Book Review: Always True

Sadly, most Americans, including most American Christians desire if not expect a grand life free of difficulty or pain. We have a tendency of becoming very adept handling our lives and even a number of lives within our personal and private world. We can cruise along at a good clip, either ignoring or minimizing the bumps that we experience in the roadway of what we call our life.

In the midst of our ups and downs, the easy and the hard, and even the good and the bad disaster can strike. Most times these "hardships" catch us by surprise or unawares. Especially for many American believers today who come to expect that God will always run interference for them weeding out pain, sorrow and suffering preventing it from ever reaching them.

The question however, is when these hardships that we have learned to call trials, tribulations, testings, heart-aches, and disappointments strike, what do we do? How do we respond?  Sometimes these hardships can range from a death of a loved one to a severe illness or from the loss of a job or some type of major set-back. Regardless of the type or nature of a hardship, many of them cause us to become desperate, frightened,  and totally unsettled. What do we do? How will we ever survive the crushing weight of the moment?

James MacDonald took such an incident and time in his life to provide answers for those daunting questions. MacDonald takes us to the Scriptures and gives us answers to the times of when life goes beyond our capability to cope or handle life. He takes us to the promises of God in the Word of God that relate to the character and nature of God. MacDonald chooses and elaborates on five (5) specific promises that a believer can grab on to and use as anchors that keep a believer securely in the place where God would have them all the while giving them the lifeline of hope.

The object of Always True seems to be to enable the believer to first, understand, and then second to internalize these five (5) wonderful and amazing promises in order for them to "become intensely personal, incredibly practical, and profoundly reliable." So Dr. James MacDonald invites you, nay, implores you to "dig deep with me into God's Word. And receive His promises."


This book was of particular interest to me as I am experiencing a major trial in my own personal life at this moment. I was eager to read it, hoping it would provide both hope and help. First, let me say this was a very easy book to read. It gives deep meaning and definition to God's working in our lives through trials or hardships without being technical to the point of distraction or confusion.

Second, this book held my attention from beginning to end. Many times I could not put it down. MacDonald's explanations are crisp, clear, and concise. I dare say that some who read this book will not be able to put it down until they have read it from cover to cover.

Third, in this day and age and "of making many books there is no end" MacDonald's book stands out as a book that is both accurate and helpful. MacDonald does not make wild, unsupported claims or assumptions. Too many books in this genre are inaccurate and give false hope since they are based on false premises or presuppositions. As a reader, this book can be trusted.

Fourth, this book provides the help it promises. The difficulty lies in the individual reader. This book, nor MacDonald can make a reader's hardship to away or lessen in intensity, no can he believe for you. One must determine to take God at His Word and belief that God is sufficient to help in any and every situation.

I heartily recommend this book to any believer, particularly those believers who are experiencing a trial at this moment. Let me say, if I may, I guarantee three things, first, many of you have experienced trials in your past. Second, a good number of you are experiencing a trial at this moment. Third, if you haven't experienced a major trial (which is doubtful), and you are not experience one right now, YOU WILL experience a trial or hardship soon. This book will be a great help and comfort because it provides five (5) great promises from God's great Word, which will give you great help!

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."