Charles R. Swindoll Reviews

Added June 15, 2005

Getting Through the Tough Stuff

Author: Charles R. Swindoll
Publisher: W. Publishing Group
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: November 10, 2004
Genre: Nonfiction: Christian Living
Format: Hardback
Price: $22.99
ISBN: 0-8499-1813-8
Reviewer: Phillip Tomasso III

I am a long time fan of the writing of Charles R. Swindoll. I especially enjoy the books in the Great Lives Series-where he does an entire book, or a novel-length character study on persons from the Bible, such as David, Paul, Joseph, Esther, Job, Moses and Elijah. Before becoming a pastor, he pursued a career as a mechanical engineer, served in the United States Marine Corps. Ordained in 1963, Swindoll has worked as a senior pastor at a number of churches, is a popular radio minister, and in 1994 became president and is currently serving as chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary. Swindoll is married with four children and ten grandchildren. He has authored more than 50 books-many of them best sellers, and has won numerous preaching and educational awards.

Swindoll is noted for preaching that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it. GETTING THROUGH THE TOUGH STUFF, one of his latest novels, is a book about just that-how we respond to life. Each chapter starts with "Getting Through the Tough Stuff of..." and then finishes with the main topic for that particular chapter. Swindoll covers the tough stuff of Temptation, Misunderstanding, Anxiety, Shame, Doubt, Divorce, Remarriage, Confrontation, Pain, Prejudice, Hypocrisy, Inadequacy, Disqualification and Death. What I like about Swindoll is he holds no punches. He is not wishy-washy when it comes to sharing Biblical fact and truth with readers, though he can present information that is often controversial, taboo, or often neglected in a way that is sensitive and loving.

Swindoll basically informs readers that God can get us through anything and everything. We need faith, prayer and most importantly a relationship with Him. We need to be grounded in the Word. Swindoll informs his readers that Christian or not, life is going to have ups and downs. Being a Christian does not mean your life will be carefree, and all fun and games. In fact, the book suggests the opposite that as a Christian struggles and challenges and tests may be more frequent. This only makes sense.

Using supporting Biblical verses, life experiences and vignettes from other well-respected Christian authors, Swindoll composes tight impacting chapters that talk about, define and explain the challenges everyone faces at one point or another during a lifetime. But Swindoll does not stop there. He then uses Biblical verses, life experiences, and vignettes from other well-respected Christian authors to show readers that there is always a solution to life's challenges. There is a way out of any problem. There is always an answer to the puzzling questions that we face day in and day out. But sometimes we forget Who has that solution, and Who has the way out, and Who is the answer. The answer is simple, though we forget, and sometimes need to be reminded. Jesus-He is the solution, the way out of sin, and the answer, He is the way, the truth and the life, no doubt.

What I love most about Swindoll's writing is its simplicity. He writes like he talks. His books read like his radio broadcast sermons. His wit is ever apparent, and his points as sharp and as focused as a laser beam. You may be, or have at some point, struggled with any, some or all of the topics listed in the chapters. Maybe you know someone who is going through a rough, tough time-and you are not sure how to respond as a family member or friend. This book is for everyone. No one's life is a constant bed of roses. No one has perfect day after perfect day. If you have not faced any difficult stages in life, then God bless you. But I can assure you that at some point difficult times will arrive. GETTING THROUGH THE TOUGH STUFF is an excellent tool to help keep Christians grounded.

Return to top of page.

This page was last updated on January 1, 2008

This page and all its contents are Copyright© 2002-2008 In the Library Reviews and the individual reviewers. Except where noted, all graphics are Copyright© Eos Development and are used with permission. All book covers are Copyright© their respective publishers and are used with permission. The In the Library Reviews logo is Copyright© 2002 by In the Library Reviews/Sharyn McGinty. Site maintained by In the Library Reviews.