WhereisGodwhenlifeisfilledwithsomuchsuffering?HowcanIbesureofGod’spresenceandaffection,eveninmypain?CanyoubelieveinGodandstillwrestlewithquestionsanddoubt?ThesearethequestionshonestlyexploredinRelentless.Whetherinstruggle,illness,death,orfailure,thepresenceofpaincausesustoquestionthepresenceofGod.Weprayandwatchthesky,crossingourspiritualfingersforhardcoreproofofGod’snearness.Andinthesilence,wesensesomethingmoresinister:perceivedabandonment.ButwhatifwecouldcollectevidencethatGodhasn’tleftus?WhatifwecouldbeabsolutelycertainofGod’spresenceandaffection,strengtheningourfaithagainstanyassault?WoventhroughoutScripturesitsasingle,extraordinarytheme:Godiswithus.OursisaGodwhospeaksthroughburningbushesandleadsthroughpillarsoffire,whorespondstoabrokenworldbygivinghimself.LiketheOldTestamentstoryofJoshua’saltaroftwelvestones,RelentlessdeliverstwelvekeybiblicalstoriesthatdemonstrateGod’sunfailingpresence.Eachchapteroffersaninvitationtoidentifya“stone“inyourownlifeastangibleevidenceofGod’snearness.Withtheturnofthelastpage,youwillhavediscoveredtwelvemarkersofyourown,analtarofmemorytocarryyouthroughquestionsandlosses,evenonesyettocome.Forthetruth-seekers,thosedrowninginimpossiblequestions,andthosewhofindthemselvesswallowedupbythedark,Relentlessisaninvitationtosearchfordivinepresenceinoureverydaystories.WithMicheleCushatt’sengagingnarrativestyle,thistransformationaljourneyreassuresusthatGod,indeed,iswithus.
