Overcoming life's toughest problems (in review)

Overcoming life's toughest problems
By Ed Hindson

The back cover of this book says that, "you will learn to face a crisis with confidence, find clear direction, turn a problem to an opportunity and conquer depression, stress and feelings of failure." Sounds like a miracle book doesn't it?

I've read books that deal with pain. Some were better than others. And the thing that made one more interesting than the other was that the person was in pain while writing it. The author was honest, personal and he was angered by the superficial carbon-copy advice that many offer to others in pain. The author also came to the realization that one may not find help while in pain... because of their own misery. I felt the author's pain while reading and by the end, I was at the cusp of his hope as well. But Ed Hindson's book is not that kind of book. Don't go to this book expecting to connect to the author. This book is clinical. It seems more like a Christian-pop manual on the observation of life's troubles. And to that end, if you read this book, approach it as a text book on "the way we suffer" or "the process of suffering", it is nearly worth the read.

Again, it is squeaky clean, clinical and occasionally arrogant (or maybe challenging) in some of its proclamations. The example I'll give is, "If your marriage is falling apart because of your job, quit your job." The person the author was speaking to, of course, had reservations. But Ed's response was, "Do you trust God or don't you?" (Page 17). And to answer Ed's question, yes, I think I trust God. And maybe when I have become more mature, I might find that faith really is a matter of "just" trusting God. Though if you are honest, it is a lot harder to do than to say.

Should you read this book?: I would read this book for study. It serves as a good reminder that all pain and suffering aren't caused by external means. Sometimes, a poor attitude, lack of genuine prayer and self centeredness are the reasons we suffer. There are also lot's of good Bible verses to push your mind in the "God-direction" while in a tough situation.