As a book review blogger for Thomas Nelson, I received Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend’s book, What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do earlier this week. I was surprised at how small the book was when I first got it. But this isn’t a review on how the book looks, so let me get into my review.
Summary
If I could describe this book in a few sentences, I would say that it is a short book on “right to the point” principles on how to to biblical handle trials and hardships in your life. The advice in this book probably isn’t anything that you haven’t heard before, but the difference is that it is clearly being said, and Cloud and Townsend support their advice with solid biblical references.
My Thoughts
What I enjoyed most about this book also was one of my annoyances – it was really short. I read it within a couple of hours. The brevity of the book leaves the reader with really impactful principles, but I wonder how well such a short book would connect with someone who is sincerely looking for answers. In my experience in pastoral counseling, sometimes the quick answer isn’t the helpful answer.
The truth is that everything that Cloud & Townsend offers is simply what the book says it is about – principles. Principles in their definition implies clarity and simplicity, so a long drawn out book concerning principles would be an oxymoron in itself. Here are a couple of things that I found insightful:
- …personal valuse are not created in a vacuum; they are formed in the contect of community
- Sometimes we have to take responsibility for situations that are not our fault…Determining who is at fault in your situation isn’t nearly as important as determining who will do something about it…What matters most is taking ownership through God’s strength and wisdom to d o something about it.
- …expect pain as a regular part of life…the more we bluster, the harder it is to learn the first lesson of trouble: It must be accepted as a normal part of life.
- View your problems as the next steps of growth for you.
- The steps: Set goals, record progress, gather resources, acquire information, identify tasks, evaluate progress, explore preferences, remain flexible, pray continually, pace yourself.
Of all the things that this book covers, the main point that spoke to me was the importance of being vulnerable with you trials and problems in the context of close relationships. In my life, I know that I can be isolated. If I was to be at fault in handling life’s problems, it would be in this way. As a pastor, you sometimes feel the need to be guarded. You feel like there is an unwritten rule that pastors are not allowed to have pain, feel depressed, or go through trials – much less share it with others. But that’s not biblical. It’s not healthy. It’s not right.
So would I recommend this book? Sure. In fact, I think I’d like to stock a few in my library just to give out.
I love your point about the quick answers not always the helpful answers. Many times its the process of getting to that answer that really impacts a person. Talking out how you got to where you are is often very helpful.
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