Where Is God?: Finding His Presence, Purpose and Power in Difficult Times

Theodicy-why God allows suffering and evil-is one of the thorniest problems Christians and other theists face. Psychologist Townsend, coauthor of the bestselling book Boundaries, has eschewed an academic perspective and written a commonsense volume, specifically for those suffering hard times and asking about God's purposes, sovereignty and even goodness. Supporting his ideas with personal anecdotes and multiple biblical citations, the author argues that suffering and destruction are a result of our freedom to choose God's ways or our own ways. God's intentions for humankind are good; God is present in all circumstances; God is compassionate; and God wants us to seek help from each other, asserts the author. Most of all, God (and the author) offer the suffering hope, founded in God's promises for this life, Christian community and the life to come. While there is little that isn't out of the evangelical playbook, Townsend brings refreshing honesty and distaste for conventional pabulum to the subject.