Thursday, May 5, 2011

The God of All Comfort, by Dee Brestin


The God of All Comfort (Zondervan, 2009) was another of those random rainy day finds at the public library. I had never heard of the book or author, but it fell into the category of "grief books" I've been dipping into thoroughly immersing myself in lately, so I added it to the growing stack in my arms. And honestly, at first I didn't like it a whole lot. The first third or so is devoted to telling the story of Brestin's husband's cancer and subsequent death. It was sad and depressing (I'm not sure what else I thought a grief book would be...) and I couldn't relate to much (which doesn't make it a bad book, by the way, it just didn't speak to me personally). But once I got past the first 100 pages, I found myself dog-earing more and more pages. 

I was inspired by Brestin's family's response to their husband/father's death, and by the obvious way in which they were held up even during these lonely, dark days. 

I was able to relate to Brestin's focus on "psalms, hymns, and songs," as those have been of great comfort to me in sorrow, too. 

But my favorite section of the book spoke of God's sovereignty and how, when we doubt Him, we can be reminded of His: 

"Heart: 'As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.' (Psalm 103:13

History: 'He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night.' (Psalm 78:14)

Heaven: 'May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.' (Psalm 115:15)" 

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