Book Review – God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions
Image: God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions by Len Lantz (CC BY-NC-ND)
Synopsis: Len's Star Rating: 7 out of 10. An encouraging book on addressing emotional problems and life stresses from a Christian perspective.
BY LEN LANTZ, MD / 12.4.2021; No. 52
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Star Rating – 7 out of 10
Rating guide: 1 = horrible, 5 = average and 10 = wow
Author
Rick Warren
About the author
Dr. Rick Warren is an international bestselling author, and his book The Purpose Driven Life is reported to be the bestselling hardback nonfiction book in history, having sold over 32 million copies. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Together with his wife Kay in 1980, he founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. His church is among the 10 largest churches in the US and has international satellite campuses.
General description
God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions was previously released in 1999 under the title Answers to Life’s Most Difficult Questions. This newer edition was released in 2006 and is 208 pages. There are other editions of this book, including a study guide (an abridged version of this book under 100 pages) and a companion DVD, which are designed for a six-week small group study. Some of the problems addressed in this book include:
Stress and gaining peace of mind
Depression, discouragement, and loneliness
Overcoming problems and dealing with crises
Unique and most important aspects
God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions is an encouraging book that provides practical advice from a Christian perspective. Dr. Rick Warren delves into common problems that people face by sharing biblical stories, theological perspectives, and heartfelt wisdom and offering specific action steps for the reader to follow. He shares the difficulties and emotional reactions that Jesus, the apostles, and the Old Testament saints experienced. His writing style is engaging and the stories he shares capture the reader's interest. While the book is empowering and uplifting, I would have liked to see Dr. Warren be more direct about reducing mental health stigma, especially regarding depression.
Best quotes
“However, it is not enough to simply say, ‘The Bible is the answer.’ It is important for Christians to show how the Bible answers life’s questions. In this book I suggest practical steps and specific actions you can take, based on God’s Word, that will help you cope with the common problems we all face.”
“Everyone gets depressed at times, but some people are depressed nearly all the time. And it’s not limited to poor people or people with physical ailments. Even great saints get depressed. Elijah was just such an example.”
“When we start comparing ourselves with other people, we fall into another trap: we tend to compare our weaknesses with other people’s strengths, forgetting that those people are also weak in areas where we may be strong.”
“The second reason we get ourselves in trouble is that we take a vote. The fact is that the majority can be wrong.”
“God’s purpose is greater than any situation you will ever experience. God has a plan beyond the problems you are facing right now. The point is this: It is dangerous to focus on your problems more than on your purpose for living.”
Who would enjoy this book?
Readers who are interested in an encouraging book from a Christian perspective that addresses emotions and the age-old question of why bad things happen to good people would likely enjoy God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions.
Who would not enjoy this book?
Readers who are looking for a book from a Christian perspective that directly addresses mental health stigma are unlikely to enjoy God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions.
Conclusion
God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions is an encouraging book on addressing emotional problems and life stresses from a Christian perspective.