When Faith Disappoints: The Gap Between What We Believe and What We Experience

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 4 ratings

Price: 11.81

Last update: 08-31-2024


About this item

For anyone who feels the weight of injustice, trauma, and suffering, the founder of the Jude 3 Project invites you to discover how to find hope when you can’t make sense of the pain.

“Lisa Fields brilliantly offers hope for all who seek to practice their faith without the cruel dogma nurtured by Western culture.”—Otis Moss III, senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago

Living as a Black woman in America, Lisa Victoria Fields understands the tension of relying on God in a broken world. While pursuing her calling in full-time Christian ministry—an often white, male-dominated vocation—she saw the contentions many people have with Christianity. She heard the theological questions, but instead of arguing for her faith, she listened to the barriers and heard the pain in their hearts: Why doesn’t God protect me from suffering and injustice? Others don’t seem to think I have value—does God?

Now, in her debut book, Fields shows us how emotional pain—often more than theological concerns—is at the root of our doubt. She invites us to bring our deepest soul questions to this journey as she explores:

Seven pain points that might be keeping us from faith: a lack of personhood, peace, provision, pleasure, purpose, protection, and power

Honest talk about how Christianity doesn’t seem to meet our very valid needs

Why wrestling with God doesn’t negate our faith but instead deepens it

What it looks like to allow God to bring healing to our pain so we can see Him and others more clearly

Through vulnerable storytelling and thoughtful use of Scripture, Fields tends to our hurting hearts and offers hope and resolve. She helps us move forward as we cling to a faith that brings us back to the truth of Christianity—not despite the pain of this world but in light of it.


Top reviews from the United States

Katie
4.0 out of 5 stars Good insights; a bit off-topic in places
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2024
I was thankful to receive an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. It's Biblical, sensitive, and thoughtful for Christians who are struggling with difficulties in life. I appreciated the insights in this book, especially the prayers and the "pain points" with Fields' responses to each. However, I felt there were multiple places where the book didn't address the title fully, only obliquely. It was still a great, encouraging read.

This review contains my honest opinions. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC. I will post this review on Amazon closer to publication; the review is also cross-posted on Goodreads.
SC
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading ❤️
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2024
Lisa Fields is extraordinarily. Her experiences shared in this book makes her relatable. Thank you for your transparency.
Joan N.
4.0 out of 5 stars Reminding Christians to trust God
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2024
We Christians often struggle with the distance between what we believe and what we experience. Fields reminds us it is okay to question God when things happen we don't understand. She does warn us that the answers may not be emotionally satisfying. If we think God's will is solely about our happiness we will be disappointed.

Fields uses a number of her own experiences to illustrate her teaching. Her insights are not new. She reminds us God's ways are not our ways, that humans have free will, that God brings good out of evil actions, and more.

I like her reminding us we do not have control over our lives. God did not design us that way. We are rather to rest in God's control and, although we may not understand, we need to continue to trust God.

While I did not find any insights about which I have not read before, this is a good book reminding Christians to continue to trust God.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
MB
5.0 out of 5 stars NECESSARY!
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2024
Lisa leans into an uncomfortable but necessary convo for ALL, not just Christians.

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