For these Tough Times

I finished (and started) my second book for the Thomas Nelson BRB project yesterday. For these Tough Times by Max Lucado. I am not a fast reader so the fact that I started and finished it in one afternoon tells you that it is a very accessible book. I was drawn to the title because of my personal journey over these past several years and while Lucado certainly does not dive into the depths and complexities of dealing with grief and loss he does provide the reader with some good reminders about who God is, the fact that we are not Him (and thus lack His understanding), the fact that He does love us, and the fact that He is accessible to us. In addition to being drawn to the title because of my own personal journey, I also wanted to evaluate it for its appropriateness to give to other parents and families that are dealing with tremendous loss. Because Lucado presupposes the reader already has a belief in God and at least a basic understanding of the Biblical narrative, the book falls a little short in its general applicability. While there is something to be said for writing to your audience, Lucado has defined his audience so narrowly that it really cannot be used as a resource to introduce the love and care of God to people dealing with great loss and suffering that don't already know Him.