When Goliath Doesn’t Fall
A friend of mine wrote me an email the other day telling me about a book titled, “When Goliath Doesn’t Fall by Jody Conrad. My friend is real good friends with the author. Here is the Amazon.com summary of the book.
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! -Habakkuk 3: 17-18 You’ve read the Bible stories of God’s amazing faithfulness. You’ve seen Him extend His blessings and healing to your family and friends. He’s even answered your prayers for other issues in your life. But sometimes, no matter how much you pray or cling to the victories of the past, your present problem remains depressingly unchanged-with little hope for the future. Most Christians understand and accept that life isn’t always fair and that sometimes our prayers may not be answered; but still it’s hard to get past the hurt and confusion of ‘why?’ after you prayed and trusted God, believing that He’d defeat the ugly giant in your path, only to watch in sorrow as the giant didn’t fall. How do you reconcile and rebuild your faith and hope in Christ when it seems He let life defeat you? In When Goliath Doesn’t Fall , Jody Conrad pulls the mask of Christianity down and admits to the ugliness of real life. Sometimes, no matter how hard you pray, babies die. Sometimes, no matter how much you trust God, doctors find cancer. Houses catch on fire; tornados demolish entire communities; and terrorists successfully crash airplanes into buildings. How are we supposed to respond when Goliath doesn’t fall? With compassion and understanding, Jody joins you in life’s trenches and tells you about a different kind of deliverance. She shows you the unconditional and strangely hopeful worship of Habakkuk’s heart and helps you discover how to cultivate a beautiful, wild faith that is still able to worship; still able to rejoice; still able to sing of the joys of heaven-even with cancer in its lungs.
Sometimes in life things do not happen as you pray, or as you think they ought to go. As I read this description of the book and continued in my study of Experiencing God I was struck how vital a loving relationship with God is. When everything crumbles around us His love stays solid for us. I just have a huge sense that every person reading this needs to strengthen their love relationship, including me. What about you? Have you had a When Goliath Doesn’t Fall experience? Who di you reach out to? Did you feel that God was far or near? What do you think you csn/should do to build the relationship with God so that no matter what you always are near to Him?
- Written by Todd Baughman
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:28 pm
My son and daughter in law lost there baby.Feb 21 2008 When she was in her seventh month. She was still born. We all asked why why us? For me being a Christian at 55 and a new one to boot. For about five years now. I was so hurt to say the least. Losing my grand baby. And holding her precious dead body. I felt abandoned by God and I was hurt and angry. But I knew with out a dought she is with the Lord, so I got to my knees and asked God to help me with these feelings. Because as I told Him nothing will make me lose my Faith. And a wonderful peace has come over me. But for my son and Danielle it’s not the same. So I am hoping to be able to get this book for them and pray it helps them to come to Jesus. Because at this point my son said he is done with God because of this. I pray not I want to spend life with Christ and baby Ava Grace, that’s her name. And all of my children one day in Heaven.
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Dear Ava’s Dad and Mom,
I am so sorry for your loss.
My heart breaks for you.
Keeping you in my prayers.
-Jody Conrad