(This post was written by Evan Crass, Associate Pastor of Group Ministries)

This weekend starts our fall “alignment” at Faith Promise – a period of time when the weekend series is further discussed and applied through our community groups. Since Pastor Chris doesn’t normally take questions from the audience, where else can you boldly ask (and be asked) questions that challenge your thoughts on God? (By the way if he did take questions from the audience, it would look like this. In short, if you aren’t involved in a group, you are missing out.

The topic for the series is based on the book Plan B by Pete Wilson. He seeks to answer the question, “What do you do when God doesn’t show up the way you thought he would?” And, let’s be honest, who hasn’t asked this question at some point? In fact, early on in his book Pete says, “No matter what has happened or how you feel, please know you’re not alone. Because here’s what I’m learning: everyone needs healing. Everyone.”

So now that he’s leveled the playing field, he takes the next step in beginning the healing process by deconstructing our perceptions of success, of control, and of God. Pete goes on to say, “We get ourselves into all kinds of trouble when we assume God must think and feel as we do.” And over the ensuing chapters he puts in writing the questions we ask of God while pointing out that answers may not come or even be understood; however, there is hope for those who want it.

Of course there is no quick-fix. There is no silver bullet. Life is messy and yet God is still God in the midst of the mess. Pete sums up the book by saying, “I’ve discovered that sometimes God wants us to live inside of the questions. Sometimes he wants us to linger in the waiting, hoping, praying.”

And as we wait, hope, and pray, I find it best to do so with friends. Plan B situations are bad enough, but to walk through despair without a community of friends is unthinkable. It’s not too late to walk through Plan B (the book) with other like-minded people. Contact [email protected] to find a group of people just like you.