Joel James. Help! I Can’t Handle All These Trials. Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd Press, September 26, 2014. 64 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Are you looking for a book concerning how to handle the trials of life? This counseling “mini-books” is immensely helpful with this issue. I have previously read four booklets from this series and this title is also another good one from this series. I highly recommend this volume.
In terms of how the book is organized: After the introduction the book consists of four chapters. A conclusion is followed by a section called “Personal Application Projects” and a page titled “Where Can I get Further Help?” which lists other recommended books on this topic. The author tried to center as much as possible his materials based upon his own study of the book of Job. Chapter one asks and answer the question “Who is in control?” Of course the answer is the sovereign Lord. Chapter two answers the question of why did trials and suffering happen in the life of believers. Chapter three then looks at how Job stumbled which is a sober warning to us all that we are not perfect. Chapter four then focuses on the characteristic of what a faith with fear of the Lord looks like.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and found it helpful. In fact I have been going over this book as a devotional and as a tool for devotional discussion with my wife in addition to using this book as a discipleship tool to go over with the high schoolers in my church. My favorite chapter was chapter two that went over what biblical reasons God has given of why people go through trials and suffering. Its vey edifying to be reminded of that! The chapter on how Job stumbled was also very helpful to me as it explains how someone like Job who in the beginning can be spiritually strong yet later on can waver in his faith with things not going his way.
Recommended.
The Domain for Truth 
Thanks for the great review. Blessings.
How many who are suffering like Job have the level of faith that he had? Job’s suffering ended. It was preceded and followed by great blessings. Not so for all who suffer.
Even Job greatly lamented the whys of his suffering. That is the worst part of suffering.
It isn’t easy to receive council even from one like Joni Erickson. It is unbearable to receive it from an average Joe who in realty knows nothing from a lifetime of personal experience.
They already know 2 things. God is in control and He has not and will not end it, like He did for Job. Platitudes and proverbs only further the sufferings of a broken hearted soul worn out and ground into the dust.
I struggle with your average Joe telling me my struggle isn’t that bad
Thank you for reviewing and recommending this resource, Jim! GOD bless you and your family!
You’re welcome. I am planning to order more of these booklets for others in the near future. Good books that are biblical and short yet helpful to those struggling are hard to find! Have you thought about a series on your blog of verses for those going through trials?
Yes, Jim, there are still verses left on that category. Some of them are posted under the “Trust in GOD” theme. Hopefully by this year along with the Sermon of the Mount series.
Nice! Probably helpful in the midst of this pandemic!
Thank you.
You’re welcome! How is Louisiana doing with the virus? Here in Los Angeles we had a big spike and basically 4th of July is cancelled it seems…sigh.
Wow. So Sad. Two parishes(counties) are requiring mask outside/inside. Gets more insane daily.
I’ve been reading this book too. It was convicting and encouraging the way the author pointed out that our view of God needs to change before our circumstances do. Thanks for sharing SlimJim, God is good ☺️
Thanks for this good review! These kinds of basic resources that point out Biblical examples of responding to trials and challenges are needed. I think back to my “crisis” over fundamentalism thirty years ago and how I responded wrongly, which messed up my life for a couple of decades. Preparing people before life’s crises hit is important.
I’m trying to do that: preparing people for suffering,by buying ten copies of this to give away and also had our group of highschoolers go over this book chapter by chapter. I’m also recommending this to others! How are you doing these days Tom, haven’t asked you about the job search front in a while…
RE; job search
Thanks, brother. I’m still plugging away at job search, although less hours each day than when I started. There were decidedly less postings with the lockdown. I turn 64 in 4 weeks and no hiring manager in his right mind would hire a 64YO. His boss would fire him! But the Lord has provided. I haven’t had to touch my retirement savings as of yet. How’s your day going?
Going to order this
Brother this seems like a helpful book
[…] booklets to give to someone in crisis is also a great evangelistic opportunity. I recommend Help! I Can’t Handle All These Trials in general for all problems but also for some of the specifics I recommend Help! My Marriage Has […]
In the end when no one is there, God is my help!
We need counseling tools like this today.