Book Review "Angry With God"

 I received a free digital copy of the following book from New Growth Press in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Book

No one gets mad at God for something small. When we’re angry with God, it is because we’ve faced something immensely hard. Anger is an often-overlooked part of grieving, and as such, is an appropriate response to profoundly painful events. Counselor Brad Hambrick provides a guided process to being honest with God about your pain to restore and deepen your relationship with him. While we are often prone to interpret our anger about intense suffering as being at God, this book is an invitation to process these intense emotions with God as a source of comfort who is sturdy enough to support these turbulent emotions. If you are struggling with deep grief that is accompanied with anger and confusion, Angry with God will be profoundly helpful in your journey. Hambrick will patiently walk you through the process of being honest with God (and others) about your pain. You will learn how to articulate your pain, alleviate the effects of this pain, contextualize your experience in light of the gospel, and begin to hope again. God is a good shepherd who is patient and willing to move at the pace of his sheep. God can be trusted in places that merit the name “the valley of the shadow of death.” Angry with God is part of the Ask the Christian Counselor series. This series walks readers through their deepest and most profound questions. Each question is unpacked by an experienced counselor that gives readers the tools to understand their struggle and how the gospel brings hope and healing to the problem they are facing. About the Author Brad Hambrick, ThM, EdD, serves as the Pastor of Counseling at The Summit Church in Durham, NC. He also serves as Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a council member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, and has authored several books, including God's Attributes: Rest for Life’s Struggles, Making Sense of Forgiveness, and Angry with God, and served as general editor for the Becoming a Church that Cares Well for the Abused curriculum.

What Others Are Saying “Anger and grief are healthy responses to profoundly painful events in our lives. Those who grieve over painful experiences need patient care, not a lecture. Brad demonstrates a unique level of compassion and concern for those who are suffering. He delivers wisdom that helps us respond to and care for those who suffer in ways that are compassionate and practically informed.” ~ Justin S. Holcomb, Episcopal minister; seminary professor; author of Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault “Brad Hambrick’s pastoral and prophetic approach is both comforting and incisive, providing helpful and compelling insights for all who are navigating grief and healing from painful experiences—especially hurt and injustice within the church. Filled with compassionate advice and practical tools, this book offers readers a unique invitation to evaluate anger through a different lens and understand how God comes alongside us in our suffering. With clarity and grace, Hambrick takes us on a journey of courage that will help us care for the broken parts of ourselves and be agents of healing and hope to the wounded along our path.” ~ Ruth Malhotra, Writer; advocate; ministry leader “For years I’ve wanted a resource that can help me provide better counsel for those who are hurting and struggling with anger at God. Angry with God is the book I’ve been searching for. It’s eminently biblical, pastoral, and practical. I’ll be giving this book out to everyone I encounter who struggles emotionally with the problem of evil and suffering.” ~ Joe Carter, Associate pastor, McLean Bible Church, Arlington, VA; senior writer, The Gospel Coalition “Mindful of those suffering profoundly, Brad Hambrick gifts his readers with perfectly portioned, practical wisdom. He honors a sufferer’s experiences, doubts, and pain while reminding us we have a patient and loving God who understands and tends to grief-filled anger. Angry with God: An Honest Journey through Suffering and Betrayal has already been an immeasurable blessing to my counselees.” ~ Darby Strickland, CCEF Faculty; author of Is it Abuse? “Angry with God provides a pastoral and wise approach to grief, and the insights and reflection questions throughout the book will benefit anyone who is experiencing the anger that often accompanies loss. As a trauma specialist, I am eager to utilize this resource with my counseling clients because it compassionately addresses the struggles they often face in their healing journeys.” ~ Beth M. Broom, Executive Director, Christian Trauma Healing Network; care minister, The Village Church, Denton, TX My Review and Opinion This is such wonderful book and tool to help people work through their anger and grief, whether it is due to the loss of a loved one, or someone who has hurt them irreparably.  It's a gentle guide towards healing and coping with their profound loss.  Healing takes time and patience, and sometimes others tend to try to force an individual to "move on..."  when they are not spiritually, emotionally or spiritually ready.  This guide to healing works with the person through each thought provoking chapter to ease them gently in the direction of God's great love for them and to reflect on what they have just read and how to apply the teaching tools to their own painful situation.   There is some writing involved and I would suggest a person grab a notebook to write down their thoughts and reflections.  This will help them later on.  Consider it a journal on their journey to healing, a way to help the person cope and heal at their own pace.  So much of God's love is given by example and through biblical scripture, but what is quite beautiful is that it's okay to be angry, to have grief and to be able to express it, God can handle it all and more.  In Chapter 17 there was one part that really hit home for me, "We begin to realize faith is a relationship." "We realize our choices impact the outcome"  In the scheme of things it really is up to the individual to work through their anguish but with the aid of this book, it can be done, with prayer, reflection and honesty and above all else walking and talking with God.   I do recommend this book for anyone struggling with grief, betrayal and anger. If you know of someone that is struggling, it could be a game changer for them and also in helping and building a better and more loving relationship with their heavenly Father.