Finding God by Larry Crabb

Finding God Reviews

• 
  Amber Johnson

  This is quite possibly the most insightful and helpful book to move closer to God in the midst of struggle and pain. So incredibly brilliant.
• 
  John

  Larry Crabb wrote Finding God in the wake of his brother’s tragic death. In Finding God Crabb attempts to ask the question: what are the obstacles in the way of someone aligning their lives with God?
  
  Crabb says that the internal and cultural obstacles are significant. “Feeling better has become more important than finding God,” Crabb notes. “And worse, we assume that people who find God always feel better.”
  
  Crabb frames the challenge this way, “I can live obediently, practice spiritual disciplines, and claim my identity in Christ, but problems still continue.” He says, “I am convinced that God yearns to be known by us far more than we want to know him, and his great work in us is to increase our passion for knowing him until it is stronger than all our other passions.” In short, “I needed to come to God on his terms.”
  
  It is our passions that we must come to terms with. We are feeling and desiring beings. We are in just as much trouble if we try to deny this reality as we are if we give in to this reality. The only way to deal with our hunger is to confess that it comes from God and was made to be satisfied in him alone.
  
  Crabb builds what he calls the fallen structure of the human personality, which serves as a framework for the middle third of the book and then negotiates the godly structure in the final third of the book. The fallen structure begins with the foundation of “I doubt God,” and then goes to “I need you,” “I hate you,” I hate me,” “But I will survive,” and finally, “Here’s how!” The godly corresponds with how God has purposed us to live. The foundation is “I believe God,” and then it continues on to “I love you,” “I accept you,” “I judge me,” “I will obey,” and finally, “Here’s how!”
  
  Significant in this structure is that unbelief lies at the foundation of sinful living, while faith lies at the foundation of God-glorifying living.Crabb reminds us that, “God wants to be found. He delights to be known.” Crabb tells us that God intentionally brings disruption to draw us to himself. While we chafe at suffering, God uses it to call us to himself.
  
  As a biblical counselor, I appreciated the methodological framework of Finding God. While Shattered Dreams remains my favorite book by Crabb (to date), Finding God has been the most helpful in sharpening the way I approach my own heart and the hearts of those I have an opportunity to shepherd.
  
  What holds me back a bit from calling this book a must-read is that while I really appreciate Crabb creating a methodological structure, it isn’t crystal clear why he arrived at that structure. In other words, outside of the foundational element of a heart out of alignment and in alignment with God’s, namely faith, it wasn’t clear to me why the layers came in the order they did. In short, there are times I feel lost in Crabb’s trees and wish there were clearer markers on the path.
  
  That said, Finding God is an important resource to examine one’s heart and for Christians to exhort in a discerning and God-honoring way.
  
  For more reviews see
  www.thebeehive.live.
  
• 
  Kimberly Winters

  I was actually surprised by how much I liked this book.
  
  This is a potentially powerful book - especially for anyone currently struggling to follow God in the midst of suffering. It covers tough topics in a very personal way - things like sovereignty, doubt, trust, self-centeredness, pain, intimacy and growth.
  
  Crabb is very personal about his struggle with God despite years of ministry. This struggle was brought to a head (described in chapter one) when Crabb received the crushing news that his brother was killed in a plane crash on March 3, 1991.
  
  The book is an account of his spiritual journey/development following that horrible accident.
  
  I only gave it four stars because I felt at times we were meandering, and I also felt at times it went long. BUT - at the same time, I can see how the length and meandering could be EXACTLY what is needed for someone at that place of struggle Crabb was experiencing at the time he wrote the book. The longer chapters almost feel like they are taking extra time to pick up any stragglers - something I felt showed Crabb's deep concern for his readers. Someone not struggling with God might feel like the pace is too slow - but again, those not sure they want to take one more step will likely find the slower pace to be exactly what they need to keep reading and possibly to keep pursuing Christ.
  
  I also like the book because he hits the nail on the head with regard to multiple topics we face as Christians. His journey to only deal with what really matters made for a more raw account of what he deeply believes is important for us to grasp. I found that to be a very refreshing thing. I especially liked the way he addressed our self-centeredness and the ways in which he believes it derails our intimacy with God.
  
