Sigh...
I had climbed back up into the front seat, grabbed the steering wheel from God and had taken over for him, yet again. The sad thing is, I hadn't even realized that I had done that.
This book reminded me of so many things: God is sovereign, God loves me unconditionally, God is ALWAYS there even when I can't feel or sense him, God NEVER lies and on and on. I walked into this book,, bound but walked out of it, free.
There is a quote that Jerry Bridges writes at the end of the book that perfectly sums this book up. He says, "Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold on the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelms us."
Bottom line, for me personally, is that this book reminded me that this thing called Christianity is a relationship with a real God and it takes a continuous effort on my part as well. I must vigorously work to constantly stand in the midst of unthinkable challenges and situations and trust that God is working everything out for my good.
Jerry reminds us that if we believe God is sovereign, then we must also understand - while living our lives accordingly - that God brings all the good things that come into our life (and we should always give Him thanks for) and (and this was the part that was so challenging for me) that GOD also ALLOWS THE BAD TO COME IN AS WELL. He does if for several reasons. For His glory, for our good or for both - His glory and our good.
Coming to terms with the concept that God allowed the incident that happened to me personally in which I lost my home and all my possessions, as well as, the damage that was caused to my lungs, was challenging to say the least. It challenged me on so many levels. It drove me to read Job over and over. I struggled to understand why?
And then something incredible happened. I realized that if He allowed it, He already had the answer on its way. He was already taking care of me. He would lead me forward and show me the way. This horrible situation that happened to me was not mistake, it wasn't fate, it wasn't the cosmos. He already knew. The whole situation had been in His hands the whole entire time. I was never alone - even when every fiber of my being told me I was. Incredible....
"Why it happened" questions suddenly fell to the wayside and were replaced with "what questions". What do you want me to do God?
Beyond my own crisis, this book also put the times we live in and all the craziness that is going on all around us, into perspective for me, as well. I don't have to fret or worry or wonder, because, God is in control of EVERY detail. He knows exactly what He is doing and all I have to do is CHOOSE to TRUST HIM.
For me, there was this ability in that epiphany to just breathe and let go. I was finally able to surrender what happened to with my home, possessions, and health, as well as, what was happening around me. I knew that someone great than me, than greater than all, was in complete control. I could finally let go of the steering wheel and follow.
*I received this book free from NavPress as part of their Blogging 4 Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
I originally got this book because - to be quite frank - because I thought it was apropos after having lost my home, all my possessions and having my health seriously compromised this past July in an environmental accident. A reminder to trust God in the midst of all that seemed ... well ... right. Little did I know how important the message in this book would be for me in this moment of my journey.
Warning: this book is not for the faint-hearted. It will challenge you, remind you, move you, undo you, humble you, lift you, convict you and ultimately, change you.
When I started reading the book, I thought I lived in a way that allowed God to function in my life unhindered - or out of the box, if you will. However, I quickly learned that I had actually forgotten how big He is and how sovereign He is. In addition, I came to the brutal reality that I had not let Him out of the box but had actually put him back in the box! Sigh...
I had climbed back up into the front seat, grabbed the steering wheel from God and had taken over for him, yet again. The sad thing is, I hadn't even realized that I had done that.
This book reminded me of so many things: God is sovereign, God loves me unconditionally, God is ALWAYS there even when I can't feel or sense him, God NEVER lies and on and on. I walked into this book,, bound but walked out of it, free.
There is a quote that Jerry Bridges writes at the end of the book that perfectly sums this book up. He says, "Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold on the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelms us."
Bottom line, for me personally, is that this book reminded me that this thing called Christianity is a relationship with a real God and it takes a continuous effort on my part as well. I must vigorously work to constantly stand in the midst of unthinkable challenges and situations and trust that God is working everything out for my good.
Jerry reminds us that if we believe God is sovereign, then we must also understand - while living our lives accordingly - that God brings all the good things that come into our life (and we should always give Him thanks for) and (and this was the part that was so challenging for me) that GOD also ALLOWS THE BAD TO COME IN AS WELL. He does if for several reasons. For His glory, for our good or for both - His glory and our good.
Coming to terms with the concept that God allowed the incident that happened to me personally in which I lost my home and all my possessions, as well as, the damage that was caused to my lungs, was challenging to say the least. It challenged me on so many levels. It drove me to read Job over and over. I struggled to understand why?
And then something incredible happened. I realized that if He allowed it, He already had the answer on its way. He was already taking care of me. He would lead me forward and show me the way. This horrible situation that happened to me was not mistake, it wasn't fate, it wasn't the cosmos. He already knew. The whole situation had been in His hands the whole entire time. I was never alone - even when every fiber of my being told me I was. Incredible....
