Book Review - Faith and Other Flat Tires by Andrea Palpant Dilley

As someone who walked away from my faith during my teens and fell back into it as a young adult, I wondered what it's like to actually doubt God or be skeptical concerning His existence and role in our lives. Because I never really doubted. I strayed.

Which is why I agreed to review this book. After reading Andrea Palpant Dilley's memoir, Faith and Other Flat Tires, I have a much better idea of what doubting God looks like.

I confess, for the first two-thirds, maybe three-quarters, of her story, I couldn't relate. At all. I've never been a missionary kid. Although I went to church as a child, I wouldn't say I grew up in the church. I didn't have that kind of God connection or relationship within the body of Christ. Andrea is literary smart and shares faith comparisons throughout her text. It became a bit heady for me to read through at times. On occasion, I wanted to put the book down and walk away.

But I pressed on. I wanted to know what brought her back home. I wanted to know what grounded her faith in God. I wanted to know her without all her questions and doubts. Did she ever find the truth she sought? Would her pilgrimage end?

Well, not exactly. In her own words, "I wouldn't describe the experience as a conversion or an epiphany or anything else of that kind. [God had visited her in the night watches.] My doubt didn't vanish suddenly and the search didn't resolve. But I did experience that moment of peace." (p. 293)

I suppose some of us will always have questions concerning our faith. I suppose we are all on a pilgrimage, each his own, pressing on toward the goal of the high calling of our faith. Searching for final truths until the day we come face-to-face with our beloved Savior. Whom we shall know in the fullness of His glory when we leave this earth suit behind.

I love Andrea's honesty. Transparency. Her longing to know the answers. I love that she isn't satisfied and must continue asking questions. I love that she is always searching for more of the Truth. I love that she didn't give up on God, because God didn't give up on her. I love that she shares how He pursued her, called her out.

Overall, this isn't my favorite memoir. However, I would recommend it to anyone doubting their faith. A doubter would see it from a different perspective than a solid believer. And I am thankful for her perspective as a doubter.

Please note that I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Zondervan. I am not bound to giving a good review of this material. However, I think it may bless someone who relates with her quest in seeking the Lord. It is a well-written memoir.

To purchase your copy, please visit the following retailers:
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Easter Devotion Seven: Prove It

Photo Courtesy of Fabio Slave

"Don't touch the pan. It's hot. It will burn you."

Parents often repeat these words to their small children. Some children believe their parents without needing to touch the hot pot. Others need to experience the pain of a burn before they will believe the words of truth their parents proclaimed.

Thomas was very much like these children. Doubtful. Questioning. Unsure. Unbelieving.

The disciples saw Jesus after Mary Magdelene proclaimed she'd seen Him risen and alive. But Thomas wasn't with them. When they told him "We have seen the Lord," he replied, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." (John 20:25)

Thomas refused to believe Jesus had risen from the dead unless he saw it with his own eyes.
Thomas required experience in order to believe the truth. 

Throughout the gospels, we read of people who didn't require proof in order to believe in faith that Jesus came to save them and set them free. 

Several men heard Jesus arrived in their town. Their paralytic friend couldn't bring himself to the Healer, so they carried him to the house He visited. Not able to gain entrance via the doorway, they took to the roof. Lowering their friend before Him, Jesus recognized their faith. "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." (Matt. 9:1-2)

The woman with the issue of blood recognized that if she could simply touch the hem of His garment, Jesus had the power to heal her disease. The disease that no doctor or medicinal solution could touch. The disease that plagued her every day of her life. Jesus' response? "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." (Matt. 9:22)

These people weren't those who spent every day with the Master. They weren't the disciples who followed His footsteps daily. They were everyday people who understood the power of belief. They lived by faith.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
- Hebrews 11:1

These people didn't need to see it to believe it. They believed in Jesus and His authority and power before they ever laid eyes on Him.

Do we live like Thomas, doubting until we have proof? Or do we live by faith, believing Him and awaiting the day our eyes are opened to the fullness of His truth?

"Then He said to Thomas, 'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.'
 Jesus said to Him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.'" 
 - John 20:27,29

We don't have the blessing of physically walking with Jesus through this life. He has conquered the grave and the sting of death, risen and sits at the right hand of the Father. It's easy to doubt His existence. It's easy to say, "I'll believe it when I see it."

Walking by faith and not by sight takes courage and endurance. It requires hope. We need to remember Jesus did not leave us blind and deaf. When we remember to use our spiritual eyes, we can see Him clearly.

Lord, give us eyes to see You clearly. Help our unbelief. We don't want to live as doubting Thomas'. We want to live by faith. Lord, allow us to dwell in Your presence this Resurrection Sunday, to know we have a hope that will not fail. We love You, Jesus and praise You this holy day! Amen.