When Life Is Hard

This is the perfect book for those who feel that they are somehow failing in their faith, or that God is somehow failing them, when they encounter seasons of suffering and difficulty in life. When I hear Christian teaching that promises that everything will be sunshine and rainbows if you have enough faith, I wonder two things: 1 - Where on earth do they get this idea in the first place, since Christ suffered and died and most of the apostles were martyred after living lives of persecution and imprisonment? 2 - Even if they believe it, how do they reconcile it with day to day reality in a suffering, broken world? The book outlines a solidly biblical perspective on suffering and pain, one that will help you abandon distorted images of God that can plunge you into despair when the storms of life inevitably show up. No book can give a tidy, comprehensive answer to the problem of pain (you might even argue some theological points with MacDonald), but there are some liberating foundational principles and essential truths in this book that all Christians should be able to agree on.

"When Life Is Hard" by James MacDonald is a great and encouraging read for the Christian who is going through some kind of trial (relational, health, career, etc.). Among the points covered include: 1. 3 things to remember when in a trial. 2. One of the fruits of genuine believers is that you endure hardships. 3. 2 good benefits of trials. 4. 4 actions to take when in a trial. 5. 4 ways to respond to a trial. 6. When in a trial, be careful of discouragement, dislocation, and bitterness. 7. 5 things to consider when going through a trial. 8. The devil wants to use our trial to paralyze us while God wants to use the trial for our own good. 9. 2 things to do when you are living with your "thorn". MacDonald pulls no punches: trials are not necessarily fun to endure and they are sure to come to the Christian. However, with God's grace, you will endure and glorify God in the process. Highly recommended.

Life's trials can work either two ways. They either amplify your weaknesses or they make you strong. It's all dependant on your relationship with God. This book helps you to get to the place in your life that you lean on God during a trial or loss. MacDonald's style is warm and inviting and he will lead you into a safe place through the storms of life.

This book has kept me reading it because of its easy style of writing while at the same time it provides very clear teachings about trials in life. It's one I have marked up as I have read it and will work through it a second time.

I have to disagree with the earlier review. As someone who is still emerging from one of the darkest hours of my life, I have to say that I found the "When Life is Hard" book and podcast series extremely helpful in shoring up my spiritual foundation again after a devastating loss. Last year in February my daughter (age 23) was admitted for "minor" surgery to drain an infected mass on her bladder. During the procedure a vein to her leg was cut, and a progression of events that followed resulted in her death that evening. In a few short hours she went from a healthy young woman with a minor medical issue to a tragic death due to a surgeon's mistake. I have struggled with this harder than anything I have ever had to deal with. Mr. Macdonald's book is spot-on for anyone who is facing a true life trial. Hebrews chapter 12 has been a constant comfort to me, and I was glad to see Mr. Macdonald expand on that theme. I highly recommend this book to anyone facing a hard trial.