"Why it happened" questions suddenly fell to the wayside and were replaced with "what questions". What do you want me to do God?
Beyond my own crisis, this book also put the times we live in and all the craziness that is going on all around us, into perspective for me, as well. I don't have to fret or worry or wonder, because, God is in control of EVERY detail. He knows exactly what He is doing and all I have to do is CHOOSE to TRUST HIM.
For me, there was this ability in that epiphany to just breathe and let go. I was finally able to surrender what happened to with my home, possessions, and health, as well as, what was happening around me. I knew that someone great than me, than greater than all, was in complete control. I could finally let go of the steering wheel and follow.
*I received this book free from NavPress as part of their Blogging 4 Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
April 10, 2025
An excellent treatment of the subject that any Christian can glean much from. Highly recommended!
March 7, 2017
This book was not easy to review but it is a privilege for me to share with you some of what I learned from reading it. Trusting God Even When Life Hurts is filled to the brim with ways to help you build your faith and trust in God. The first three chapters are very deep as it challenges readers to trust God when we have bad things and situations happen unexpectedly in our lives. Times when we don't understand why these things happened to us and we have no control over what has come upon us. Sometimes it is very hard to trust God for the out come and simply place our trust in His sovereignty over all things.
Why do certain things happen to us in life as they do? Why are babies born with birth defects or why are they born only to die within a few months after their birth? Why are missionaries put to death daily at the hands of cruel terrorists for nothing more than reaching out to the lost with the gospel message as Christ commanded them to do in
Matthew 28:19 ?
This book, Trusting God Even When Life Hurts, challenges readers to place their trust in him completely even when they don't understand why God allows trials and tribulations to enter their lives. It helps Christians to except that God truly wants the best for them. That He cares for them and loves them unconditionally. That God is sovereign in every situation and we can put our trust in Him even through the toughest of times.
If you are up to the challenge this is a great book to read. I participated in a Church book study using Trusting God Even When Life Hurts.
Why do certain things happen to us in life as they do? Why are babies born with birth defects or why are they born only to die within a few months after their birth? Why are missionaries put to death daily at the hands of cruel terrorists for nothing more than reaching out to the lost with the gospel message as Christ commanded them to do in
Matthew 28:19 ?
This book, Trusting God Even When Life Hurts, challenges readers to place their trust in him completely even when they don't understand why God allows trials and tribulations to enter their lives. It helps Christians to except that God truly wants the best for them. That He cares for them and loves them unconditionally. That God is sovereign in every situation and we can put our trust in Him even through the toughest of times.
If you are up to the challenge this is a great book to read. I participated in a Church book study using Trusting God Even When Life Hurts.
Read
May 29, 2025This review appears on my blog: https://confessionsofabookwormweb.wor...
Confession, I tried reading Trusting God in 2013 but I stopped about halfway through because I didn't like it. However, now that I am older and have experienced trials, I am able to appreciate and learn from this book a lot more.
As the title suggests this book is about trusting God, however, it does not just address how we can do this, it addresses the why we can trust Him. It is about God's sovereignty in various situations and how we can trust God because of this. Bridges doesn't just deal with personal trials, he also addresses how we can trust God when a natural disaster happens or when the headlines get us down.
I appreciated how the author backed up each of his points with Scripture, showing that it is biblical and not just something that he sucked out of his thumb. He also has a way of being convicting without being judgmental and he always points it back to Christ and the gospel. There are also a lot of good quotes in it.
Even though a lot of this book was about things I should already know, i was great having someone show all the ways and reasons I can trust God. I believe every Christian should read this book, especially in this day and age when it seems like the world just keeps getting worse.
I am giving this 5/5 Stars because it really impacted me and it was a great reminder of how in all things I can trust God.
Confession, I tried reading Trusting God in 2013 but I stopped about halfway through because I didn't like it. However, now that I am older and have experienced trials, I am able to appreciate and learn from this book a lot more.
As the title suggests this book is about trusting God, however, it does not just address how we can do this, it addresses the why we can trust Him. It is about God's sovereignty in various situations and how we can trust God because of this. Bridges doesn't just deal with personal trials, he also addresses how we can trust God when a natural disaster happens or when the headlines get us down.
I appreciated how the author backed up each of his points with Scripture, showing that it is biblical and not just something that he sucked out of his thumb. He also has a way of being convicting without being judgmental and he always points it back to Christ and the gospel. There are also a lot of good quotes in it.
