Cómo juntar las piezas cuando todo se ha deshecho

February 12, 2018
Holladay (The Relationship Principles of Jesus), senior pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., challenges Christians to respond positively to defeats and failures by adopting seven life-enhancing practices. The first two—find the strength to start and take the first step—are simple but difficult to carry out. In order to confront a setback or calamity, Holladay advises, one must be able to see methods of recovery, such as mourning the loss of a loved one, as an invitation to become closer to God. In the following chapters, Holladay tells readers to appreciate others, expect and reject opposition, build on successes, celebrate to sustain joy, and dedicate everything to God. “Your reaction to a problem is determined by the way you see that problem,” he writes. “A faith reaction to our problems will radically change the direction of our lives.” Holladay believes that Americans fail at mourning and often never fully heal from loss, whether of a loved one, a job, or a possession. Citing how Nehemiah moved from shock to a reaction of faith in Nehemiah 1:4, Holladay proposes ways that Christians today can follow Nehemiah’s example and turn any obstacle into an opportunity for faith by healing with intention. “Mourning is expressing your hurt to God,” he writes. “Fasting is focusing your heart on God. Praying is asking for help from God.” Holladay’s straightforward work will help readers looking for more spiritual structure.