Author Paul Mallard
Publisher IVP £9.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781783594450
This book is subtitled Going for Growth. Mallard is a Methodist Pastor and in this work he examines how Christians should respond to disappointments in their lives – those times ‘…when people or circumstances do not fulfil our expectations…’ The author identifies work, relationships, children, church, ourselves and God as potential sources of disappointment and devotes a chapter to each. The book’s theme is that inherent in disappointment is a sense of no longer being able to trace God’s hand in the situation. Mallard urges us to regard disappointments as designed to test and deepen our trust. Faith, the author insists, can reach maturity only by being stretched. This is a lesson worth stating but by examining so many examples of disappointment the book becomes repetitive. However, there are study questions at the end of each chapter and lots of references to biblical characters who have been tested by disappointment and so the book may be useful as a resource for study groups.
DAVID GILLIES
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