Seriously, God?: Making Sense of Life Not Making Sense

Review “This book brims with hope and inspiration for a world desperately lacking both. These authors and parish leaders dive into life’s toughest questions with a down-to-earth writing style that makes deep mysteries accessible to anyone. Whether you’re away from God or in love with him, if you’re on the mountaintop or in the valley, this book will meet you where you are and inspire you with images and stories that stick. More, please!” --Chris Stefanick, founder and president of Real Life Catholic “What you’ll find in White and Corcoran’s book is an honest and direct reflection on the age-old challenge of reconciling two seemingly opposed realties: faith in an all-powerful, all-loving God, and living in a world where suffering and sadness prevail all too often. A worthwhile read for those wrestling with this paradox.” --Curtis Martin, founder of FOCUS “Have you ever questioned God? I know I have many times and I have not always been satisfied with the answers or seeming lack thereof. In Seriously God?, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran dive deep into examining the whys we all ask in hard times, and they remind us that our stories are still being written with only God knowing how they end. This book will challenge you to seek the Lord in every joyful or sorrow-filled chapter of your beautiful life.” --Mary Lenaburg, author of Be Brave in the Scared “Grief is often compounded by the complex decisions and questions one faces in the aftermath of loss. The bereaved can look to Seriously God? as a tool, a resource, and most importantly, a companion as they navigate the messy struggle of the spirituality of suffering." --Jeannie Ewing, author of From Grief to Grace Product Description A friend’s child dies; a parent gets a cancer diagnosis; your spouse loses their job. Sometimes life and God’s plan don’t make sense and we end up feeling hurt and angry.In Seriously, God?, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran explore the denial, doubt, and betrayal we experience when we face hardship, pain, and grief, and they encourage us to lean into our feelings and to take each circumstance as a chance to learn more about God.Drawing on personal anecdotes and stories from their parish, White and Corcoran—authors of the bestselling and award-winning book, Rebuilt—share important lessons, including:Even the heroes of the Bible—such as Abraham, Moses, David, and the apostles—experienced situations that caused them to misunderstand God.There is joy in knowing we will forever be getting to know God.Even though life often doesn’t make sense, we shouldn’t assume God doesn’t make sense.For anyone who has battled suffering, walked away from faith under the pressure of crushing doubt, never felt safe giving faith a chance, or cared about someone who struggles with these realities, this book treats the problems of suffering and evil not as an argument to be overcome but as an invitation to a deeper faith.Each chapter relies on biblical stories that provide a wonderful introduction to scripture to those who are not familiar with the Bible and a fresh perspective to those who are. Each chapter also includes questions for self-reflection and discussion. A free parish small-group guide and videos from the authors are available online.This is a perfect book to give as a gift to friends or family members who are grieving, those struggling with doubts about their faith, or those who are new to faith. About the Author Fr. Michael White is a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and pastor of Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland. White is the coauthor of Rebuilt—which narrates the story of Nativity’s rebirth—Tools for Rebuilding, Rebuilding Your Message, The Rebuilt Field Guide, and ChurchMoney. He is also coauthor of Seriously, God? and the bestselling Messages series for Advent and Lent.During White’s tenure as pastor at Church of the Nativity, the church has almost tripled in weekend attendance. More importantly, commitment to the