Highly recommended. We all have questions about suffering and pain... good and evil... and coming to terms with who God is and whom we trust. ( )

I love Randy Alcorn and the fact that he always brings an eternal perspective to every topic he tackles (thus his ministry is Eternal Perpectives Ministry - epm.org). So now that I find myself meditating a lot on the topic of suffering, I knew that his book on the topic would be helpful. It definitely was. Randy doesn't write a tightly wound apologetic for academic discussion. He writes for everyday people who are dealing with the real issues of the Christian life. His arguments are sound and thoroughly articulated, but they are also practical for those in the midst of trials.
This book deals with the "problem of pain" in a sensitive and yet unapologetically biblical manner that exalts God as both sovereign and good. It's not a short book but it is worth the time. ( )

Alcorn's book are very thorough. I often feel he covers a subject at least three times and a good editor might cut 75 pages out of his books. This one covers thoroughly a subject that many people wrestle with, and I think he does a pretty good cross. Lutherans have the Theology of the Cross and I think he fits that pretty well. I have also ordered his Bible study that goes along with this book and will work with it to present this information in an organized and helpful way to those who need it. ( )

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Wanda Beaver's review Dec 27, 14 · edit
4 of 5 stars
bookshelves: 2014-book, blogging-for-books, religion
Read from December 16 to 27, 2014

If God is Good --- why do we have pain and suffering? If God loves us, how can he justify all the world suffering? And why do evil people sometimes thrive while the righteous suffers? Why wouldn’t a loving God rid the universe of evil?

If God Is Good contains many stories of people’s challenges and suffering and their triumphs. Some, who have suffered deeply, now have a relationship with God. God revealed treasures to them that can only be found in the darkness of suffering. When suffering comes, we should ask God to use it for his glory. We are promised that the eternal ending will bring glorious happiness and that all present suffering will pale in comparison. We can rejoice for that coming day when there will be no more death and suffering.

Disasters can bring out the best in people. We cannot see the end that God has in mind, but we can be sure that God’s unfailing love will never let us down, no matter how bleak things appear. We might wish for a world untouched by evil and suffering, but eternal happiness cannot happen without it. We must realize that if God allowed less evil in the world, there would also be less good.

Many times God will deliver us from suffering, and sometimes he will sustain us through suffering. He can calm the storm, and sometimes calms our hearts, and we should praise him for these acts of grace. But we must have faith and trust that God can bring good from all suffering. In the end, Jesus Christ is the answer to all the suffering and evil in the world. We need to remember that Jesus has written this story in his own blood.

From the book – God wrote the script of the unfolding drama of redemption long before Satan, demons, Adam and Eve – and you and I – took the stage. And from the beginning, he knew that the utterly spectacular ending would make the dark middle worth it.

If God is Good is truly a journey of discovery and will answer many of your questions on pain and suffering. I have highlighted many sections of this book and will be keeping it on my shelf for reference and continual reading. My rating is 4+ stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Randy Alcorn discusses arguments for and against the many points of view on goodness and evil, citing many Biblical references. It is a good read and a grand look at the spectrum of ideas on goodness, suffering, and evil. ( )