Why? Trusting God When You Don't Understand

Why? Trusting God When You Don't Understand

by Anne Graham Lotz
Nashville, TN:W Publishing Group, 2004.

Reviewed by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of Billy Graham and founder of AnGel Ministries, tackles the subject of keeping faith during times of trial in Why? Trusting God When You Don't Understand. This book sprung from Lotz's own experience of difficult times. During an eighteen-month period a hurricane leveled part of her property, a fire destroyed her husband's dental office, her parents were hospitalized repeatedly, and her son was diagnosed with cancer. To say the least, life [and some would say God] was not being kind.

Lotz begins with a question all people of faith have asked at some point in their lives: "Why? Why does God let bad things happen to good people? to innocent people? to helpless people? to defenseless people? to children? to me?" She finds her answer in Romans 8:28 "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." No matter how bad life gets, God has some plan in mind. Suffering serves a purpose although that purpose is usually not clear at the time. "The times when you and I can't trace his hand of purpose, we must trust His heart of love!"

When her son was diagnosed with cancer, Lotz recalls praying with him over the telephone that all would work out according to God's plan. Although ultimately, the cancer went into remission and she was thrilled with that outcome, she maintains that the true victory was not at the moment the cancer was removed but rather at the moment that they chose to trust in God, regardless of the outcome. "Faith that triumphantly soars is possible only when the winds of life are contrary to our personal comfort. That kind of faith is the ultimate purpose in allowing us to encounter storms of suffering."

Lotz acknowledges our tendency to feel as if God is punishing us when we are hurt or suffering. "The unspoken thought is that if God really loved me, if my life was truly pleasing to Him, if everything was 'all right' between us, only good things would happen to me." Lotz holds up the biblical story of Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus as an antidote for that outlook. Lazarus died despite the fact that Jesus loved their family deeply. "Bad things do happen to those Jesus loves."

The issue of God's silence is also addressed. There are times when we repeatedly pray and seemingly receive no response, or even more discouraging, the situation worsens. "One reason God may be delaying His answer to your prayer and postponing His intervention in your situation is to bring you to the end of your resources. Sometimes God waits in order to allow us time to exhaust every other avenue of help until we finally realize without any doubt or reservation that we are totally helpless without Him. . . . Then when the answer comes, we know that without a shred of doubt that it comes from Him alone and that He knows best."

Anne Graham Lotz is obviously a woman of tremendous faith and trust in God. Why? Trusting God When You Don't Understand is brief, to the point, and extremely insightful. It is a wonderful book for when life is hurting.


© Spiritual Woman Press, 2005. All rights reserved.