  Favorite quotes from the book...
  
  "In todays world, we have shifted away from finding God toward finding ourselves."
  
  "We have become committed to relieving the pain behind our problems rather than using our pain to wrestle more passionately with the character and purposes of God."
  
  "But God matters more. He invites us to enter into relationship with Him on His terms."
  
  "The pain that opens our hearts to search for God is deep."
  
  "The question we must ask is this: Are we merely living, or are we walking with God?"
  
  "The accident introduced me to a new level of suffering; I wanted the suffering to lift me to a new level of maturity."
  
  And one of my favorite favorites...
  
  "Dialogue and debate, but always do it in a way that helps others to see how kind and good God really is."
  
  This book would make a great gift for anyone struggling to find God in the midst of their suffering, also for those struggling with burnout and/or the various difficulties associated with longterm ministry.
  
  Enjoy!
• 
  Jason Kanz

  
  
  In 1993, Larry Crabb published Finding God, a book in which he explores our journey toward God and His journey toward us. Crabb opens by exploring his personal journey and his necessity of experiencing God and how it is important for each of us. In the part 2, he examines obstacles to finding him and how they are often driven by wrong thinking and wrong desires. In the final section, he points us to the pathway of of finding God.
  
  
  Dr Crabb has always struck me as an honest writer, but it seems that in this book, his writing is even rawer than typical. He openly shares some of his wrestlings with God and with others. This type of honesty and self-revelation is a necessary thing for our communities.
  
  
  One of the messages that routinely finds its way into the pages of this book is that we often place a higher priority on problem solving than on pursuing God (p. 38). Our self-focused culture leads us to believe that our comfort, our satisfaction, and our self-esteem are the ultimate goal. Unfortunately, this message has worked its way into many of our churches as well. Channeling John Piper and CS Lewis, Crabb suggests that our ultimate need is God and any other passions are too weak. He encourages us to seek Christ rather than these other things. In classic Crabb style, he also spends a fair amount of time on relating well to others.
  
  
  At the end of the book, he talks about how we can be story tellers. One of my favorite things in this book was this statement: "We in the Christian community need to tell our stories, risking shame and rebuke, because we want to find God. We must keep reading our Bibles and listening to good Bible teachers; we must worship and serve together; we must discipline ourselves to give generously to the Lord's work; we must make Christ known to an unbelieving world. But we must also learn to tell our stories to one another." (page 200).
  
  
  Like many of Dr Crabb's other books, Finding God provides a God-centered, relationally focused book that will help us to understand ourselves and others better.
  
• 
  Chris Bloom

  My only other exposure to Crabb before reading this one was The Silence of Adam, dealing with men's issues. I thought that one was excellent, presaging such popular works of the 90s as John Eldredge's Wild at Heart without the wild theological tangents of many such works.
  
  I was not prepared for Knowing God. I'm a fan of authors like Phillip Yancey and Brennan Manning, who refuse to stop at the shiny happy surface of Christianity but rather show how hard it really is to learn to know God. Crabb's book stands with the best of those works; it's a hard book to get through. Some passages are relentlessly dark, but there is always the light of God at the end of the tunnel. Crabb's thesis, however, is that few of us ever really want to get to that light, preferring instead to find little ways of amusing ourselves and easing the pain.
  
  Crabb is brutally honest, sharing his own struggles and lack of faith. There is a good deal of "counselor-speak" here, but it's all in the service of the message. It's clear that Crabb is not out to impress anyone with his accomplishments here. The effect is sometimes claustrophobic, but ultimately cathartic.
  
  This is a mature, difficult book, and I hesitate to recommend it to new Christians or those merely interested in learning about the faith. At the same time, this is a message that the Church desperately needs to hear, especially in today's feel-good name-it-and-claim-it culture.
  