Even though a lot of this book was about things I should already know, i was great having someone show all the ways and reasons I can trust God. I believe every Christian should read this book, especially in this day and age when it seems like the world just keeps getting worse.
I am giving this 5/5 Stars because it really impacted me and it was a great reminder of how in all things I can trust God.
July 5, 2022
An excellent book to read with a younger (or older) christian.
I just smashed through this as an audio book... But, it feels like it would be the perfect fit to chew over slowly with someone.
What is it?
A study on what it means to trust God in light of his Sovereignty, Wisdom and Love.
What's it like?
The doctrine is standard reformed material, every point is made from multiple biblical passages BUT everything is also applied very personally.
Yes time is spent providing a "standard" reformed presentation of the providence of God and his sovereign care for all of his creation BUT then it's applied - how do we trust this sovereign God when we're disabled? How do we trust this sovereign God when our wife is dying of cancer (as the author's wife did)? How do we recognise our dependence on God when we feel like we have everything?
Conclusion
If you're familiar with biblical teaching on God's sovereignty, wisdom and love don't expect anything new here BUT do expect to have it summarised and explained well AND applied personally into your life.
A great resource for discipleship.
I just smashed through this as an audio book... But, it feels like it would be the perfect fit to chew over slowly with someone.
What is it?
A study on what it means to trust God in light of his Sovereignty, Wisdom and Love.
What's it like?
The doctrine is standard reformed material, every point is made from multiple biblical passages BUT everything is also applied very personally.
Yes time is spent providing a "standard" reformed presentation of the providence of God and his sovereign care for all of his creation BUT then it's applied - how do we trust this sovereign God when we're disabled? How do we trust this sovereign God when our wife is dying of cancer (as the author's wife did)? How do we recognise our dependence on God when we feel like we have everything?
Conclusion
If you're familiar with biblical teaching on God's sovereignty, wisdom and love don't expect anything new here BUT do expect to have it summarised and explained well AND applied personally into your life.
A great resource for discipleship.
August 12, 2013
I am not entirely sure why this book has so many likes. Personally, I am going through one of the most difficult times in my life. A family member gives me the book (which I am still very grateful and appreciate of the thought and action) and thought it was going to be very helpful. It just made me feel 100X worse about myself. I couldn't even finish reading it (which is not always the most fair thing to do, but I just couldn't). I got a very strong Calvinistic tone to the book. While the basic premise of trusting God is wonderful and very true, Bridges made me feel guilty for feeling sad, worried, and even frustrated during this time. In one of his chapters, he sad you are sinning if you ever complain about the weather. There is a point in where I can see is trying to get his readers not to be angry about God, but it is another to make people feel guilty for feeling frustrated. That is the tone I got from it, if you get something out of it great, but I would not even recommend reading it.
February 7, 2017
I just could not get into this book. Perhaps I am not the target audience, having wrestled through the concepts of trusting God already, but it fell flat.
In fact, when I finished I thought "I'm glad that was over". It was long, repetitive, and not as applicable as I wanted it to be.
If this is the first book of Jerry Bridge's that you've read, I'd encourage you to choose another. The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness is one of my favorite practical theology books, and Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God's Unfailing Love was the first book on God's grace that I read after coming to truly understand the gospel. Both I recommend wholeheartedly. This one I do not.
In fact, when I finished I thought "I'm glad that was over". It was long, repetitive, and not as applicable as I wanted it to be.
If this is the first book of Jerry Bridge's that you've read, I'd encourage you to choose another. The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness is one of my favorite practical theology books, and Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God's Unfailing Love was the first book on God's grace that I read after coming to truly understand the gospel. Both I recommend wholeheartedly. This one I do not.
October 15, 2023
Exceptional. Right up there with The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, this book and its principles will hopefully live rent free in my head forever. I could probably read a page of this every day and still learn from it. I think this is a must for all Christians- the doctrine of sovereignty permeates everything and this answered so many questions I didn't realize I had and planned a few more- as good books should ;)
July 7, 2022
I’m so happy to have this book suggested in a group on Facebook for people who have left NAR churches.
It took me by surprise as it’s so clear about the sovereign God who’s in full control of everything also the adversity we encounter in life. What a great comfort. I loved the study guide in the book. I will read this again.
It took me by surprise as it’s so clear about the sovereign God who’s in full control of everything also the adversity we encounter in life. What a great comfort. I loved the study guide in the book. I will read this again.
August 4, 2021
2021: relistened to this book after first listening to it back in 2012. Found it helpful to listen slowly every so often. Easily on my short list for top books for Christians to read. So full of rich truth of our good and sovereign God.
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