While most Christians tend to live in Easter Sunday (ie wanting everything to be well & good), we forget Christ’s journey to the cross involved a Maundy Thursday in Gethsemane, a Good Friday on Golgotha, and a Holy Saturday of silence. God On Mute honestly, and at times humorously, takes you on a journey to a deeper prayer life by examining these seasons of suffering most of us hope to avoid. The book is full of stories, insights, invitations, and practical guidance on how to cope with and be edified in seasons or a life of unanswered prayer.
Overall Impression
God On Mute is one of the most helpful books on prayer I have read, and I suspect will continue to be. Pete Greig does an excellent job at being honest with the difficulties of unanswered prayer (an experience he is all too familiar with) and bringing practical pastoral help for navigating these seasons. His stories, both inspiring and heart-wrenching, also provide perspective on my own unanswered prayers.
Favorite Quotes
“I guess I’ve realized that life is fundamentally tough.” He glanced at me and grinned. “God’s good and faithful, but life really can be a b****, can’t it?”… These days I find it easier to just accept that life’s tough—like they did hundreds of years ago before penicillin and flushing toilets—than to feel sort of hard done by as if I’ve been robbed. Why blame God for stuff that’s just the reality of life on a messed-up planet” (149)?
We cannot remove Gethsemane and Golgotha from the reality of life in Christ (159).
He may consider our wondering and questioning more important than the relatively simple act of supplying us with an answer (174).
Top Takeaways
- Suffering builds character, but it also reorients desire.
- Honesty is good, but Trust is greater. Honesty is only a means to the end, which is relationship. To dig one’s heels into Honesty is to not move forward in Trust.
- I need to see life not in terms of happiness or blessedness, but in terms of Christ-nearness.
Disclaimer
Please note: If you liked this review or my linked summary, I encourage you to purchase the book. This review is meant to be a supplement to the book and certainly not a substitute.