  An excellent, life-changing book.
• 
  David Smith

  Was EXACTLY what I needed when I read it. I went on my first sabbatical in 2009. Had non idea what to do, so I borrowed several spiritual books from the library and took my Bible. I laid all the books out and looked for one I felt "drawn" to. This was it. Boy, am I ever glad. My life was changed as a result of the way God worked through that experience.
• 
  Rebekah Vickery

  This book is probably the one I can say changed my outlook on Christianity, as well as my outlook on my life purpose. It started me on a trajectory that moved towards delighting in the Lord, rather than looking for His hand in my life or using comfort to prove His goodness.
• 
  Jonathan Ammon

  Much of this because was phenomenal and incredibly challenging on multiple levels. At one point, I thought this might be one of the best books I had ever read. Its message is that important at this time in my life. However, parts of this book were an immense challenge for other reasons. The author tells a number of stories from his counseling practice that involve some pretty intense accusations towards people he seems to hardly know. He makes general statements about certain sins or addictions that all such issues come from the same root (i.e. all issues with masturbation come from overdeveloped or underdeveloped masculinity). And he is absolutely confident in all of these claims. These issues are tangential to the message of the book. It is possible that the message of this book is so challenging that I am rebelling inside and taking issue with minor things to protect myself (my guess is that this is what the author would say). Perhaps that is true. The message of this book is that above all we are called to find God and repent of all else apart from pursuing Him. That message is placed in the context of sanctification and dealing with our deepest wounds. These are the areas of life where it can be most difficult to find God and where we most need to. We must shift our priorities from selfishly seeking freedom or fulfillment for ourselves to finding God and pursuing God in the very weakness, wounds, and pain we so desperately wish to be rid of. That message gets five stars. I will revisit this book. Hopefully, when I do what I objected to in the first reading will slide out of focus and the powerful instruction to find God where life demonstrates my brokenness and sin will penetrate my heart even greater than it did this tim.
• 
  Mike_msc

  Хорошая искренняя книга, взгляд на христинаскую жизнь с точки зрения психологии. Автор анализирует многие типовые проблемы духовной жизни в контексте отношения человека с "горизонталью" (социализация, межличностные отношения) и "вертикалью" (ожидания и стереотипы человека по взаимодействию с духовным миром).
  В итоге опыт современного протестанскгого богословия в лице Ларри Крабба оказался для меня очень интересным: в православной литературе практически полностью отсутствует связка духовной жизни и психологии, а так же некоторые опыты анализа библейских текстов являются нетривиальными и освежающими привычные трактовки.
• 
  Christie Russell

  Every believer - especially one living in our age - needs to read this book.
  
  With sensitivity and depth, Dr. Crabb challenges the believer on the problem of suffering in the Christian life and how to move through those to find God and what He is doing in their lives. For the chart-lovers there are charts to explain the shoddy ways we prop ourselves up without Christ. For the storytellers there are personal stories of his own sin and also tragedy that have engulfed him - helping him to realize he knew more about God than actually knowing God.
  
  As I close the last pages I’m lending the book to a friend but I will re-read it as soon as I get it back.
• 
  Andy Dix

  Find this book and you will find new insights into finding agog
  
  A frank challenge to living a faith based on a foundation of serving a good God. God is good, all the time. Even in an evil and broken world filled with pain, suffering, sickness, death and unfairness, God is good. Dr. Crabb provides two competing and compelling models to explain alternative approaches to living life. The choice of which house to build and live in is each of ours to make.
• 
  Denise Reed

  Convicting book on our pursuit of God. We have allowed ourselves to become more important than God. Feeling better has become more important than finding God. Whenever we pursue God it is usually for selfish reasons to make our lives more comfortable. He shared his interpretation of Hebrews 11:6 and how to apply it to our lives towards seeking God. Finding God does not eliminate our problems but brings peace. favorite chapter was with the floor analogy.
• 
  Keith

  Not my favorite Larry Crabb Book
  
  I choose this rating because, while I found the questions for reflection helpful - I am in disagreement with certain Evangelical Christian conclusions found within this work. Still I respect Dr. Crabb's work, but personally find his Fully Alive book more relevant.
• 
  Carol Ann

  I read Effective Biblical Counseling in the 80's, and it was helpful in many ways with identifying the problem underlying much of my problems. I have read most of Larry Crabb's books, attended the Institute of Biblical Counseling (ten days after the death of my dad in 1985), went through a biblical counseling class (PEOPLE Class - People Encouraging Other People to Live Effectively) where we practiced group interaction and "telling our stories" over the course of a year, and led a discussion group from the book Encouragement by the same author.
  
