Hope When Life Unravels by Adam B Dooley

This is a very touching memoir and exploration of suffering and God's plan. Dooley's three year old son was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Three years of treatment followed and Dooley reflects on his experiences and the lessons he learned.

In a sense, there is nothing radically new in this book about God and suffering. Dooley writes about the growth and maturity that can only come through deep wounds. He helps readers try to understand the origin and results of suffering. He points out it is a false idea to think that, because a person is suffering, they have done something to deserve it.

He admits that he doesn't have all the answers but shares how he learned to trust God through it all. About such hard experiences, Dooley says God “meticulously places them for reasons beyond our comprehension.” (Loc 228/1874)

He suggests we have an attitude of enduring adversity with a view to growing as much as possible. It may take the experiences to transfer head knowledge to heart believing. “Because God is more concerned with our character than our comfort, sometimes He chooses to use calamity in order to sanctify us.” (Loc 699/1874) He also wants us to know “that intimacy with God is the fruit of heartache and pain.” (Loc 361/1874)

If you have read a number of books on suffering, there may be nothing new for you in this one. Dooley's account is touching, however, and deals well with the issues of God and suffering. There are questions for discussion at chapter ends so this would be a good book for a group study.

Food for thought: "Will you eagerly follow a God who is likely to break you in order to mature your commitment to Him?" (Loc 699/1874)

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Adam B Dooley is the pastor of Englewood Baptist Church and the founder of A Better Way Ministries. He has degrees from Clear Creek Baptist College and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv; Ph.D). He and his wife, along with their three sons and two daughters, live in Jackson, TN. You can follow hiim @adambdooley.

Zondervan, 192 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)