Wrestling with Giants - or stories of hope and faith for all who struggle

Testimonies from times of trauma

WRESTLING WITH GIANTS
- or stories of hope and faith for all who struggle
Edited by John Young
Hodder & Stoughton. 116 pages. £4.99
ISBN 0 340 75681 0

This book is described as a resource for living in the 'real' world and the title is taken from the account of Jacob wrestling with God. The front cover is strikingly graphic.

John Young, a canon of York Minster, has edited a book of five personal testimonies of Christians who faced trauma and trials common to many and how, through the use of Scripture and lessons learnt along the way, they were eased through their dark tunnel. The chapters cover 'Living with panic attacks' . . . 'disability' . . . 'cancer' . . . 'bereavement', and finally 'Living with depression', when John Young shares his own experiences.

Each contributor is introduced to us and then, in their own frank and honest account, they share their particular trial, their weaknesses and fears. Christians are not exempt from suffering in many ways. The truth is that the Christian life is not just a happy-ever-after life of escapism but often one of weakness, even brokenness, loneliness and of being stripped bare. Do we really grasp our human frailty? Perhaps only when faced with a serious illness which is life-threatening. Or bereavement, not only through the loss of a loved one, but even the loss of a relationship - or a child leaving home - or the baby we hoped to have. Even the loss of a job can be a kind of bereavement. Then Heaven becomes a place in our minds and the invisible becomes vital and real to us. Prayer becomes urgent and essential and our Lord very real.

Towards the end of each story the writers finish with Scripture and quotations from books or poetry which have proved helpful to them. After that, John Young asks the reader questions to provoke further thought and in this way the book could be used as the basis for group study. A useful, practical little book.

Jean MacGregor,
Ipswich

© Evangelicals Now - March 2001
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Main Articles

• India: desperate needs
  The earthquake disaster in Gujarat
• Run as hard as you can!
  One woman's experience of temptation
• A heart for young people
  An interview with Ian Fry
• Infant salvation: are all those who die in infancy saved?
• Knocking off early
  Early retirement and the Christian
• Islam and the Cross
• China: theological turmoil - justification by love
• Commission 2000
  27 December 2000 - 1 January 2001 at Kenyatta University
• Lonely without you
  Ruth Archer tells of her work with overseas families
• Monthly column on the arts: bad news from Liverpool
  Remembering Adrian Henri, Liverpool poet and painter
• Monthly column for youth leaders
  'Your starter for ten'
• Monthly column on hymns and songs
  A healthy challenge?

Other articles

• The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, 1915-1916 - Documents presented to Viscount Grey of Fallodon by Viscount Bryce
• Switchfoot - Learning to Breathe
• Cast Away
• God is King
• Meet Jesus
• Be Thankful - a new look at the Holy Communion Service - (A video study course)
• A Closer Look at Harry Potter
• The God Chasers
• The Land of Promise
• Fire Within
• Sing A New Song
• Time to Celebrate - hymns and songs for a new millennium - New music by Gill Berry and John Turl, words by Emma Turl
• How Now Shall We Live?
• The Great Bible Adventure
• Wrestling with Giants - or stories of hope and faith for all who struggle