  This book is really more of the same. I thank Dr. Crabb for giving me a Biblical basis for looking at issues. I think counseling, in general, is very good at helping one understand why we do what we do. I do not necessarily think it completes the process of healing to finding Him. Only God can do that:"No one comes to the Me unless the Father draws Him...And they will be taught of God" (John 6:44,45). I think Dr. Crabb puts far too much importance on his method than on the power of God to draw us to Himself and to speak to our souls which gets to the core of what he says is the core problem: Doubting God and His goodness because "He who comes to God, must believe that He is and is a rewarded of those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).
  
  It reminds me of a time I was really struggling, and I went to pray, and I said to my husband that I would not leave until I heard from God. So I was there four days, and God spoke to me. I believed Him. I found Him in that carved out time. I did not doubt His goodness in the thing that had happened to me. I forgave the people who wronged me (and have not struggled with anger or unforgiveness since then). It was all through meditating deeply in the story of Joseph with the Holy Spirit. I was released.
  
  I went up to the church, and there was a woman there who asked me what I had been doing, and I told her. She said, "You know I struggled with depression for years, and I started going and just doing extended days of prayer just like you, and I no longer struggle with depression. He is the Wonderful Counselor, isn't He?" AMEN.
  
  Larry Crabb is not the Wonderful Counselor, and I feel like he almost knocks any kind of supernatural experience one might have with our Wonderful Counselor where He might truly speak to us.
  
  I think this is Crabb's attempt at helping people go past just looking at problems to finding God. He says at the beginning that it is not about spiritual disciplines, but his solution at the end is to tell your story (more of what he has said before in his other books, but he has gone from a one-on-one counseling approach to being in community to tell our stories, which is good) and read your Bible by the fireplace with the Holy Spirit. So I do not feel he really contributes much to truly finding God that has not already been said before. He almost contradicts himself by saying that it is not about spiritual disciplines but yet saying to read your Bible.
  
  I have found that it helps for people to tell their stories and be validated and then create space for God to speak to the person. Crabb doesn't really deal with the whole idea of that intimate encounter where we hear the voice of God who speaks truth to us in our innermost being. I feel when we create space to hear in the midst of our pain (like I did on that prayer retreat), we find Him and learn to trust Him (because he says that doubting God and His goodness is at the core of our issues).
  
  This can be a facilitated sort of thing with a prayer counselor where that space is created and encouraged with a loving person (or group of people which is even better but some people are not always able to open up to a group, and we must respect how God made them) who helps the person to listen to and find God.
  
  I think Crabb makes it far too complicated with his charts and diagrams.
  
  I feel like he is on a journey and decided to write a book. He wrote this book several years ago, and I hope he has gained more intimacy with Him. It seems like he really intellectualizes the whole process FAR too much!
  
  Hard to articulate what I really feel about this book. I had some quotes I thought were great, a few I disagreed with.
• 
  Meggie

  Larry Crabb never ceases to delve into the depths of the human heart. Finding God explores the pain and sin that we humans live in, and reminds his readers that it is only by seeking God that we might get out of our traps of sin, addiction and pain. Crabb effectively and honestly uses his own struggles to illustrate struggles we all deal with. While I found several portions of this book enlightening and encouraging, this book did not offer as much insight as other books by Crabb.
• 
  Jim Hutson

  This is definately a must-read after INSIDE/OUT. This compliments and further develops what Crabb left out of the other book and is a wonderful companion to the journey of facing the real God, especially in the days of artifical constructs by so many.
  This is another of the study books for the leadership group and I would highly recommend it.
• 
  Ronnie Allgood

  One of the best books I've read. Top of the list.
  Very well thought out and expressed.
  The way he shared Hebrews 11:6 was an eye opener for me to seek God more diligently.
  My love for the Lord has been strengthened and encouraged having read this guys thoughts on God.
• 
  Stephy Jemmisparks

  This book scared the daylights out of the new and young convert I was. Even pastors I spoke to, had share similar sentiments.
• 
  Whit

  I have a feeling I'll be mulling Crabb's thoughts in this book for a while...
• 
  Mwai

  God finally for His benefits or transcending that, for Himself? That's the central premise of this book. Nothing terribly new but certainly fresh.