“God
hides,” Kriz writes. “It is just a reality.”
The
event that precipitated Kriz writing this book was the illness of his
nephew. He wanted God to be very much present for his nephew in the
time of intense need. Kriz began to journey through his own
encounters with God and seasons of silence. This book is the result.
Kriz
finds value in stories. “They are the foundation of our beliefs.”
This book follows the pattern of narrative spiritual formation,
exploring God memories and telling stories as it relates to belief.
Kriz specifically looks at his own experiences around the question of
God's presence.
Through
his own experiences, Kriz explores the character of God, as a being
with a will, emotions, as a communicator, as aloof. Included are
stories of his seeking that illusive “something” he felt missing
in his Christian experience. He was so frustrated he decided to
believe no longer. Then he went to college and became an avid Jesus
follower, finding that God spoke to him through others. He continues
with missionary experiences, his God encounters and his spiritual
meltdowns with refreshing honesty. He explores what on our end keeps
us from communicating with God.
Kriz
has concentrated his writings on the times we so badly want God to be
present in a way we can sense, desiring His comfort, His strength,
His comforting hand, yet feeling that God remains silent. He ends his
book, “For now, I am still left with my questions, doubts, and
confusions.”
The
concept of narrative spiritual formation is new to me. I come from an
older generation of believers who considered our experiences, our
stories, to be rather irrelevant when compared to what God has said
in His Word. I have always felt that the mystery of God's promise to
be near and my lack of sensing that nearness is a problem on my end,
not God's.
Younger
believers who find major significance in their spiritual experiences
may appreciate this book more than I did. They might find Kriz's
honesty in relating his spiritual experiences a springboard to
investigating their own.
Tony
Kriz is the Author in Residence at Warner Pacific College, where he
also teaches on topics like authentic faith and spiritual formation.
You can follow his blog at www.tonykriz.com.
Thomas
Nelson, 256 pages.
I
received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for
the purpose of an independent and honest review.
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