Faith and Other Flat Tires

Doubt is something that isn't generally talked about in Christian circles.  We speak of it in hushed tones to our most trusted confidantes or we keep it to ourselves, tormenting ourselves with guilt because we questions, hard questions that no one seems to want to answer.  This is one of the reasons, in my opinion that people are leaving the church in droves.  We've put too many items on the "taboo" list and teach people that to ask questions implies a lack of faith.  How can our faith grow stronger if we don't stretch it from time to time?

Andrea Palpant Dilley grew up the daughter of a missionary in Kenya, witnessing first hand many of the tragedies of humankind.  As she grew older and moved back to the US with her family, she began to be deeply troubled by the suffering in the world. Why did it happen?  Why did an all powerful God stop it?  Why do so many within the church seem ambivalent towards it?  Valid questions that trouble many Christian minds and perpetuate a feeling of angst towards what needs to be done and what is actually happening.

Through this very personal memoir, Andrea rather introspectively takes us along on her own faith journey.  From finding salvation  as a child to drifting away as a teenager and young adult and then slowly, over very rocky ground, finding her way back to faith.   I find the tone of the book to be very honest and sometimes humorous.  The author puts a voice to thoughts that many are too scared to express.  God is bigger than our questions and I believe that if we ask and seek, He will lead us to our answers whether hard or easy.

While I don't agree with some of Andrea's doctrinal beliefs, her journey is one in which we can all relate.  We've all dealt with our questions, large or small, before deciding to commit ourselves to the Lord and the church should be more open to aid those who find themselves in a place of doubt rather than leaving them to fend for themselves.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan in exchange for my honest opinion.  I was not required to give a positive review. *