If God is Good by Randy Alcorn

I recently signed up with Blogging for Books through Multnomah Publishing so I could try my hand at reviewing. I am a voracious reader -- or was before I had children -- and was excited at the idea of paying for a book by simply reviewing it. Yes, I was sent the book free of charge in exchange for a review in a timely manner.

As my maiden voyage, I chose If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil by Randy Alcorn (Multnomah, 2009).

Having suffered a bit and walked with friends and loved ones through their suffering, I've wondered like everyone where God is in the midst of it. I've learned from those experiences that He is... in the MIDST of it. However, I've never been able to explain how I know that or felt ready to give an answer to anyone who might question me on it.

If God is Good gives solid reasoning to what I have learned from experience.

By walking the reader first through a discussion of the origins of evil and suffering and then through arguments against God's very existence on to how and why God uses suffering, we reach Mr. Alcorn's conclusion with him, having learned a lot of terminology and theology along the way.

And the conclusion? God IS good because God is God. We are not. The real question is why a fallen human race expects to live without suffering. We really don't deserve the wonderful things God gives us every day; beautiful sunrises, laughter, breath... but He gives it. Suffering and evil are not from God but they certainly put His love in sharp relief for us... and that is ultimately why He allows it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”