Book Review: For these Tough Times

For These Tough Times: Reaching Toward Heaven for Hope and Healing

For These Tough Times, originally published as America Looks Up, is written by Max Lucado. It is an 80-page book, about the size of your hand, and has the intent to teach us about “reaching toward heaven for hope & healing.” It does not disappoint. Lucado begins presenting a question that David (and all of us, really) asks:

“When all that is good falls apart,

What can good people do?”

The LORD is in his holy temple;

The LORD sits on his throne in heaven.

Psalm 11:3-4

Lucado reminds us that God’s “thoughts are not our thoughts” and we have a God who is in control no matter what our circumstances look like. We think we need answers, but God’s authority and sovereignty haven’t changed. He’s still in his holy temple. He’s still on the throne.

The book has many good nuggets of truth, but I was particularly convicted with the thoughts brought out in Chapter 6: In the Silence, God Speaks. “If Job had a fault, it was his tongue. He talked too much.” Job couldn’t resist talking back to his pseudo-comforters until Job 38 begins, “Then the LORD answered Job.” God tells Job HE will ask the questions, and Job remains silent! All the times I’ve questioned God’s actions, I’ve never thought about what I would do if his answer was, “Alicia, I created the universe-trust me!”

I do think this would make a good gift for someone going through a hard time. Some may complain about the small size, but I think when we're really in the middle of a storm long books overwhelm us. Typically "Lucado," this book is easy to read, theologically sound, and directs the reader to Christ...always a winning combination.